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.
- From:
- Department for Education
- Published
- 29 June 2021
- Last updated
-
2918AprilJune20242025 — See all updates
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.
Updates to this page
Published 29 June 2021
Last updated 2918 AprilJune 2024
+ show2025
href="#full-history">+ show all updates
-
Sign up for emails or print this page
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’.
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.
Updates to this page
Sign up for emails or print this page
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’.