How does the visa process work for one term?

Most teachers do one Laos run. Some obtain a Non-B visa from home before they fly. After that, extensions are done in the province where you teach, with KET support.

October 2026 pickups are 10, 17 and 24 October for a 2 November class start. The next May intake’s first pickup is 17 April 2027.

OCT 2026 OPEN · Pickups 10 / 17 / 24 · Classes 2 Nov · MAY 2027 next (first pickup 17 Apr) · $0 fee

4–5 Month Paid Term · Option to Extend

Teach English in Thailand for one semester

4–5 month paid term. Same monthly KET salary as a full year. $0 placement fee. Visa handled. Extend if it fits.

Apply for One Semester

On the form, tick One Semester.

See term dates →

Direct Overview

What’s Included in Your Semester Placement

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Non-B + work permit Most teachers do one Laos run; some get Non-B before they fly. After that, extensions in your province.

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$0 placement fee No agency placement fee. Recruitment is school-funded.

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Housing help Help finding an AC studio. Typical rent 3,000–8,000 THB a month.

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$400 orientation First-timers: Bangkok pickup, 6 nights hotel, meals, 5G SIM, training, school escort.

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Accident insurance Accident cover during the teaching term.

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AI + paperwork support We help you use classroom AI and paperwork tools. No pre-made lesson dump — aligns with Thai AI Passport.

Paid KET teachers also get a teacher licence, e-work permit, bank-account help, Non-B extensions while they stay, and help closing those documents when the contract ends.

Academic Calendar

Choose Your Term

OPEN NOW

October 2026 → March 2027

Pickups: 10, 17, 24 October 2026
Classes: 2 November 2026
Ends: End of March 2027

Apply for October

On the form, tick One Semester.

NEXT INTAKE

May–September 2027

First Pickup: 17 April 2027 (more dates may open)
Classes: May / June 2027
Ends: End of September 2027

Apply for May

On the form, tick One Semester.

Financial Realities

Salary, Costs and Payday

Same monthly KET rate as an 11-month contract.

KET Public / North 30,000–36,000 ฿ Net Per Month

Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Phetchabun and other northern partner schools. Typical load 18–22 hours a week.

Private Large-City 40,000+ ฿ Net Per Month

Private and large-city partner schools where those seats exist.

Living Costs 15,000–21,000 ฿ Typical Monthly Spend

Typical leftover on a KET public/North salary: about 9,000 THB/month. Paid on the 10th for the previous month.

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First payday: October arrivals work November and are paid on 10 December. Budget the $400 orientation week plus November living costs before that payment.

Completion hold and the 5,000 THB

Same hold on semester and year contracts.

Deductions 3,000 THB a month starting around month 2 or 3. Up to 15,000 THB if five months are deducted. You can request a month with no deduction.

Returned or kept Finish the contract: whatever was taken is paid back on your final payday, with last salary. Leave early: the hold covers the broken-contract cost charged to KET.

5,000 THB Not paid on a standalone semester. Convert to a full year and KET bank-transfers 5,000 THB toward the extension and work permit.

Visa after arrival Most people go to Laos once. After that, Non-B extensions are done in the province you teach in. No second Laos trip for the extension.

Contract Comparison

One Semester vs Full School Year

                    One semester (4–5 months)
                    ✓ Same monthly KET pay as a year
✓ Non-B and work permit supported
✓ Finish the term or convert
✓ No 5,000 THB unless you convert to a year
✓ No second orientation fee if extending

                

Full school year (~11 months)

• May to March cycle
• Same monthly KET baseline
• Year-round continuity at one school
• Full-year program page →

Taught in Thailand before?

Teachers who have taught in Thailand before can test out at HQ. Take the culture and teaching test: pass and skip the 6-day orientation to go straight to your apartment. Fail: full $400 week. First-timers always do the full week.

Stay on for the year

If the school wants you for the next term, the Non-B extension is done in the province where you teach. KET handles the paperwork and pays the 5,000 THB transfer. Read the Non-B guide.

Apply for this semester

On the form, tick One Semester.

Is one semester right for you?

A fit if you

Want 4–5 months in a real Thai school before further study or a career move
Need a legal visa, not a tourist-visa classroom
Want to test the North or a city before signing a year
Are a non-native speaker with a degree and IELTS 6.5+ or TOEIC 860+

Not a fit if you

Do not have a bachelor’s degree — see volunteer or internship
Plan to leave before the term ends
Only want 100k+ international-school posts

Questions

Is the monthly pay the same as a full school year?

Yes. KET public and northern roles pay 30,000–36,000 THB net a month. Private large-city roles start from 40,000 THB net.

How does the visa work for one term?

Most teachers do one Laos run. Some get a Non-B from home. After that, extensions are done in the province you teach in, with KET support.

Can I request Northern provinces or city placements?

Yes. You can request northern provinces such as Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, or Phetchabun, or large-city partner schools where seats exist.

Do I get the 5,000 THB if I only teach one semester?

No. That bank transfer is only paid if you convert a one-semester contract into a full school year. It goes toward the visa extension and work permit.

Is a TEFL certificate required?

A 120-hour TEFL is recommended. Bring your own recognised certificate. The $400 landing week is 6 nights of orientation. A separate 14-day Sukhothai practicum is available if you need classroom hours.

Can non-native English speakers apply?

Yes, with a bachelor’s degree and C1+ English (IELTS 6.5+ or TOEIC 860+).

When do I fly?

October 2026 pickups: 10, 17 and 24 October for a 2 November class start. Next May cycle: first pickup 17 April 2027.

Is the $400 orientation required for first-timers?

Yes. First-time teachers pay $400 on arrival for Bangkok pickup, 6 nights hotel, meals, SIM, training and school escort. Teachers who have taught in Thailand before can test out at HQ. Pass: skip the 6-day week and go to your apartment. Fail: full week.

How does the completion hold work?

From around month 2 or 3, 3,000 THB a month is held (up to 15,000 THB if five months are deducted). You can request a month off. Finish the contract and the amount taken is returned on your final payday with last salary. Leave early and the hold covers the broken-contract cost charged to KET.

When is payday?

The 10th of each month, for the previous month’s work. October arrivals work November and are paid on 10 December.

Apply for this semester

Two minutes. We reply in 24–72 hours.

Apply for this semester

On the form, tick One Semester.

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