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Teach English in Thailand (2026): TEFL Courses and Visa Basics

Provider pages checkedLast verified: Oct 15, 20263 options

A TEFL certificate is a course in teaching English as a foreign language. Many schools in Thailand ask for one. Below are three providers, listed in alphabetical order, with the facts we read on their own pages. We start with what the visa needs, because the course is only one part of the plan.

Teaching in Thailand: the visa basics

The Thai embassy in Washington, DC lists a Non-Immigrant B visa for teaching. It costs $80, allows a single entry and is valid for 90 days. Its page was updated on September 1, 2026.

A letter from the school or the relevant authority.
An FBI certificate issued within 3 months.
Bank statements showing at least $1,000 per month for each person.

Not confirmed: the degree and work permit rules for teachers. The page we read doesn't list them, and the Thai foreign ministry's teacher visa document wouldn't open for us. Requirements also differ by embassy. The Hanoi embassy's older page (2023) lists a school acceptance letter, qualification documents, a police certificate and a bank statement of 20,000 baht. Confirm the current list with the embassy that will handle your application.

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Bridge TEFL

Online 120-hour course with a named US accreditor

What we confirmed

120-Hour Global TEFL Certificate: online and self-paced, $399 list price. Each learner gets a coach or tutor.
The accreditation page says ACCET is institutional accreditation recognized by the US Department of Education. It describes ACE as a credit recommendation and says that is "not accreditation".
Job help: a job advising module, a job board and a newsletter. The page says no provider can guarantee employment.
The certificate is digital and free. A notarized hard copy costs extra.
You don't need a bachelor's degree to enroll.

Check before you buy

Refund: 7 days, 100%, per the FAQ (undated).
Access lasts 3 months. A 3-month extension costs $175.
In-person training is only at partner centers, including Vietnam. None is listed for Thailand.
The 120-hour page itself shows no price, only a "monthly special". Check the live price.

Source: Bridge TEFL course, accreditation and FAQ pages, read Oct 15, 2026.

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Ninja Teacher

Online course, plus in-country programs

What we confirmed

Online 120-hour course: $399 on sale against a $499 list price, with no end date shown.
Refund: 30 days, and its sales page adds a limit of not past 50% of the content.
The digital certificate and a mailed hard copy are free. Authentication for visa purposes isn't included.
Its Thailand course page lists a 4-week, 120-hour course for 42,000 baht, with a 12,000 baht deposit that isn't refundable.

Check before you buy

Prices differ across its pages, and the Thailand page may be out of date.
It calls the course "accredited" but names no accrediting body in its terms.
The online course has no job guarantee. The in-country programs make job placement claims with conditions, set out in a service agreement we couldn't read. Read it before paying.
No visa or degree rules appear on its Thailand page.

Source: Ninja Teacher academy, terms and Thailand page, read Oct 15, 2026.

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The TEFL Academy

UK-regulated online courses with a job board

What we confirmed

Online Level 5 course: listed at 168 hours, $743 list price. It is often discounted, so check the live price.
Qualifications are awarded by Qualifi, which it says is regulated by Ofqual. It also cites an AQC quality program and says that is peer review, not accreditation.
Job help: a job board with no guarantee. Listings cover about 16 countries, including Thailand.
The Level 5 course is tutor-supported.

Check before you buy

Its page lists 168 hours in the title and 282 hours in the inclusions. Confirm the hours before you pay.
Refund: a 14-day withdrawal in writing. A full refund also applies if you fail an assignment after the third attempt, with exceptions.
Online access lasts 6 months.
We found no Thailand requirements on its pages.

Source: The TEFL Academy course, accreditation and terms pages, read Oct 15, 2026.

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Disclosure: We may earn a commission if you buy through links on this page, at no cost to you. Sponsored spots are labeled. Prices and sales shift often, so check the live page. We don't repeat provider success claims we couldn't verify.

How to choose

Look at who accredits or regulates the course, and what that body actually does.
Compare refund windows: 7 days at Bridge TEFL, 14 days at The TEFL Academy and 30 days at Ninja Teacher.
Treat job claims with care. Ask what is promised, for whom and under what conditions.
Confirm the visa and document rules with the Thai embassy, not the course provider.

Questions people ask

What visa do you need to teach English in Thailand?

The Thai embassy in Washington, DC lists a Non-Immigrant B visa for teaching. It costs $80, allows a single entry and is valid for 90 days. You need a letter from the school, an FBI certificate and bank statements. Confirm the full list with your embassy.

How much does a TEFL course cost?

List prices we saw on October 15, 2026: $399 for Bridge TEFL's 120-hour online course, $499 for Ninja Teacher's online course, and $743 for The TEFL Academy's Level 5. Sales are common, and Ninja Teacher's pages show different prices. Check the live price before you buy.

Does a TEFL course guarantee a job in Thailand?

No provider we checked guarantees a job with its online course. Bridge TEFL says no provider can. The TEFL Academy offers a job board with no guarantee. Ninja Teacher's in-country programs describe job placement with conditions, so read its service agreement first.

Sources

Royal Thai Embassy, Washington DC: visa pages (teaching visa page updated Sep 1, 2026)
Bridge TEFL: course, accreditation and FAQ pages
Ninja Teacher: academy, terms and Thailand course pages
The TEFL Academy: course, accreditation and terms pages