Teaching abroad attracts many honest schools, and some people who want to take teachers’ money. Scammers copy real school names, send offers for jobs that do not exist, and ask for “visa fees” or “processing fees”. Some agents charge teachers fees that the law does not allow.
This guide explains who should pay for recruitment, the warning signs of a fake offer, and how to check that a school and a job are real. It is general information for teachers anywhere. Rules were checked on the official pages in October 2026.
Rule one: you should not pay to get a job
The International Labour Organization (ILO) sets out general principles for fair recruitment. One of them is that workers “shall not be charged directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, any fees or related costs for their recruitment” (ILO). These principles are guidance, not law, but many countries have laws that follow the same idea. Two examples:
United Arab Emirates. The UAE government portal says (u.ae):
- “If you land a job through a job portal, you are not required to pay commission to any party; neither to the recruiting company nor to the company behind the job portal.”
- “Job seekers are not required to pay money to any recruitment agency as the onus to pay such fees lies with the employers.”
It also says that the costs of recruitment and travel, and of your UAE residence permit, are paid by the employer (u.ae).
United Kingdom. GOV.UK says employment agencies cannot “charge a fee to a work-seeker for work finding services” (GOV.UK). When an English school sponsors a teacher’s visa, the school pays the sponsor licence fee, the certificate of sponsorship fee and the immigration skills charge (GOV.UK).
Some official costs may still be yours, depending on the country and the contract. Examples are your own police certificates, degree attestation or an apostille, and in some cases your visa application. You pay these to the official body that issues them, not to an agent. If someone asks you to pay them for a job, an interview or a visa, stop.
Warning signs of a fake teaching job offer
The UAE government lists these signs (u.ae job search, u.ae fraud tips):
- “If the hiring company or the agency asks you for money to process the visa or medical test, it is not a genuine company.”
- The offer comes from an email address that does not match the organisation’s domain name.
- You are told to travel on a visit or tourist visa and work. The UAE says a visit visa “does not give you right to work in the UAE”.
The UK government warns about (GOV.UK):
- Websites that offer UK jobs that do not exist, then ask for money for “visa and other associated fees”.
- Requests for a deposit to show you have enough money.
- Promises that you are “guaranteed a visa” using documents they provide.
- Email addresses that look official but are not. Real Home Office emails end in
@homeoffice.gov.uk.
Signs that are specific to teaching jobs:
- No real interview. Real schools interview teachers, usually by video or in person.
- No checks on you. Real schools check teachers before they start. In England, schools must get an enhanced DBS check, a prohibition check, at least 2 references and evidence of professional standing, and may check overseas criminal records (GOV.UK). In Dubai, a teacher needs a UAE police clearance and a police clearance certificate from each country where they lived in the previous five years (KHDA). An offer that skips all checks is a warning sign.
- The school does not exist, or the school’s own website does not list the job.
- Pressure to pay or decide fast, or to keep the offer secret.
- Requests for your original passport or degree certificate to be posted to an agent.
How to check a school
Before you apply, and again before you accept an offer:
- Find the school on the regulator’s list.
- Dubai: KHDA publishes a database of private schools in Dubai with contact details, and an education directory with each school’s profile.
- Abu Dhabi: ADEK’s private schools page links to a “Find Schools and Fees” search.
- British schools abroad: the UK Department for Education publishes a list of British schools overseas that meet its standards, with inspection reports.
- Other countries: look for the education ministry’s list of licensed private schools.
- Check membership and accreditation. The Council of International Schools (CIS) and the Council of British International Schools (COBIS) have directories of their member schools. These are membership organisations, not governments, and many good schools are not members. But if a school says it is a member, you can check.
- Find the job on the school’s own website. On this board, every job links to the school’s own careers page, so you apply straight to the school.
- Contact the school yourself. Use a phone number or email address from the school’s official website, not one from the message you received. Ask whether the job and the person who contacted you are real.
- Check any agency. If an agency contacts you, ask which school it works for and confirm with the school. Many governments publish a list of licensed recruitment agencies. In the UAE, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) licenses agencies, and the UAE portal says you can refer to the ministry to check for licensed companies (u.ae).
How to check a job offer in the UAE
The UAE gives job seekers these checks (u.ae fraud tips):
- A real job offer in the UAE comes as an offer letter issued through MOHRE. You can check it with its reference number on the MOHRE enquiry service.
- You can check that the company legally exists by searching its English and Arabic name in the National Economic Register.
- The employer pays recruitment expenses under UAE labour law. Do not pay upfront fees yourself.
Government programmes: apply only through the official route
Programmes such as JET in Japan and EPIK in Korea are popular, so people sometimes pretend to recruit for them.
- JET: you apply to the Embassy or Consulate of Japan in your home country, by the deadline it sets (JET).
- EPIK: you apply directly to EPIK, or through its partner organisations or recruitment agencies (EPIK).
If someone offers you a “guaranteed” place for a fee, check the programme’s official website first.
If something goes wrong
- Stop paying. Scammers often ask for “one more fee”.
- Keep records. Save every message, receipt and document.
- Report it in the UAE to MOHRE: phone +971 6 802 7666 or email ask@mohre.gov.ae (u.ae).
- Report it in the UK to Action Fraud, on its website or, if you are in the UK, by phone on 0300 123 2040 (GOV.UK). Outside these countries, report it to your local police.
- Tell the real school if the scammer used its name, using the contact details on its official website.
Frequently asked questions
Should I pay a recruitment agency to get a teaching job abroad?
No. The ILO’s fair recruitment principles say workers should not be charged recruitment fees. In the UAE, the government says job seekers do not have to pay an agency or a job portal, because the employer pays. In the UK, agencies cannot charge a work-seeker a fee for finding work.
What are the signs of a fake teaching job offer?
A request for money for a visa, a medical test or a deposit, a “guaranteed” visa, and an email address that does not match the school’s domain. Also watch for offers with no real interview, no reference or police checks, and jobs that do not appear on the school’s own website.
How can I check that a school in Dubai or Abu Dhabi is real?
Look it up on the regulator’s list. KHDA publishes a database of private schools in Dubai and an education directory with school profiles. ADEK’s private schools page links to a “Find Schools and Fees” search for Abu Dhabi. Then contact the school using the details on its official website, not the details in the message.
How do I check a UAE job offer?
The UAE says a real job offer comes as an offer letter issued through MOHRE, which you can check with its reference number on the MOHRE enquiry service. You can also search the company’s English and Arabic name in the National Economic Register to confirm that it legally exists.
Where do I report a teaching job scam?
In the UAE, contact MOHRE by phone on +971 6 802 7666 or by email at ask@mohre.gov.ae. In the UK, report it to Action Fraud. Elsewhere, report it to your local police. Also tell the real school if the scammer used its name, using contact details from its official website.