To answer this question in the shortest way possible – no.

The minimum requirements for a work ‘Z’ visa in China are a bachelor’s degree, a clean police check and a 120-hour online TEFL/ TESOL certification. These 3 documents must be notarized and authenticated (legalized). We welcome applicants to apply before completing their TEFL course, and up to 9 months before completing their degree.

Teachers with 2 years of classroom teaching experience and a reference letter to evidence this do not require a TEFL certification for the purposes of the work visa.

Of course, many schools set experience and qualification pre-requisites. For example, many Chinese universities have a policy which requires that their ESL teachers have 2 years of classroom experience, due to the higher level of teaching and language level of their students. International Schools typically require teachers to hold a teaching licence from their home country or a Master’s degree in Education etc.

Opportunity China facilitate teaching jobs in a wide variety of school types: International Schools, Public Primary, Middle and High Schools, Private Language Centres, Kindergartens and Universities.

As part of your Opportunity China interview, we will provide more information on each school type and the differences between each type. Your Coordinator will discuss which may be the best fit for you based on your preferences, qualifications and experience level.

However, a small number of schools in certain provinces are able to sponsor the work visa for ‘non-native English’ passport holders if they have studied their bachelor’s or master’s degree in a native English-speaking country and hold a minimum 120-hour TEFL certificate (or are willing to complete this certification subsequent to application).

Strictly speaking, the Chinese government stipulate that the work ‘z’ visa to teach English can only be awarded to those from native English-speaking countries – so the U.S, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

However, a small number of schools in certain provinces are able to sponsor the work visa for ‘non-native English’ passport holders if they have studied their bachelor’s or master’s degree in a native English-speaking country and hold a minimum 120-hour TEFL certificate (or are willing to complete this certification subsequent to application).

Opportunity China work with partner schools in many major cities across China. These include, but are not limited to; Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Foshan, Chengdu, Chongqing, Suzhou, Nanjing, Zhanjiagang, Shenyang, and Kunming.

Your Opportunity China Coordinator will work with you closely to identify which cities are of interest to you, and schools that would be a great fit within your preferred city/ cities. Browse our China City Guides.

It all depends on the kind of role you’re after. Opportunity China work with many Private Language Centres that offer Management and Senior Teaching roles within their organizations. These roles are generally open only to those with at least 2 years ESL teaching experience and some level of management experience.

Opportunity China also work with many Public School that offer a wide variety of higher paid English Teaching and Subject Teaching Roles. These include History, Science and Math roles, among others.

Then there are International Schools and Universities, who are often looking for more experienced teachers to join their ranks, with living standards and pay rates reflecting this.

Visit our jobs board to search for the right opportunity for you.

In line with Chinese government requirements, teachers are required to have a minimum 120-hour TEFL/ TESOL certification OR 2 years of ESL/ English teaching experience (evidenced by a reference letter).

This is due to work ‘z’ visa legislation, and is required by a school in order to apply for a teacher’s work permit paperwork.

Opportunity China’s Coordinators are here to guide and support you through the process, so you are clear on what to do at every step of the way. In addition to this, we provide various online resources and tailored guidance as per the requirements of your employer school.

In short, you will first gather your bachelor’s certificate, police check and TEFL certificate/ reference letter. Then, you will get these 3 documents notarized by a notary or lawyer. Following that, the documents are sent to the relevant State/Foreign Office. Finally, you will take the documents to your nearest Chinese Embassy for the final authentication stage. Find a detailed, country by country guide to authentication here.

Once complete, you then email scans of these documents to your employer school in China, and they will apply for your work permit.

Then you need to be patient… 3- 4 weeks later, the work permit will be issued electronically and emailed to you.

You can then use this work permit paperwork and apply for a z visa at your nearest Visa for China Service Centre. You’ll need to take all original authenticated documents with you to China.

See our Visa Guide to Teach in China.

Yes, at some point a medical check will be required, although it’s nothing to worry about.

