Visa Information

To work in China, you are required to obtain an “Z” visa (long-term business visa). Make sure your employer agrees to reimburse you for this before you fly. You’ll need a letter of invitation form the school before going to the embassy in your country to get the visa and a medical certificate. Download the latter from the embassy website and take it to your doctor to fill out.

When you arrive in China you’ll need to apply for your “Residence Permit for Foreigners” (a green booklet which permits you to work in China) as well as your “Foreign Experts Certificate” (a red booklet which asserts your qualifications to teach). Some teachers visit China on a tourist visa (L Visa), find work and their employer extends their tourist visa while the employer processes the work for the RPF and FEC. Although authorities may require you to leave the country and get an F visa while processing the paperwork – often at your expense. The RPF is dependent on your employer and when that relationship ends your RPF is no longer valid, requiring you to get a new one should you have a new employer. You are allowed to leave and re-enter China with your RPF. Both documents usually take up to 10 weeks to obtain.

If you’re in China for short-term work (like one or two months at a summer camp), most employers will tell you to just arrive with the tourist “L” visa (L) or short-term business “f” visa.

Resources

http://www.teflintl.com/china_zhuha.htm - The largest teaching training institute in China. With over 10 years experience in dozens of worldwide locations, they will get you started in learning ho wto teach, while their regional Chinese experts find you the job you’re looking for in the country.

http://www.teach-in-china.net – some job listings

http://www.icm2002.org.cn/L/university.htm – links to all Chinese universities.

http://www.buxiban.com – a great site for researching jobs in China. Job listings, resume-posting and even a search available to check out that school that has offered you a job.

http://www.chinatefl.com – another great website, with links to employers, universities and lots of info on finding a job in China.

http://www.teflchina.org/jobs/ - another good site, with not only job opportunities but lots more information on teaching in China.

You should be able to find lots of job vacancies as well on any English teaching job website, such as big ones like TEFL.com, Dave’s ESL Café, the Digital Education Network, ESL Worldwide, ESL Career, etc.