Teaching online while abroad or traveling is a great way to explore the world while earning an income. I’ve been teaching online while abroad since 2020 and in this blog post, I’ll share the top 3 ways to teach online, how to teach part-time or full-time while living abroad, and visa and tax considerations for digital nomads.
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Why You Should Teach Online While Abroad or Traveling
Teaching online while abroad or traveling involves earning income by teaching students remotely through online platforms from outside your home country. There are many reasons why many people choose to do this. For some, it’s all about adventure and flexibility, while others want to establish a long-term business.
Benefits of teaching online while abroad or traveling:
- Supplement your income
If you’re teaching abroad or traveling, you might be earning less than you would in your home country. Teaching online provides additional income to fund your travels, pay off student loans, or grow your savings.
- More financial stability
Teaching in a foreign country can sometimes be unpredictable. Teaching online gives you a safety net during unstable times. For example, when I was no longer able to work at my in-person teaching job in 2020 because of my visa status and government handouts to support workers during shutdowns, I turned to online teaching to continue to earn an income.
- Requires little equipment
You only need a few things when starting your online teaching career. A laptop, a reliable internet connection, a headset, and good lighting are enough to get you started. Additionally, a simple backdrop and portable props can make your lessons engaging. You can teach from anywhere! I have even taught from a campervan parked at the beach.
Three Main Ways to Teach Online While Abroad or Traveling
There are three main ways to teach online while working abroad or traveling. Each one has its pros and cons:
1. Online ESL Companies
Online ESL companies hire teachers to work with students in specific countries or worldwide. As a teacher, you usually won’t need to worry about creating lesson plans since slides and lesson plans are often provided. Some companies have no minimum hours, which gives you the flexibility to teach when you need it. In some cases, a bachelor’s degree or prior experience is not required, which makes this the best option for new teachers. You will, however, need a TEFL certificate.
Click here to download my free TEFL/TESOL Course Guide.
A downside of online ESL companies is that their pay is low ($10-15/hour). It can be even less if you’re a non-native English speaker. Additionally, online ESL companies often go on hiring freezes, which means it can take months for your application to be approved. While online ESL companies are good for new online teachers, I don’t recommend them as a long-term solution.
Check out my Online Teaching Jobs List here.
2. Online Teaching Marketplaces
The second way to teach online while abroad or traveling is through online teaching marketplaces. These are platforms that connect students to tutors. You’ll need to set up a profile on the marketplace and attract potential students with a high-quality written profile and video.
The advantage of marketplaces is that you can set your own prices, unlike earning an hourly wage with companies. However, most marketplace platforms charge teachers a fee between 18-45% to use their platform.
Teaching marketplaces aren’t limited to teaching only ESL. You can teach a variety of subjects, such as music, gaming, dance, science, and more, depending on the platform. I currently teach ballet on Outschool and earn over $100 per hour because I can charge per student!
One thing you have to be prepared for when teaching in online marketplaces is the availability of students. Depending on the time of the year and your niche, enrollment rates fluctuate. I’ve learned that, personally, my dance classes tend to do really well in the US winter but not so well in the summer. That’s because a lot of kids are home during the colder months.
A con of online teaching marketplaces is that it can take weeks to months to build your following. You may only have a few students when starting. Since online teaching marketplaces do not have a set curriculum, you often need to create or buy your own teaching materials and follow copyright laws. For teaching ESL on marketplaces, I recommend using materials from ESL Brains.
Pro Tip: Start by offering niche classes and collecting positive reviews to enhance your profile, which tells the algorithm to push your profile to more students!
3. Freelance Online Teaching
Freelance online teaching means you are independent from ESL companies or marketplaces. You get to decide how much to charge your students, and you don’t pay platform commissions. Instead, you’ll establish your own business, choose a platform like Zoom or Classin to host your classes, and target a specific type of learner.
Freelance online teaching allows you to create your own schedule, teach what you are passionate about, only work with students of your choosing, and charge your worth.
Teaching online as a freelancer is ideal if you want to qualify for digital nomad visas. It is also advantageous for non-native speakers and can be profitable in the long term.
However, setting up your own freelancing business takes time, effort, and money. You’ll need an in-demand “niche” or specific topic to focus on in order to attract quality students. Because you are independent, you need to do your own marketing to find students using social media, paid ads, flyers, or word of mouth. You also need to purchase or create your own teaching materials and work with an accountant to understand how to file taxes.
Teach Online While Abroad or Traveling as a Part-time Teacher
Part-time online teachers often teach before or after in-person jobs, or on the weekends. You can also open up teaching time slots when you are at a “base” during your travels.
