Legalising my TEFL certificate: step-by-step
Source: https://www.i-to-i.com; https://www.quora.com
If you’re a newbie to the world of TEFL, there can be a lot of information to take in, especially when it comes to visa requirements. Well, one of the main things you’ll need to know about is legalising your TEFL certificate to use it abroad. Whilst it does take a bit of time, effort and money, legalisation is actually a fairly straightforward process. If you’d like to follow this process yourself, use our step-by-step guide to help you legalise your TEFL certificate.
Legalisation is a way of proving to foreign governments that your TEFL certificate is genuine. It hasn’t always been necessary to legalise your TEFL certificates so if you’re already teaching English abroad, you may get asked to legalise your existing certificate to comply with government regulations.
Recently, more and more countries have changed their legislation so
that English teachers will need to legalise their certificates to prove
their validity. When you’re offered a job teaching English in China or other countries abroad, you may be asked to legalise your TEFL certificate.
What is the difference between apostille and authentication?
The difference between an Apostille and Authentication for Documents is so simple, first, An Apostille is a form of authentication issued for documents that will be used in countries that participate in the Hague Convention
of 1961.
Apostilles are only used to authenticate documents that will be used in another country. An Apostille may take the form of a stamp upon a document or it may be attached to the document as an allonge (a French word describing an attachment to a legal document). If an allonge is used, it is important that it NEVER be detached from the original document, to which it may be stapled, glued, or otherwise firmly attached.
Legalising my TEFL certificate: step-by-step
Whilst it does take a bit of time, effort and money, legalisation is
actually a fairly straightforward process. If you’d like to follow this
process yourself, use our step-by-step guide to help you legalise your
TEFL certificate.
In general, you need to legalise documents in the country in which they were issued. For example, if you attained your TEFL certificate through i-to-i (a UK based company), you’d need to get it legalised in the UK.
If you didn’t do your TEFL course with i-to-i and your TEFL certificate has been issued in another country, then you will need to get your documents legalised by the government of that country.
However, this all depends on your local embassy – they may still offer the legalisation service, but this is becoming increasingly rare. It’s up to you to check with your local embassy.
Before you can get your TEFL certificate legalised, you need a solicitor or notary public to certify that it is genuine. There are notaries all over the world, so search for “notary public + your local town” to find one close to you. The notary will advise you which documents are required to certify your qualification.
Once you’ve got your document certified, you’re ready for the legalisation process itself. As well as your TEFL certificate, you’ll usually need:
— Access to a printer
— Credit / debit card details
— Address you want your documents returned to.
When you’re ready to start, go to www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised and follow the instructions provided. Once you’ve completed the steps, you’ll need to send your certified TEFL certificate and order confirmation page to the Legalisation Office.
It usually takes between 2-10 working days for the Legalisation Office to process your documents – so you should receive your legalised TEFL certificate back within a couple of weeks.
You will find a small, embossed certificate attached on to your document. This is known as an “apostille”. It’s your proof that your TEFL certificate has been legalised.
The apostille means that your TEFL certificate will be accepted as a legal document in any country or state that has signed up to an international agreement known as Convention 12 of the Hague Conference.
Warm reminder:
Some countries haven’t currently signed up to the Hague convention. If you want to work in a country that isn’t a signatory of this agreement, for example China, they will usually request that you firstly get the apostille and then take your documents to the relevant embassy for further authentication. Always make sure you check visa requirements in advance.
If you’re not currently living in the UK, you still can have your TEFL certificate legalised in the UK as long as this is where it was issued. You can get your documents certified by a British Council official and then apply online through the UK’s Legalisation Office – or use a third party service to do the work for you!
If you’d like to complete the legalisation process yourself, use our step-by-step guide to help you legalise your TEFL certificate. However, we always recommend Hague Apostille,
a company who will complete all the below steps for you (much easier!).
Plus, if you mention you got your TEFL certificate through i-to-i,
they’ll offer you a reduced rate – winner!
Note: This information is based on the FCO guidance at time of writing. However, always make sure you check the most up to date procedures at www.gov.uk/get-document-legalised as processes can change.
Source: https://www.i-to-i.com; https://www.quora.com
China: Work Permit Applicants Can Now Verify Diplomas Online
China has shortened the time required to verify diplomas obtained overseas, according to a statement from the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange.
US: Authentication of No Criminal Record Report for China Visa
You may be required to provide a no criminal record authenticated by Chinese Embassy or Consulate for employment in China. This document is also called non criminal history report, background check, criminal background check, police record or good conduct certificate, etc.
Foreigner's Work Permit System: Policy Briefing
Policy Briefing Foreigner's Work Permit System.pdf
外国人工作许可制度简介