Guidance

Apply for qualified teacher status (QTS) if you teach outside the UK

Routes to QTS for those with non-UK teaching qualifications or experience and UK citizens with teaching experience who live overseas.

Applies to England

Documents

Details

This guidance is for:

  • non-UK-qualified teachers
  • non-UK citizens with teaching experience
  • UK citizens with teaching experience living and working overseas

If you are a teacher who trained in the UK, visit qualified teacher status (QTS): qualify to teach in England.

Published 29 June 2021
Last updated 10 January 2024 + show all updates
  1. Zimbabwe has been removed from the list of eligible countries because DfE has been unable to verify required documentation from that country.

  2. Updated to remove links to withdrawn pages.

  3. Qualified teachers from Guernsey and Jersey can now use the ‘apply for qualified teacher status in England’ service to check they meet the requirements and apply.

  4. Updated information about who can use the service to apply for QTS in England.

  5. Updated to include information about the new 'apply for QTS in England' service.

  6. Added information to 'Qualifications and experience you’ll need to be eligible for an assessment only QTS' about contacting Get into Teaching for help with international qualifications and added fee information to 'How to apply for an assessment only QTS'.

  7. First published.