Are you legal to teach abroad in China? Here are the steps you need to take to work in China and teach abroad! Today we will tell you who exactly is legal to teach in China, the documents you need to prepare, and how to apply for that work visa!
ESL Teacher is the most common job
Who is legal to teach in China? The Chinese government has a strict list of requirements you need to get a legal work visa in China.
The first way to teach legally in China is to become an ESL teacher (English as a second language). This is the most common job people think of when they picture teaching abroad in China. Most ESL teachers will either be working at a public school, private school, or training center teaching oral English.
The Legal Requirements
Passport holder from one of the approved countries (US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa)
Authenticated Bachelor’s Degree
TEFL/ TESOL/ CELTA certification (or be a certified teacher in your home country)
Clean Criminal Background Check
Under 55-60 years old
Medical Check
# The requirements in detail as below 
The “Native Speaker” Passport
There are so many native speakers of English that AREN’T from one of those seven countries: The Philippines, India, Singapore, Nigeria, Tanzania… not to mention so many people who are perfectly fluent in English that happen to have a different passport.
Authenticated Bachelor’s Degree
This is another one that people struggle with. To have pretty much any job in China, you’ll need a bachelor’s degree, which should be either 3 or 4 years, depending on where you’re from.If you don’t have a bachelor’s degree, you can still teach abroad in China, however, you won’t be teaching legally.
Due to some schools faking diplomas, the Chinese government has now instituted a system of authenticating bachelor’s degrees, which is something South Korea has been doing for quite some time now.
Basically, you’ll need your degree notarized by a notary public. Then you’ll get it authenticated by the relevant government authority, and submit it to the local Chinese embassy or consulate for approval.
TEFL/ TESOL/ CELTA or
Teaching Certification
To get that legal visa, you’ll need some sort of certification: either a TEFL, TESOL, CELTA or Teaching Certification.
CELTA is a brand of TEFL from the University of Cambridge and is recognized as being the “best TEFL” because it’s much more intensive (and expensive). However, most schools actually really don’t care which TEFL you take, as long as it’s accredited and at least 120 hours.
Clean Criminal Background Check
To teach legally in China, you’ll also need a clean criminal background check to show you haven’t committed any major crimes or felonies. Don’t worry too much about a few parking tickets or very minor infractions. The main thing they’re looking for is an actual criminal record.
How to Apply For Non-criminal Record For Work Permit?
Each country has their own process for getting a criminal records check, so be sure to do some googling. Some countries will let you do this online, whereas others will need you to come in for fingerprinting.
Under 55-60 Years Old
This is one item that often gets left off the list. China does have a requirement that foreign workers cannot be over the legal retirement age in China. For most provinces, that’s 55 years old for women and 60 for men.
If you want to work legally in China, you’ll need to apply before you hit the age cutoff, otherwise, you’ll need to work on a tourist or business visa.
Medical Check
The medical check is an examination you’ll have done after you’ve arrived in China on your Work Visa while you’re applying for your Residence Permit.
The Chinese Visa Paperwork
In order to teach legally in China, you’ll need to be on a WORK VISA (not a business visa). Once you arrive in China, this Work Visa will be switched to a Residence Permit, which will allow you to stay and work in China, coming and going as you please for at least a year. Obtaining all of the documents for a Work Visa will definitely take at least a month or two.
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