Preempting the storm: RIP Margaret Thatcher

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They are screaming for English teachers here, but if you want to stay for a longer period, you'd need a visa. I got married and started with a family visit visa, but it's most practical to arrange a 1-year work visa with an employer. Foreign visitors are generally treated very well, but I wouldn't want to be without a visa in case you met the wrong person.

For official jobs with high salary companies, you need:
- Any bachelor's degree from a western university
- TESOL / TEFL degree. Very easy to obtain for native speakers.

I only lived in Scotland for 5 years during my childhood, but I use English media enough to consider myself a native speaker without a shadow of a doubt. I was lucky to be born in the UK before 1983 (June 1982), so despite my Scottish father not acknowledging me, I could claim territorial citizenship. My British passport is a very valuable asset when finding work as teacher, more so than my Dutch passport.

You can embellish your English teaching experience and education a bit, to value yourself a bit higher. Read a contract carefully, and stick to it rigidly, because employers will try things to reduce your salary. They're scared that you'll leave their company, though, so the slightest complaint from you will set things straight. Always be on your guard, of course. Sometimes you must forgo politeness to prevent the company from taking advantage of you. It doesn't make the atmosphere unworkable, so don't worry. Negotiating/haggling is just a habit here.

The TEFL course could be done online mostly, and I traveled to a weekend classroom. It's fairly simple, and actually a great refresher on English grammar rules (I had learned the Dutch terminology at school). Anyone doing the course would be wise to take notes while filling in the examinations online.