Skip to main content
Guidance

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

Routes to QTS for overseas trained teachers and UK citizens with teaching experience who live overseas.

Updates to this page

From:
Department for Education
Published:
29 June 2021
Last updated:
7 August 2025
Show all updates

  1. Updated to reflect QTS policy changes and guidance about the 'Apply for QTS in England' service.

  2. 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.

  3. Updated to reflect the support available from the Get into Teaching service.

  4. Zimbabwe has been removed from the list of eligible countries because DfE has been unable to verify required documentation from that country.

  5. Updated to remove links to withdrawn pages.

  6. 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.

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

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

  9. 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'.

  10. First published.

Applies to England

Documents

Routes to qualified teacher status (QTS) for teachers and those with teaching experience outside the UK

HTML

Details

This guidance is for:

  • overseas trained 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.

Sign up for emails or print this page

Related content