i-to-i TEFL 
Visas and inoculations
Getting all the required information about visas and inoculations is a necessity and not having what you need could bring your whole trip to a screeching halt.
If you don't want your travel experience to end before it's begun then you have to do the work before you go.
A visa is a formal document from the country you wish to enter, that entitles you to legal passage. Visas are issued for a variety of reasons, including business, education, holiday, immigration etc. Your visa will permit you to stay in the country for a certain amount of time and will have to be renewed if you are intending to stay any longer.
In most countries, there are specific visas which are given to people teaching English. There are two simple ways to find out what visa you will need and whether a specific English teaching visa is available. The first is to contact the school or institution at which you have secured or plan to secure a teaching position. They deal with foreign teachers everyday and they'll know exactly what you need. The second is to contact the embassy of the country directly.
Depending on where you are applying for your visa and which type of visa you are required to apply for you will be asked to supply a variety of documents including:
- Criminal record documentation
- Evidence of intent to return home
- Some countries will ask for proof of health status
- Proof of health, or evacuation insurance
- Proof of finance and lodging, that you can support yourself and are not a bum, resettling from one country to another.
- you will likely need some proof of employment in country of
While some countries may require all of this and sometimes more, other countries may not require any of it. One constant between countries though, is that they all take their visa requirements very seriously and you should never avoid authorities in this area. It is always advised to research this before entering the country.
Another duty you may be asked to perform before entrance to a country is granted, is proof of inoculation. Inoculation is a word often used interchangeably with vaccination or immunisation. Inoculations are generally given in the form of a shot and are a controlled manner of introducing your body to a disease so that your immune system will develop the antibodies needed to fight such the disease. Many of us have had inoculations as children and will know it is a relatively simple procedure.
Most inoculations will be advised or required in countries where there is a risk of infection. Exaclty which inoculation are required depends on a number of factors including the season, geographic location, purpose of travel (ie medical work), duration of travel, travel budget (hotels or camping) and age. It is always recommended to contact your physician before you set off on your adventure.
If you do not wish to participate in certain inoculations for religious, ideological or health reasons, it is advised to discuss this with the embassy of the country in question.
Visas and inoculations are an important part of your travel plans and should be treated with all the gravity that they deserve. This is not an area that you should neglect and if you do, the chances are that you will live to regret it.
