This study reports on students’ perceptions on the characteristics of an effective English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teacher. The data were collected by means of a questionnaire to which 196 students of English Language Education Department in one of the private universities in Yogyakarta responded. The data were taken from second-year, third-year, and fourth-year students. The voices of stakeholders in general, and students in particular, were needed to be included in identifying the characteristics of an effective EFL teacher. The results revealed that the characteristics of an effective EFL teacher which were included in the three categories namely personal and interpersonal characteristics, subject-matter knowledge, and approach to language teaching as perceived by the students belong to very important category. EFL teachers especially those who are working in tertiary education could use the results as a means to better understand themselves and to provide a more meaningful teaching. This can also help teachers in assessing the needs of their students for the betterment of the learning process.