The requirements to teach English in China in 2021 are quite straightforward. Except when they aren’t. The eligibility criteria to get employed as a foreign teacher usually cause some confusion, especially as there are some exceptions to the rule. That’s why we are here, we will go with you every step of the way while ensuring that everything is done to the utmost perfection and efficiency. Apply here to find out if you qualify
The key requirement to teach English in China in 2021?
⭐️ A VALID WORKING VISA! ⭐️
The primary requirement to teach in China is having a valid Z-Visa in your passport. This is the only type of visa that allows you to work in the country, legally. This means that the requirements of the visa dictate those to teach English in China. In this sense, being allowed to teach in China is actually deceptively simple. If you can get a Z Visa, then you can teach. Easy!
| Citizens from the following countries qualify as ESL teachers and Z visa | |
|---|---|
| 🇦🇺 | Australia |
| 🇧🇲 | Bermuda |
| – | British Antarctica territory |
| 🇮🇴 | British Indian Ocean territory |
| 🇨🇦 | Canada |
| 🇫🇰 | The Falklands (i.e. the malvinas islands ) |
| 🇬🇮 | Gibraltar |
| 🇬🇬 | British guernsey |
| 🇬🇾 | Guyana (formerly known as British Guiana) |
| 🇮🇪 | Ireland |
| 🇮🇲 | The isle of man (British Irish sea territory) |
| 🇯🇪 | Jersey |
| 🇸🇬 | Singapore |
| 🇿🇦 | South Africa |
| 🇳🇿 | New Zealand |
| 🇵🇳 | Pitcairn islands |
| – | Cyprus’s ROM tilly and DE kelly |
| 🇬🇸 | South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands |
| 🇸🇭 | Saint Helena (Tristan da cunha archipelago) |
| 🇬🇧 | Britain |
| 🇺🇸 | The United States |
| 🇻🇮 | The United States virgin islands |
| 🇦🇬 | Antigua and Barbuda |
| 🇧🇸 | The Bahamas |
| 🇧🇧 | Pakistan Barbados Island |
| 🇻🇬 | British virgin islands |
| 🇰🇾 | British cayman islands |
| 🇩🇲 | Dominica |
| 🇬🇩 | Grenada |
| 🇻🇨 | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
| 🇯🇲 | Jamaica |
| 🇲🇸 | Montserrat |
| 🇰🇳 | Saint Kitts and Nevis |
| 🇱🇨 | Saint Lucia |
| 🇹🇹 | Trinidad and Tobago |
| 🇹🇨 | Turks and Caicos Islands |
Please note that most countries above only apply to those interested in ESL position with some exceptions. Please contact us for more info.
Eligibility Requirements to Teach English in China
To get a Z visa, you must satisfy certain criteria – from nationality and age to qualifications and a few other pivotal bits and bobs. It’s important to know that there are several exceptions to many of the below detailed rules. For clarity and ease of info-sharing, we’ll detail all those at the end of the article.
Here are the primary Z Visa requirements:
1. Your Nationality
You must be from one of the approved countries above
2. You must hold a Bachelor’s Degree
China has also decided it wants a certain foreign teacher to work there – one with a Bachelor’s Degree. The significant news is, however, that the degree can be in any subject. It does not need to be teaching or English specific at all. Got a Bachelor Degree in Making Animals out of Inflatable Balloons? If the degree is legit in your country, then you can teach English in China!
3. It’s a plus to have recognised and accredited TEFL certification – Teach English as a Foreign Language
TEFL – Teach English as a Foreign Language
TESOL – Teach English to Speakers of a Second Language
CELTA – Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (we guess TESOL was too hard to pronounce!) Now, they may all seem similar, but there are a couple of important differences.
The first two are very similar and, as far as requirements to teach English in China in 2021 goes, It would be a plus to have a 120-hour certificate.
This means you complete the course over 120 class hours. TEFL courses allow you to teach English to non-native speakers abroad, and this is precisely what you need if you wish to teach in China. TEFL jobs are in foreign countries.
A TESOL certificate allows you to teach English abroad but also to foreigners in your own home country (say, to brand new immigrants). Yes, you can apply for a Z Visa with a TESOL certificate too. The CELTA certificate is offered by Cambridge University (UK). This is a thorough course, which includes plenty of theory and practice. Cambridge customises CELTA for teaching adults, primarily, so it’s not nearly as popular with those who want to teach English abroad.
4. You must have a CLEAR Criminal Background Check from your home country
To apply for a Z Visa, you must present a Criminal Record (also called a Police Check) that shows you have no priors.
And don’t forget that once you have all your documents, you will need to have them authenticated for the visa application.
Eligibility Exceptions
Remember how we said that everyone’s story is different? Well, it’s true: what if you are not originally from one of the approved countries above but you studied and gained your Bachelor Degree from one of the approved countries? Apply to find out if you are exempt
Feel free to send in your application and find out if you qualify.
This article is a combination from different sources and we made sure that the list of countries is updated and verified by official sources. If you have questions in regard to this article, please send us an email.