LEGALISING YOUR TEFL CERTIFICATE
Do I need to get my TEFL certificate authenticated or legalised to teach abroad?
If you are planning to teach English abroad, you may be asked to have your TEFL certificate notarised, authenticated, apostilled and/or legalised before it can be used for employment or visa purposes.
Not every country requires the same level of document verification. Some teachers only need the initial UK process, while others need additional steps depending on the requirements of their employer or the relevant authorities. Because TEFL Graduate certificates are issued by a UK company, the certificate must first be processed in the UK before it can be used for official authentication or legalisation purposes overseas.
We recommend checking the requirements with your prospective employer or the relevant visa/work-permit authority before starting the process.
What is the difference between notarisation, authentication, an apostille and legalisation?
These terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but they are not exactly the same. They describe different processes.
Notarisation
A notary public or other authorised professional verifies a document, signature or copy, depending on the procedure being used.
A notarised document may then be used as part of a subsequent authentication or legalisation process.
Authentication
Authentication is the process of verifying that a document, signature, seal or stamp is genuine so that it can be accepted by an authority in another country.
Apostille
An apostille is a certificate issued under the Hague Apostille Convention. It is used to authenticate public documents for use in another participating country.
An apostille confirms the authenticity of the relevant signature, seal or stamp. It does not certify that all of the information contained in the document is factually correct.
Legalisation
Legalisation is a process used when a document needs to be formally recognised by a foreign country. Depending on the countries involved, this may involve notarisation, authentication, an apostille and/or certification by an embassy or consulate.
The exact process depends on the country where the document will be used.
How does the process work?
The legalisation process can vary depending on where you intend to work. However, because your TEFL Graduate certificate is issued by a UK company, the certificate must first be processed in the UK.
Your TEFL certificate is processed in the UK
The first stage is to have your TEFL Graduate certificate registered/authenticated in the UK.
This establishes the authenticity of the certificate and prepares it for any further authentication or legalisation that may be required by the country where you intend to use it.
Notarisation, authentication or apostille
Depending on the requirements of the country where you intend to teach, your certificate may then need to be:
- Notarised
- Authenticated
- Apostilled
- Legalised
You may need one of these processes or a combination of them. An apostille, for example, may be sufficient for some countries, while other countries may require additional authentication or embassy/consular legalisation.
Embassy or consular legalisation, if required
Some countries require documents to go through their embassy or consulate after the initial UK authentication or apostille process.
Whether this is necessary depends on the country where you intend to use the certificate and the requirements of the relevant authority.
Submit your certificate
Once the required process has been completed, you can provide your authenticated or legalised certificate to your employer or the relevant visa/work-permit authority.
Always confirm the exact requirements before starting the process. This can help you avoid paying for services that you do not actually need.
Who can process your certificate?
As we are a UK-registered company, your TEFL certificate must be authenticated/legalised in the UK, even if you are living overseas. UK authorities must verify the document before it can be accepted internationally.
We refer all our teachers to Hague Apostille for document legalisation, and specifically for China we recommend China Visa Direct. These trusted companies offer the easiest and safest way to have your TEFL certificate processed without any hassle.
Why use a professional agency?
They manage the entire process:
- Notary certification
- Apostille
- Embassy legalisation
- All paperwork and submissions
- They ship worldwide, ideal if you’re currently abroad
- They reduce the risk of mistakes that can delay visas, especially for China
Which countries may require TEFL certificate authentication or legalisation?
There is no single worldwide rule requiring every TEFL certificate to be legalised.
However, teachers should pay particular attention to document requirements when planning to work in countries where foreign qualifications and professional certificates may need to be authenticated or legalised.
Countries where additional document verification may be relevant include:
This does not mean that every teacher going to these countries will necessarily need to legalise their TEFL certificate.
Requirements can vary depending on:
- the employer
- the visa or work-permit route
- the type of teaching position
- the documents being submitted
- the country where the certificate was issued
- the current requirements of the relevant government authority
For this reason, you should always confirm the requirements for your particular situation before arranging document legalisation.
What if I am already living outside the UK?
You do not necessarily need to return to the UK yourself simply because your TEFL certificate was issued by a UK company.
However, because the certificate is a UK-issued qualification, the relevant UK process must be completed before any additional overseas authentication or legalisation can take place.
Depending on the procedure required, you may be able to use a professional document-authentication service to arrange the process on your behalf.
If you are already living overseas, make sure you understand the complete process before sending your original documents anywhere.
CHINA
China has one of the strictest document authentication systems.
Step 1: Order the Apostille Service
Visit the company’s website and place your order. After payment, you will receive an order number. A physical copy of your TEFL certificate is required.
Step 2: Request a Hard Copy of Your Certificate
Order your printed certificate through your TEFL course portal. When completing the form, include the order number from Hague Apostille or China Visa Direct next to their name in the first line of the address field.
Step 3: Handled by Hague Apostille or Chinese Visa Direct
- Solicitor/Lawyer/Notary Certification
A UK solicitor/lawyer or notary verifies your TEFL certificate as genuine and issues a signed declaration.
- FCDO Apostille
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office confirms the solicitor’s or notary’s signature and validates the document.
Once the above process has been completed, the agency will mail you the fully legalised document.
Processing can take up to 21 days, so start early once you’ve been offered a teaching position. Approximate cost: £78 / $105 + shipping.
VIETNAM
Using a UK Apostille Company
Step 1: Order the Apostille Service
Visit the company’s website and place your order. After payment, you will receive an order number. A physical TEFL certificate is required.
Step 2: Request a Hard Copy of Your Certificate
Order your printed certificate via your TEFL course portal. When completing the form, include the order number from Hague Apostille or China Visa Direct next to their name in the first line of the address field.
Step 3: Handled by Hague Apostille
- Solicitor/Lawyer/Notary Certification
A UK solicitor/lawyer or notary verifies your TEFL certificate as genuine and issues a signed declaration.
- FCDO Apostille
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office confirms the solicitor’s or notary’s signature and validates the document.
- Vietnamese Embassy Legalisation (London)
 The embassy stamps the apostilled document, making it valid overseas.
Once complete, the agency will mail your fully legalised certificate.
Processing can take up to 21 days so start early once you’ve been offered a teaching position. Approximate cost: £189 / $250 + shipping.
VERY IMPORTANT: The name on your TEFL certificate must match the name on your passport; otherwise your visa/work permit may be rejected.
Should you have any questions, please contact:
Hague Apostille at info@hagueapostille.co.ukÂ
China Visa Direct at info@chinesevisadirect.co.