Job Discussion Forums

zcpet · Joined: 13 Apr 2013 Posts: 9 Location: USA

Hello all,

I'm a US citizen looking to teach English in Russia and I'm planning on getting a CELTA certification. Sorting out visas for this seems far and away the most complicated process. Would it be wise to get certified in a school in the EU under something like a tourist/student visa, and then enter Russia under a different visa? It seems like being stuck with a tourist/student visa in country would be a big hurdle when it comes to finding employment.

What do you guys think?

RoscoeTX · Joined: 06 Jul 2012 Posts: 56 Location: Moscow, Russia

Hi Zc,

So if your end goal is teaching in Russia and your desire is to get your Celta through a language school. Why not just do your Celta course in Russia instead of the EU? Moscow has a great Celta course which I took at BKC language school. While I wasnt in need of a visa at the time, they also organize visas for course participants.

Also, you may get more responses if you post in the Russia forum.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions about teaching in Russia, been teaching in Moscow over 5 years.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

I agree with Roscoe that it makes most sense to get certified in Russia if that's where you're heading, but you wouldn't need a visa at all to take a CELTA or equivalent course anywhere in the EU - US citizens are allowed to visit in the Schengen zone for 90 days maximum without any visa at all. Working in this time period would be technically illegal, but taking a cert course is fine. Google Schengen zone if you're unfamiliar.

zcpet · Joined: 13 Apr 2013 Posts: 9 Location: USA

Thanks for the responses. The reason I was asking is because I know that you need a visa even for tourist entry in Russia unless you're from the CIS. However, I can basically show up in the EU (Schengen zone) and live in a hostel/on a couch while I get a cert, no questions asked.