| As the largest country in South America, Brazil is big | | | | expensive and complicated, and many companies |
| on business. Their geographical proximity to the United | | | | steer clear of doing so for those reasons. |
| States, as well as their trade agreement with North | | | | With that said, if you are planning on remaining in Brazil |
| America, makes speaking English a very important | | | | to teach English for an extended period of time, you |
| asset for Brazilian citizens. English is taught to all levels | | | | may be able to find an employer who is willing to |
| of Brazilian students, from childhood on up. Some | | | | sponsor you. The catch is that you will probably have |
| Brazilian companies will hire English teachers to train | | | | to pay for the process yourself. This is something that |
| their employees to make foreign communication easier. | | | | you should actively research and discuss with your |
| With that said, Brazil is naturally a major destination for | | | | employer if you're interested in pursuing a work visa. |
| those looking to teach English in a foreign country. | | | | So you might be wondering how so many English |
| Teaching English in Brazil is a unique and enriching | | | | teachers manage to work in Brazil. The answer is, the |
| experience that anyone who wishes to travel should | | | | majority of them are working on tourist visas. |
| consider. | | | | Technically, it is not legal for a foreigner to work on a |
| What is required? | | | | tourist visa; however, chances are very slim that you |
| Some countries require English teachers to be certified | | | | will ever get into trouble for doing it. |
| in any number of teaching courses. TEFL, TESOL, and | | | | Tourist visas are fairly simple to get, and require an |
| the Cambridge CELTA are all certifications that are | | | | application through the Brazilian Consulate as well as a |
| often required for foreigners wishing to teach English in | | | | valid passport and other documents. Tourist visas are |
| another country. Brazil, however, does not consider this | | | | valid for three months, which means if you are working |
| a prerequisite. | | | | in Brazil you will have to renew your visa at a Brazilian |
| If you do have a certification, it may very well help you | | | | police office every three months. You are also not |
| in the classroom. But chances are good that if you are | | | | allowed to remain in Brazil on a tourist visa for more |
| hired by a Brazilian company or school, they will require | | | | than six months every year. |
| you to go through an in-house training program | | | | It is possible to get a tourist visa changed over to a |
| regardless of whether or not you are certified to | | | | work visa, provided you can find a sponsor. Your best |
| teach. | | | | bet may be to begin a job on a tourist visa, get |
| What is recommended is a BA in some subject and a | | | | comfortable with your employers, and then bring up |
| working knowledge of Portuguese, the official | | | | the subject of a work visa after they have decided |
| language of Brazil. | | | | they want to keep you. At that time, they may be |
| What about a visa? | | | | willing to sponsor you. |
| This is where the information can get a little sketchy, | | | | It sounds like a lot of red tape, but the truth is that |
| and keep in mind we're not advocating one course of | | | | teaching English in Brazil isn't as complicated as it |
| action over another. The truth is, getting a work visa | | | | sounds. The market for English teachers in Brazil is |
| for teaching English in Brazil is going to be very, very | | | | booming, and with that demand comes an increased |
| difficult. | | | | possibility that you'll be able to find the right job for you. |
| The vast majority of schools in Brazil that hire English | | | | With thousands of English teachers needed all over |
| teachers are unwilling to sponsor those teachers for | | | | the country, Brazilians are for the most part eager to |
| work visas. Sponsorship by an employer is required to | | | | help. Do your research and be prepared, and you're |
| get a legitimate work visa. It is also extremely | | | | sure to have the experience of a lifetime. |