How to Negotiate an International Teaching Contract: Housing, Flights, Shipping, and Bonuses
The line items schools expect you to negotiate — and the ones they don't. A practical, script-included guide to reading and improving your offer.
International teaching offers arrive with more moving parts than a home-country contract, and every part is negotiable — housing, flights, shipping, tuition, start dates, professional development. Schools expect a conversation. Teachers who don't have one leave money and benefits on the table every contract cycle.
What's always negotiable
- Housing allowance vs. provided housing. If provided, ask what happens if you find something cheaper — some schools let you keep the difference.
- Shipping allowance. Standard is $1,500–$3,500 one-way. Ask for both directions or increased outbound.
- Flights. Number of tickets per contract, whether dependents are included, class of ticket for senior roles.
- Tuition places. Number of children covered, sibling discount, whether the benefit applies to a spouse pursuing further study.
- Signing bonus. Common at tier-1 schools; almost never offered unless requested.
- Contract-completion bonus. A retention lever many schools quietly offer for two-year completion.
- Start date and pre-arrival PD. Later start dates, funded IB or curriculum training before term begins.
What's harder to move
Base salary is usually banded. Small movements ($200–$500/month) are possible; large ones almost never are. If the base is materially below the market band for your role, the school is unlikely to bridge it — the offer isn't right for you.
The negotiation script
When a school extends an offer, thank them warmly, ask for 24–48 hours to review, and respond in writing:
"Thank you again for the offer — I'm genuinely excited about the role. Before I sign, I wanted to raise three items I'd like to explore: (1) the shipping allowance is $1,500 one-way; would you consider $3,000 round-trip given the two-year commitment, (2) my partner will need a work-permit-eligible dependent visa — can the school confirm sponsorship, and (3) I'd like to attend the [specific IB workshop] before I start; would this fall under the school's PD budget or my personal allowance? Happy to hop on a short call if easier."
Never negotiate more than three items at once
Bundling too many requests signals the offer isn't landing. Pick the two or three that materially change the package and let the smaller ones ride.
Read the contract carefully
- Termination clauses — how much notice, penalties for breaking early, whether return flights are forfeited.
- Definition of "salary" for gratuity purposes — always basic, never total.
- Non-compete or notice-period requirements at contract end.
- Housing responsibility — who pays utilities, who is on the lease, what happens on renewal.
- Tax equalisation, if any (rare, but tier-1 schools sometimes offer it for US taxpayers).
"The best negotiators aren't the pushiest. They're the ones who know exactly which two items in the contract they care about, and let the rest go."
When to walk away
If the school refuses to move on any of your three requests and the base is at the bottom of the market band, the contract is a below-market offer disguised as a firm one. Walk. There will be another cycle; there will be another school.
About the author
Charlotte Hayes
Staff Writer — Pay & Country Guides
Charlotte taught primary and TEFL in Spain, South Korea, and Morocco before earning her M.Ed. She writes TeachSphere's country guides and tracks live salary bands across regions.
