Document Legalisation Requirements for South Africans Teaching English in China

Key Takeaways:

• South Africans teaching English in China must meet specific document legalisation requirements.

• This involves notarisation and apostille certification.

• As of 7 November 2023, China accepts Apostille.

• Ensuring compliance streamlines the process for South Africans pursuing teaching opportunities in China.

With China’s incredible growth over the last few decades, demand for learning English has seen a huge increase. This presents a fabulous opportunity for South Africans wanting to experience China’s rich culture, beautiful locations and ancient customs.

UPDATE: China Apostille Commencement Date

The Hague Apostille Convention will come into force in China on 7 November 2023.

What does it do?

The Apostille Convention greatly simplifies the authentication of public documents to be used in China. It abolishes the traditional legalisation process, which often takes a long time and is quite costly. It replaces it with a single formality, an Apostilled authentication certificate.

Generally speaking, there is a much to consider and research when planning your trip, specifically vetting the school and tour / travel arrangement company you chose to work with. But in this article we’ll focus specifically on what possible documents you require as a South African planning to teach English in China.

Please note that you will require a PU letter from your employer in China before you can legalise your documents at the Chinese Embassy.

Degree Certificate

Process:

Please take note that we will require the original degree certificate. We will not be able to legalise the document without the original.

• We will make a photocopy of the original degree.

• The original together with the photocopy will go to the Department of Higher Education and Training. Higher Education will provide us with a confirmation letter, a stamp and signature on the copy.

• The stamped copy of the degree with the confirmation letter attached will now go to the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (“DIRCO”) for their verification.

• Once the document has been authenticated at DIRCO the document will be submitted to the Chinese embassy for their legalisation.

This procedure applies to degree certificates issued by a South African university. If your degree certificate was issued by a foreign university then a slightly different procedure will apply.

Police Clearance Certificate

Process:

• We will need to authenticate the original Police Clearance at DIRCO.

• Once the document has been authenticated at DIRCO the Police Clearance Certificate will be submitted to the Chinese embassy for their legalisation.

TEFL Certificate

Process:

Please take note that we need the original TEFL certificate.

• We will Notarise a photocopy of the TEFL Certificate.

• The notarised copy will then be taken to the High Court to verify the notary’s signature.

• The legalised document from the High Court will then be taken to DIRCO for their verification process.

• Once the document has been authenticated at DIRCO the document will be submitted to the Chinese embassy for their legalisation.

Medical Documents

Process:

• Once your Doctor has completed the official Chinese Embassy medical form, you will attach your photo and deliver the original completed form to us.

• We will submit the form to the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), where they will verify the documents.

• The documents will then be submitted to DIRCO for their verification.

• Once the document has been authenticated at DIRCO the document will be submitted to the Chinese embassy for their legalisation.

The processing time from start to finish will be approximately fifteen to thirty (due to COVID) working days from the time we receive the original documents from you.

For a quote, or any assistance regarding the above documents, please do not hesitate to contact us.