Teach English in China

Yes, you can teach English in China, which still has one of the largest English teaching markets in the world. Most jobs are at public schools, kindergartens, international and bilingual schools, universities and adult training centres. A legal Z work visa requires a bachelor’s degree, a passport from a native English speaking country, a clean criminal record check and usually a TEFL certificate of at least 120 hours or two years of teaching experience.

Teaching English in China at a glance

Who can legally teach English in China?

China’s rules for foreign English teachers are among the strictest in Asia, and working on the wrong visa can lead to fines, detention and deportation. To teach legally you need a Z visa, applied for with a work permit notice from a licensed employer, and then a residence permit after you arrive. The usual requirements are:

• A passport from a native English speaking country. Employers commonly recruit from the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
• A bachelor’s degree, verified and authenticated.
• A TEFL certificate, commonly of at least 120 hours, or two years of relevant teaching experience.
• A clean criminal record check from your home country, authenticated for use in China. China joined the Apostille Convention in November 2023, which has simplified this for many countries.
• A health check, and in practice an upper age limit set by local authorities, often around 55 to 60.

How the Z visa and work permit fit together

The Z visa and the Foreigner’s Work Permit are two different documents. The work permit, issued by the provincial Science and Technology or foreign experts authorities, is your legal permission to work for one named employer. The Z visa is simply the entry visa that lets you come to China to take up that job. The usual sequence is:

1. Your employer applies for a Notification Letter of Foreigner’s Work Permit, using your authenticated degree, TEFL certificate, criminal record check and contract.
2. You apply for the Z visa at a Chinese embassy or visa centre in your home country, using that notification letter.
3. After you arrive, your employer applies for your Foreigner’s Work Permit card, usually within 15 days.
4. You then apply for a residence permit for work, usually within 30 days of arrival, which replaces the Z visa and lets you live and work in China.

China’s A, B and C work permit categories

Since 1 April 2017, under the Foreigner’s Work Permit system set out by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA) in Notice Wai Zhuan Fa [2017] No. 40, China has classified foreign workers into three categories. SAFEA’s responsibilities were transferred to the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2018, and permits are now issued by provincial and city science and technology or foreign expert bureaus. Category A covers high-end foreign talent and has no quota. Category B covers foreign professional talent, with numbers set according to market demand. Category C covers other foreign workers, such as short-term or seasonal staff, within national quotas. Workers are assessed on a points system covering salary, education, work experience, age, Chinese language ability and where the job is; scores of 85 or more for Category A and 60 to 84 for Category B are the commonly cited thresholds.

Most English teachers qualify as Category B under the specific rule for foreign language teachers. According to official work permit guidance from the Beijing municipal government and the Hunan provincial government, a foreign language teacher must teach their native language and hold a bachelor’s degree or higher with at least two years of language teaching experience. The two years of experience can be waived if you have a degree in education, language or teaching, a teaching qualification from your own country, or an internationally recognised language teaching certificate such as a TEFL, TESOL or CELTA, which usually needs to be authenticated. This is why a TEFL certificate matters so much for newly qualified teachers in China.

Never start work on a tourist or business visa. Reputable employers handle the work permit process and explain each step.

What kinds of English teaching jobs are there in China?

Public schools. Regular weekday hours, often with housing, and a set academic calendar.

Kindergartens. Large and growing demand, with lively, play based teaching for young children.

International and bilingual schools. The best paid positions, usually requiring a teaching licence and experience.

Universities. Lighter teaching hours and campus housing, but generally lower pay than schools in the big cities.

Adult and business training centres. Evening and weekend classes for professionals and university students.

How has the Double Reduction policy changed English teaching in China?

On 24 July 2021, China issued the Opinions on Further Reducing the Homework Burden and Off-Campus Training Burden of Students in Compulsory Education, known as the Double Reduction policy. English is a school subject, so the policy hit the private children’s English centres that used to employ most foreign teachers. Local authorities stopped approving new subject-based tutoring providers for students in compulsory education (grades 1 to 9), existing providers had to re-register as non-profit organisations, and foreign teachers based outside China may no longer teach those students online. Draft national regulations published by the Ministry of Education in February 2024 confirmed that off-campus tutoring is not banned outright, but it must be licensed and closely supervised.

For foreign teachers in 2026, the practical picture is:

• Public schools: unaffected and a major employer, hiring through local education bureaus and licensed agencies.
• International and bilingual schools: unaffected, and the best paid jobs, usually requiring a teaching licence.
• Kindergartens: still hiring foreign teachers in large numbers, though off-campus English classes for preschool children are restricted.
• Universities: unaffected, with lighter timetables and campus housing.
• Adult and corporate training: legal and growing, covering business English, exam preparation such as IELTS for university students and adults, and in-company training.
• Children’s training centres: far fewer than before 2021. Those still operating need the correct licences, so check your employer’s licence and make sure your work permit names the organisation you actually work for.

The same rules ended most online tutoring of Chinese children by overseas teachers, as our guide to teaching English online to Chinese students explains.

How much do English teachers earn in China?

China does not publish a national salary scale for foreign teachers: pay is set by each employer in your contract, which is registered as part of the work permit application, and provincial minimum wages sit far below typical teacher pay. Pay depends on the city, the type of employer and your qualifications. As a rough guide, public schools and adult training centres commonly pay around ¥10,000 to ¥20,000 a month, universities somewhat less but with housing, and international schools considerably more for licensed teachers. Tier 1 cities such as Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen pay the most but cost the most, while tier 2 and 3 cities often leave teachers with more to save, especially where housing is provided. For pay city by city, see which cities in China pay English teachers the most.

What TEFL certification do you need for China?

A TEFL certificate of at least 120 hours is the standard requirement for the work permit if you do not have two years of teaching experience, and employers will ask to see it. Our 120 Hour Advanced TEFL Course meets that standard, and the Ofqual-regulated Level 5 TEFL course is a regulated qualification that can be verified on the Ofqual register. Check with your employer which documents need authentication for your work permit application.

Where should you teach in China?

Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen and Guangzhou offer the most jobs and the highest pay, with big city costs. Chengdu, Hangzhou, Wuhan, Xi’an and many other tier 2 cities offer a strong balance of pay, demand and lower living costs. Smaller cities offer the deepest cultural immersion and often the best savings. Read our guide to the best places to teach English in China to compare.

What is it like teaching in China?

Chinese students are typically respectful and hardworking, and English is important for exams and careers. Classes in public schools can be large, while kindergartens and training centres teach smaller groups. Building good relationships with colleagues and managers matters, face and politeness are important, and some Mandarin makes daily life far easier. Many apps and services used elsewhere are restricted in China, so plan how you will communicate and bank before you arrive.

Where to find English teaching jobs in China now

Last updated: 4 October 2026. Sources checked October 2026: the Double Reduction Opinions issued by the General Offices of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on 24 July 2021; the Ministry of Education’s draft off-campus training regulations of February 2024; SAFEA Notice Wai Zhuan Fa [2017] No. 40 on the Foreigner’s Work Permit system; and Foreigner’s Work Permit guidance for foreign language teachers published by the Beijing Municipal Government and Hunan Provincial Government. Pay figures are approximate typical ranges, not quotes. Work permit rules are set nationally and applied locally, so confirm current requirements with your employer and the Chinese embassy before you apply.