Working Visa Application - ISAC Teach in China

Work Visa Application

Important Update:

Oct. 24th, 2018,We have recently seen cases where applications being returned by the Foreign Expert Bureau because the diploma and police check authentication are not on the original documents. We strongly suggest all applicants to authenticate their original documents rather than the copies of the them.
Starting from Jan. 18th, 2018, applicant can authenticate diploma on the online verification system (http://renzheng.cscse.edu.cn) from the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China. Current system is in Chinese only, ISAC is able to provide assistance
Starting from Sept. 2017, applicant has the option to perform body check in China after their arrival in China. Still you need to double check with your placement school to see whether you meet the requirements.

Step 1. Get Chinese Work Permit

Before you can get your working visa for China, you need to get your Chinese work permit, which is officially called Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit or NLFWP. They are issued by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security of the People’s Republic of China. Your host school and ISAC office will apply for you through the online application system. The process takes about 15 working days to obtain the NLFWP. You will need to prepare the following:

PASSPORT
PHYSICAL EXAM REPORT (Optional)
DIGITAL AND HARDCOPY PHOTOS
AUTHENTICATED DOCUMENTS
1. Original Bachelor’s Degree Certificate
2. Criminal Record Check from your country of origin or country of staying (within the past 6-months)

Steps to authenticate your diploma and police check

5. Original TEFL/TESOL/TESL/CELTA CERTIFICATE (If applicable)

6. REFERENCE LETTER (if applicable)

A signed reference letter of from Employers over the past 2-years of teaching

7. MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE (if applicable)

If you married and you want to bring your family, the original Marriage Certificate and original Birth Certificate are required.

Step 2. Get Chinese Work Visa (Z Visa)

This is fairly easy and straigtfoward, and is usually done in 1-3 working days. NLFWP comes with 2 pages, one in English and the other in Chinese. Print out both and take them to the Chinese embassy/consulate to apply for your Z visa. You will need to bring the following

Passport
Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit
Visa Application Form and Photo click for photo requirements
Proof of legal status (applicable for those not applying for the visa in their country of citizenship)

Consular Authentication

Authentication certificate of your police background check, which is issued by the Chinese embassy/consulate (6 months validity).
Authentication certificate for the photocopy of Bachelor degree certificate rather than a statement, which is issued by Chinese embassy/consulate or Ministry of Education of P.R. China.

Authentication procedure for some countries:

US	Notarization: Get the original document notarized by a notary public (in the state it was issued)(Should be ONE 1 working day). Authentication I: Send both the original and notarized document to and get them authenticated (NOT apostilled) by the Secretary of State, the state where your documents were issued. (FBI background check should be legalized by U.S. Department of State) Authentication II:Send the legalized document to the corresponding Chinese Embassy/consulate (check consular district map) for final authentication.
Canada	Notarization: Get the original document notarized by a notary public, lawyer or Commissioner of Oaths of Canada. AuthenticationⅠ: Send both the original and notarized document to and get them authenticated by the authentication office of the Canadian Foreign Affairs Department or the relevant province (territory). Authentication Ⅱ:Send the authenticated document to the Chinese Embassy/Consulate (check consular district map) for final authentication.
UK	Notarization: If your documents were not issued by a British government authority, please get the original document notarized by a local international notary public. If your documents were issued by a British government authority, then you must get them notarized by a lawyer. Legalization: Send both the original and notarized document to and get them legalized by the Legalization office of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) or an authorized department by FCO. Authentication:Send the legalized document to the Chinese Embassy or a consulate for final authentication.
Ireland	Notarization: please get the original document notarized by a notary public. Legalization: Send both the original and notarized document to and get them legalized by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Ireland. Authentication:Send the legalized document to the Chinese Embassy or a consulate for final authentication.
Australia	Notarization: please get the original document notarized by a notary public. Legalization: Send the notarized document to and get them legalized by Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Australia. Authentication Ⅰ: Send the notarized document to and get them authenticated (NOT apostilled) by the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade or its Office in States or Territories. Authentication Ⅱ: Send the authenticated document to the Chinese Embassy or relevant Consulate General where the documents notarized but not authenticated for final authentication. For example, if your documents are notarized in South Australia and authenticated in DFAT’s office in Sydney, they should be authenticated in the Chinese Consulate General in Adelaide but not the Consulate General in Sydney.
New Zealand	Notarization: If your documents were not issued by an approved New Zealand government agency, please get the original document notarized by a notary public. Legalization: Send the notarized document to and get them legalized by the Legalization office of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) or an authorized department by FCO. Authentication Ⅰ: Send the authorized document to and get them authenticated by the Authentication Unit at the New Zealand Department of Internal Affairs Authentication II: Send the authenticated document to the Chinese Embassy or a consulate for final authentication.
South Africa	1.Diploma Verification: Get the original document verified by the Department of Higher Education. Legalization: Send the verified document to and get them apostilled by the Department of International Affairs Authentication:Send the apostilled document to the Chinese Embassy or a consulate for final authentication. 2.Police clearance Notarization: Get your original document notarized by a notary public. Legalization: Send the original and verified document to and get them apostilled by the Department of International Affairs Authentication: Send the apostilled document to the Chinese Embassy or a consulate for final authentication. 3.TEFL certificate Verification: Get the original document verified by the high court. Legalization: Send the verified document to and get them apostilled by the Department of International Affairs Authentication:Send the apostilled document to the Chinese Embassy or a consulate for final authentication.

Policies and Regulations