Approximately 80% of schools will require you to complete a medical check in your country of residence as part of the work visa process. Often the Chinese Medical Form can be completed in quite a basic way by a Nurse or Physician from your existing medical notes, without any tests being done.

Other schools will only require the medical check to be completed on arrival in China, and will arrange this for you.

Even if you have a medical check in your home country before you depart, you will likely need to have a second medical check upon arrival in China.

Learn more about medical checks for the Chinese work visa.

Sure. Of course, every teacher’s lifestyle is different, however comparatively high wages and a low cost of living make for great savings opportunities.

This blog post talks in details about earning potential and saving money while teaching in China.

Nearly all schools provide local medical insurance, meaning that if you were ill while in your city of work then you would be taken to a local hospital and treated for your condition.

We advise that you purchase an international travel and medical insurance policy, which will cover your belongings whilst abroad and will give access to medical and dental treatment in a Western clinic – plus will cover you for those exciting trips in China and more widely in Asia during your vacation time.

Opportunity China work with Endsleigh Insurance which provides specialist cover to Teach in China. Visit our insurance information page and contact info@opportunity-china.com for a quote.

Sure, all teachers have plenty of time to travel and pursue their own interests.

In public and international schools, teachers have the same holidays as students – so a 3 week break over Chinese New Year (typically February) and the summer off work (July and August), depending when your contract term starts and ends. Check to see what salary arrangements are during vacation periods. Plus, a minimum 11 days of public holiday.

In private language centres teacher have 11 days of public holidays off work, plus usually a minimum of 2 weeks paid vacation taken at a time of your choice. Some schools may also have an additional week of closure over Chinese New Year.

Yes, all schools either provide an apartment or give a monthly accommodation allowance. The apartment will be modern, comfortable and practical located within 20 minutes of your workplace and often shared with one other teacher. Where an apartment is provided, either Opportunity China or your employer school will be able to show you sample apartment photos.

When an accommodation allowance is provided, this is typically for two-thirds of the cost of a standard one-bedroom apartment that city. A school will typically provide hotel accommodation for 4-5 nights while their bi-lingual staff assist you to apartment hunt. Most schools will also offer an interest-free start up loan to assist with some of the up-front costs of the deposit and rental, often between RMB6000- 10000.

No, Opportunity China are proud to charge no fees for our services and our Coordinators give personal individual support to each and every teacher.

All teachers need to cover the following costs up-front: document notarization and authentication costs (actual cost depends on your country of residence), visa application (approximately US$175/ £150) and international flight.

All schools will reimburse the international flight as per the conditions of the employment contract; some will reimburse shortly after arrival, others in instalments, others at the end of the contract.

Some schools will also reimburse certain document authentication costs.

You will also need sufficient funds to live on during your first few weeks, prior to being paid. The exact amount will depend on the city of work – your Opportunity China Coordinator will be able to advise you.

Yes, it’s standard practice that teachers pay for their flight to China up-front. This will later be reimbursed as per the conditions of your contract; the majority either reimburse in instalments or at the end of contract, however a small number reimburse within a month of arrival.

Opportunity China offer a comprehensive support package to all our candidates. Our team has a wealth of experience in assisting candidates through every stage of their pre-departure process. Opportunity China will assign every candidate with a dedicated Coordinator, responsible for overseeing and directing candidates through their school matching process and ensuring you are given ample choice, flexibility and careful guidance in finding the right school.

Opportunity China Coordinators will also be on hand to lead you through the authentication and visa process, ensuring you receive tailored information and are carefully guided through the legally required processes to work in China.

Finally, Coordinators will ensure candidates are fully prepared to depart for China and have packed the right belongings have take out the relevant insurance and have downloaded and installed a VPN before departing.

Once in China, Opportunity China Coordinators check-in regularly with teachers to see how they are doing and if they need any assistance – while also liaising with their employer for feedback. We have a number of resident bloggers, as well as Ambassadors who are on hand to speak with prospective teachers.

If at the end of a teacher’s contract, they wish to move to another part of China, Opportunity China Coordinators will help replace them with a school that meets their new requirements.