Am I eligible to teach English in China?

Here we are at the crux of the matter: Are you interested in teaching English in China but are unsure whether you meet the requirements? See what we can find out...

To be able to legally teach in China, you must first:

To be eligible, you must be a native English speaker from one of seven nations.

Chinese officials prefer English instructors from seven English-speaking countries: the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and six African countries: South Africa, Canada and the United States. However, certain provinces make an exception and allow residents from the Caribbean nations to travel freely. In the Caribbean, you'll have to inquire for further information.

It's safe to say that China is a country where anything is possible. If you're a certified teacher with at least two years of expertise in a specialized topic, you may not be able to teach English, but you may be able to teach that subject instead.

a girl aged 18-55, or a man aged 60 (male)

China's retirement ages are set at the higher end of the age spectrum, and the government has no plans to provide any exceptions.

an undergraduate degree in any field is required

Fortunately, you don't have to have a teaching or English-specific bachelor's degree to apply. You may work as an ESL teacher in China if you have a bachelor's degree from a recognized university or college. Your degree and other papers will need to be verified. In the section below, we'll walk you through the visa application procedure.

Have TEFL certifications that are recognized and approved

To teach English in China, you just need a 120-hour TEFL certificate. You may also apply if you have two years of teaching experience under your belt. Cambridge's CELTA program is well-regarded, but it is also too costly for most people.

If you don't have a TEFL certification yet, there are several low-cost online alternatives. Having this certification can help you get a well-paying job as an English teacher. Choose a course that will be accepted in China, but make sure it is certified.

If you don't have TEFL certification, you must have at least two years of teaching experience.

Without a TEFL certification, you'll need two years of classroom experience. Obviously, if you have the credentials as well as the teaching experience, your chances of landing a fantastic teaching position increase.

How do I go about getting a visa to go to China and teach?

In terms of visas, China only offers one that enables you to work as a teacher. A Z Work Permit is required.

A work offer is required before you may apply for this visa. So, before you begin your visa application, make sure your teaching contract is signed and delivered. Your employer will be the one to provide all of the required paperwork. You are responsible for gathering all of your own personal papers.

There are a few things you should know before applying for a Z Visa to teach abroad:

Before traveling to China, you'll need to apply for and have a valid Z Visa. You are free to enter the nation with any other visa, but you are not allowed to work lawfully in the country while doing so.

You must first get a Work Permit Notice before you can apply for a visa. This process will be assisted by your employer.

Passport pictures are strictly regulated in China (aren't they in every country?). Be careful to double-check this before allowing them to do any work on your property.

Visas for China cannot be obtained directly from the Chinese Embassy in the majority of nations. As an alternative, you'll need to schedule an appointment with a China Visa Application Service Center online. It may take weeks to find a time that works for everyone. As a result, you should make plans to attend as soon as you have a job lined up. While you're waiting, make sure you've prepared all of your papers.

You'll have to provide a copy of your country's Criminal Record Check. As well as from any nation where you've spent more than six months in the previous five years. In the event if you've lived in a number of nations, it's well worth your time to complete all the necessary police checks before moving forward. They are usually good for six months, so you have plenty of time to have it done.

Check your visa as soon as you get it. In certain cases, the wrong visa is issued, or the correct visa is provided to you but has incorrect information on it. If this occurs, be sure to have it fixed as soon as possible.

Your nation may require that your papers be notarized or apostilled. The Chinese government will always be required to verify them. You'll see this on your Z Visa application form, and what it means is as follows.

Notarized: Consult a Notary Public (or a lawyer, depending on the regulations in your country) before signing anything. They will provide you a certificate stating that the document is authentic and trustworthy.

An apostille is required in certain countries, such as the United States, for the Notary Public's signature. The Department of State/Foreign Office, for example, is often in charge of this.

Finally, all the documents and signatures must be verified by the Chinese government. The Chinese Embassy in the State/Province/Country where the original document was issued is where this is typically done.

It's a given that your background check will include this stage. For additional information on the legislation in your nation, click on the links provided below.

You may only submit your visa application with the necessary papers once you've completed these procedures.