Guides & Resources
Blog & Guides
Practical, honest guides for foreign teachers coming to China — visas, documents, city life, and everything in between.
Start here
New to teaching in China? Read this first.
How to Become an English Teacher in China
The complete 2026 guide for first-timers — eligibility, the Z-visa, documents, school types, salary, and how to avoid scams.
Life in China
What living and teaching in China is actually like, written for American and British teachers.
Visas & Legal
What you can and can't do legally — and the consequences of getting it wrong.
What is a Z-Visa?
China's legal work visa for teachers — how sponsorship works and the step-by-step from offer to residence permit.
5 min read
Chinese Visa Types for Teachers
A plain comparison of Z, F, X, and L visas — what each allows, and why the F-visa arrangement is illegal.
6 min read
Do You Need a Degree?
It's written into Chinese immigration law, not a recruiter preference. What counts, and your options if you don't have one.
5 min read
Documents
The paperwork you need — apostilles, notarisation, police clearances, and more.
How to Get Documents Apostilled
Country-by-country guide to the government apostille stamp required on your degree and non-criminal record.
7 min read
What Does ‘Notarised’ Mean?
The difference between notarisation and apostille, when each is required, and how to get it done across major countries.
4 min read
Get a Non-Criminal Record Certificate
Step-by-step for each major country — UK DBS, FBI check, RCMP, AFP — plus the 6-month rule and how to apostille it.
6 min read
For schools & recruiters
Hiring foreign teachers? Post once, skip the commission, and let better-matched teachers come to you.
How to Hire Foreign English Teachers
Post the role once and let better-matched teachers come to you. Covers visa sponsorship, cost, writing the listing, and where to advertise.
9 min read
Write a Job Post That Gets Applicants
The fields that pull real applicants: salary, visa, and housing up front, with good and bad listing examples.
7 min read
What Hiring Actually Costs
Recruiter commissions and agency fees versus posting it yourself, with the real numbers laid out.
6 min read
Where to Post: Dave's ESL Cafe Alternatives
Dave's ESL Cafe, eChinaCities, recruiters, and WeChat groups compared on cost, reach, and filtering.
8 min read
Ready to find a teaching job?
Browse verified listings across China — full details on salary, hours, and visa sponsorship on every job.