10 Things Your Employer Will Require If You Want to Teach English in China

So you’ve decided to move to China and teach English…yay! China is a beautiful country that I’ve lived and taught in for 3 years but I’m not going to lie, it can be very overwhelming.

I interviewed via Skype while living in the United States and accepted a position for a teaching job in Shanghai. Before arriving, I received a list of documents that my school needed beforehand. I provided all of these documents virtually and brought paper copies with me. When I arrived, they asked for more documents that were never mentioned and my family had to send them via DHL. That’s China. You’ll learn to get used to those moments and just go with it!

I created this no-fluff list of documents your employer will require for teaching English in China based on my teaching experience at a public school and an international school in Shanghai, China. These documents were needed to obtain my employment license, a work invitation letter from the Chinese embassy, and my residency in China.

Documents Required to Teach English in China

1. Resume (free)
   
2. Bachelor’s Degree ($30,000-$120,000)
   
3. TEFL Certification ($500-$2,000)
   
4. Reference letter for a position with 2 Years experience (free)
   
5. Health Report/Extensive Physical Exam ($0-$500)
   
6. Criminal Background Record ($20-$30)
   
7. Degree Authentication
   1. Public Notary (free)
   2. State Authentication ($15)
   3. Consulate Authentication ($120+)
      
8. 3-4 Passport Photos ($5-10)
   
9. Photocopy of Passport (free)
   
10. Experience (free with TEFL practicum hours)

Are you still considering teaching abroad? Check out this post.

Feel free to comment below or shoot me a DM with any questions about teaching abroad and moving to China. I’ll do my best to offer resources, advice, and answers.

Are you planning on moving to China or even Asia? Check out more of my posts below about living in Shanghai.