Can I work in France with UK TEFL teaching qualifications after Brexit?

Reader question: Can I find employment in France with my UK TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) qualifications, or has Brexit made it impossible? I am interested in moving. 

The impacts of Brexit on the acceptance of UK qualifications in France apply largely to ‘regulated’ professions such as nursing that are overseen by an official body. Post-Brexit, agreements for acceptance of such UK qualifications are often no longer in place. 

When it comes to teaching, UK TEFL qualifications are generally accepted as good quality, provided they were full courses that included practical teacher-training elements.

Teachers with a TEFL qualification can still find work in private language schools for adults or online classes. If they have a lot of experience they may find a position in a fully private school or private tutoring. 

However, contracts are usually temporary and the pay may be low. Unless you have a fixed contract (relatively rare in the sector) your monthly salary will depend on the number of lessons you teach.

You cannot become a permanent teacher in a French public school with only a TEFL, as this requires passing a competitive exam in France such as the Capes.

This is a concours (competitive exam) and the number of students able to pass is limited. It means, for example, that only the best 200 scoring students will pass, as opposed to everyone who receives above a certain grade (as is usually the case with exams). 

However, it does provide a public sector job with steady income, typical sector benefits, strong worker protection and the chance of progression.

Our article here provides an overview of the difference in teaching.

Biggest issue is right to work

The main issue caused by Brexit, however, is that it is now much more difficult for UK citizens to gain residency and employment rights in France. 

Younger people looking to move post-Brexit will generally need to be sponsored by an employer to obtain a work permit and visa.

Note that the French working holiday visa (visa 'vacances travail') is not available to Britons, though in future it is hoped that a ‘youth experience’ visa may open up such opportunities again.

When it comes to teaching English, it is unlikely that an employer will go through the effort to sponsor a UK (or US, Australian, Canadian, etc) citizen to come over for a low-paid position, as they will have alternatives. 

That includes French and EU citizens proficient in English or with similar teaching qualifications, or non-EU citizen native English-speakers people already living in France on a residency card giving them the right to work.