If you want to teach online part-time, decide how you want to teach: through online companies, marketplaces, or as a freelancer. However, be aware that not all companies allow you to teach online while abroad.
Visa Issues:
- Check to see if you can work remotely on your visa. Some countries will not allow you to work on a tourist visa, for example.
- Some visas will allow you to work for a remote company based in your home country.
- If you have a valid work visa, make sure you can take on additional jobs.
Tips
- Taxes: Save a portion of your income for taxes, as most online teaching jobs hire you as an independent contractor.
- Time zones: Select companies or students that fit your availability during your time abroad or travels.
- Workloads: Pick companies with no minimum hours or fixed schedules so you can travel easily.
- Applications: Start applying for teaching jobs before you go abroad.
- Marketing: Create your own business cards or a website to hand out to new people you meet while abroad
Teach Online While Abroad or Traveling: Teaching Full-Time
If you want to teach online full-time while abroad or traveling, you need to research which countries accept digital nomads. You’ll need to secure the proper visa, depending on your teaching or travel goals.
- Digital Nomad Visa: Allows you to work remotely while living abroad (6 months to 5 years, depending on the country). Requirements often include proof of income, savings, or business registration. This visa type is still new, and requirements vary by country. Not all immigration lawyers may be familiar with the digital nomad visa.
- Freelancer or Business Visa: For those who own an online teaching business, you may qualify for this type of visa.
- Tourist Visa (short-term travel): Some countries permit online work while on a tourist visa. You need to check this before you arrive.
Things to Consider:
- Look at the specific visas available for your top 3-5 countries and the exact requirements.
- Some visas require a business that has been established for more than 12 months.
- Consult an accountant about tax implications in your home and host countries.
Tips for Teaching Online While Traveling as a Freelancer
If your goal is long-term freedom to teach online while abroad or traveling, freelancing is the way to go. The biggest challenge you need to overcome is maintaining your income. With this in mind, you’ll be able to plan accordingly.
To set up a freelance teaching business, you must meet the basic requirements. In the U.S., you can set up your business legally by applying as an LLC, corporation, sole trader, etc.
To start, identify your ideal student and research the market to understand what’s in demand. Second, develop a business and marketing plan that outlines strategies for attracting new students while retaining existing ones. Finally, choose a teaching platform, payment gateway, and booking system.
If you want to learn more, download my free Freelance Online Teaching Handbook here.
Things to Consider When Freelance Online Teaching
- Create your business with your ideal visa in mind (Digital Nomad, Freelancer, Business). For example, the Digital Nomad Visa in Spain requires the majority of your clients to be OUTSIDE of Spain.
- Consider your new time zone.
- Reach out to people who are currently doing what you want to do for advice.
- Start with how much you’d like to earn and work backward (consider taxes).
- Freelance teachers need to follow copyright for their materials.
- Put ads behind your most popular content on social media.
- Create free guides or offer a trial class in exchange for joining your email list.
My Experience Teaching Online While Living Abroad
When I found myself without a job in Australia during the 2020 pandemic, I decided to teach online as a freelancer. I found my first students through social media, my blog, and word of mouth. I also got referrals from my previous employer.
To stand out, I specialized in Cambridge English exam preparation for high-level learners. Choosing a niche is key if you want to build a strong student base and charge higher rates.
In January 2021, I started teaching on Outschool and also added online ESL companies like Cambly and LingoAce.
Teaching Online with Outschool
One of my favorite platforms to teach on is Outschool. It’s an online marketplace for kids from 3-18. You can teach alomst any subject on Outschool and I teach dance.
Key considerations in choosing Outschool:
- You can set your own schedule and rates.
- Outschool takes a 30% commission in exchange for marketing and platform support.
- Teachers must reside at least six months per year in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Spain, Mexico, or South Korea.
Even after the commission, I earn around $100 USD per hour, which is higher than many standard online teaching companies.
Final Thoughts
Teaching online while teaching abroad or traveling is a fun way to earn more while seeing the world. If you need help getting started, book a 30-minute Teacher Help Call with me here.
Happy teaching!
Jamie
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: How do I get more students to sign up for my online classes?
Answer: First, you must build a strong profile. Highlight your experience, niche, or teaching style. Second, create a good intro and demo video to attract students. And lastly, do a lot of market research to see what’s in demand.
Question: Do I need a degree or certification to teach online?
Answer: Many entry-level online teaching jobs require at least a bachelor’s degree. As an ESL teacher, you need to have a TEFL certificate. Learn more about TEFL certificates with my free guide.
Question: How do I find online teaching companies that let me work from anywhere?
Answer: When researching online teaching jobs, check each company’s location requirements. You can usually find this information on the official platform website.
