UK Bars Nigeria-, Ghana- and India-Trained Teachers From QTS Application Service

The United Kingdom has removed teachers trained in Nigeria, Ghana and India from the list of countries whose teachers can use the direct application service for Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) in England.

The change took effect on September 9, 2026, according to updated guidance from the UK Department for Education (DfE). QTS is a professional teaching status that can make it easier for teachers to secure jobs in England, although it is not required in every type of school.

The department said countries must meet specific conditions for their trained teachers to remain eligible for the application route. Among other requirements, a country must have a national regulator capable of confirming a teacher’s professional standing and must be able to provide references that meet UK verification standards.

For Nigeria and Ghana, the DfE said its data showed that more than 70 percent of applications from teachers in the two countries contained work-history references using public email services such as Gmail or Hotmail instead of official school email addresses. The department said this created additional work for assessors trying to verify applicants’ information.

India was also removed, but for a different stated reason. The UK department said India does not have a national regulator capable of confirming teachers’ professional standing under the requirements for the service.

The change does not mean Nigerian or Ghanaian teachers are automatically barred from teaching in England. The UK government says teachers trained outside the UK can work in England for up to four years without QTS, while QTS is required after that in many schools. Academies, free schools and private schools are among settings where QTS is not always a legal requirement.

Teachers affected by the new rule can explore other routes into teaching in England. The UK also operates an international Qualified Teacher Status (iQTS) programme, which is designed as a UK government-backed teaching qualification that can be undertaken outside England.

The countries currently eligible for the direct QTS application route include Australia, Canada, countries in the European Economic Area, Hong Kong, New Zealand, Switzerland, Ukraine and the United States. Jamaica, Singapore and South Africa also have specific eligibility arrangements subject to additional requirements.