Apply for qualified teacher status (QTS) if you teach outside the UK
Routes to qualified teacher status (QTS) for non-UK and UK teachers and those with teaching experience living and working outside the UK.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
This guidance explains routes to qualified teacher status (QTS) for non-UK and UK teachers, and those with teaching experience, who are currently living and working outside the UK.
If you are a teacher trained in the UK, visit qualified teacher status (QTS): qualify to teach in England.
This guidance is for:
- non-UK qualified teachers
- non-UK citizens with teaching experience
- UK citizens with teaching experience now living and working overseas
Last updated
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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.
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Updated information about who can use the service to apply for QTS in England.
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Updated to include information about the new 'apply for QTS in England' service.
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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'.
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First published.
Update history
2025-06-18 11:44
Updated the QTS qualification eligibility email address in the ‘Routes to qualified teacher status (QTS) for teachers and those with teaching experience outside the UK’ HTML attachment.
2024-04-29 14:32
Updated to reflect the support available from the Get into Teaching service.
2024-01-10 09:30
Zimbabwe has been removed from the list of eligible countries because DfE has been unable to verify required documentation from that country.
2023-07-13 11:47
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.
2023-01-26 10:51
Updated information about who can use the service to apply for QTS in England.
2022-12-01 09:30
Updated to include information about the new ‘apply for QTS in England’ service.
2022-04-04 12:03
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’.