Teach in China
17 agencies in this directory say they recruit teachers for schools in China, including Aristotle Teachers, Teacher Recruit and Footprints Recruiting.
Recruitment agency · London, United Kingdom
Recruiter for international school teaching roles; candidates create a free account to apply
Recruitment agency
Says it places teachers, professors and trainers in international schools, universities and training academies in 36+ countries
Search firm / recruitment fairs
Advises international schools on Head, Principal and senior leadership appointments
Recruitment agency
Offers an international recruitment service for schools hiring teachers, plus a teaching job board
Recruitment agency
Specialist recruitment service connecting international schools with experienced educators and leaders
Job board
Job board and school directory for teaching jobs abroad (claims 600+ schools in 150+ countries in its directory)
Recruitment agency · Bridge of Weir, United Kingdom
Recruits teachers for international schools, primarily in the Middle East and also East Asia, Australasia, Europe and North Africa
Recruitment agency
Recruits teachers and school leaders for international schools; site states candidates placed in Europe, Middle East, Asia and South America/Caribbean
Recruitment agency · United Kingdom
Matches teachers with roles in schools around the world; says it has helped more than 8,000 teachers into jobs since 2004
Recruitment agency
Describes itself as a specialist in international education recruitment with a teacher-matching service and job board
Recruitment agency · Ottawa, Canada
Places teachers in schools in the Middle East and Asia, many on British or American curricula
Search firm / recruitment fairs · Cape Town, South Africa
Established 2007; runs recruitment fairs and a recruitment/events department for institutions in the Gulf and Asia
Search firm / recruitment fairs · London, United Kingdom
Recruits school leaders (Head, Principal, Director) for international schools
Recruitment agency · Hangzhou, China
Specialist bespoke recruitment of international teachers; says it was founded in 2018 and works with over 300 global schools
Recruitment agency · Vancouver, Canada
Says it has placed over 10,000 teachers since 2001, across Asia, the Middle East and beyond
Recruitment platform
Teacher-hiring platform and app for international schools; says registration is free with no agency fees
Recruitment agency · York, United Kingdom
Connects teachers with international schools across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean
A UK teacher cannot treat China like a visa-free trip with a job at the end. GOV.UK states that you can only work in China with a work visa (Z visa), that tourist and business visas do not allow you to work, and that teachers have been detained and deported for working on the wrong visa. The responsibility for checking sits with you.
This page sets out how the work permit system is built, what the degree and experience guidance says and how old that guidance is, and which registration rules apply once you arrive. Use it to prepare questions for a school or recruiter, not as a substitute for the embassy.
A notice published by the Shanghai government says a unified work permit system for foreign workers has applied nationwide since 1 April 2017, with the Foreigner's Work Permit issued under joint national regulation. Shanghai's own guidance says the applicant must be at least 18, in good health and without a criminal record, and that the notification letter is applied for online before entry.
The document list on that guidance includes your highest degree certificate, a no-criminal-record certificate, a physical examination certificate and your employment contract. Ask the school which of these it expects you to have notarised or authenticated before you resign from your current post.
An Australian government page, current as at February 2017, says guidelines from China's foreign expert authority expect a foreign expert to hold at least a bachelor's degree and more than two years of related work experience. The same page says there is no legal requirement for a degree to teach English, and that provinces apply the rules differently, with some tying the work certificate to a degree.
Because that note is nearly a decade old, treat it as background. Ask the employer to confirm in writing what the local foreign affairs office requires in the city where you would teach.
GOV.UK says that if you stay longer than 6 months you may need a residence permit, and that you must register your place of residence with the local Public Security Bureau within 24 hours of arrival. Hotels usually do this for guests, but a private flat is different.
It also says applicants aged 14 to 70 apply online and attend a visa application centre in person, where fingerprints are taken, and that if you change employer or location you should check whether you need a new visa and work permit first.
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These agencies say they recruit worldwide without naming China specifically: Anthony Millard Consulting, ANZUK Education, Atlas Teachers, Edvectus, International Schools Services (ISS), RSAcademics, Schrole, Search Associates, Teach Away, Teacher Horizons, Teaching Abroad Direct, Tes (international jobs), TIC Recruitment, TIE Online (The International Educator), TrueTeaching, WISHlistjobs, Spencer Group, Jackson Hayes Recruitment, RG175.
No. GOV.UK says tourist and business visas do not allow you to work and that you need a Z visa plus a valid work permit. It warns of fines, detention, deportation and entry bans.
The dated Australian government note says guidelines expect at least a bachelor's degree and more than two years of related experience, but that no legal requirement exists for English teaching and provinces vary. Ask your employer what your province requires now.
Yes. GOV.UK says you must register your place of residence with the local Public Security Bureau within 24 hours of arrival. Hotels normally handle this for you.
GOV.UK advises checking with the Chinese authorities whether a change of employer or location needs a new visa and work permit before you move.