How to legalise your TEFL certificate for teaching abroad
Many countries ask English teachers to legalise their TEFL certificate as part of the work visa process. Every TEFL UK certificate can be legalised: a solicitor or notary public certifies it, then the UK government's Legalisation Office adds an apostille. You should have it back within about 2 weeks.
- Every TEFL UK certificate can be legalised
- Open to every nationality
- Back in about 2 weeks
- Not usually needed for online jobs
What is TEFL certificate legalisation?
Legalisation proves to foreign governments and employers that your official documents are genuine. If you're applying for your first teaching job abroad, congratulations: you may be asked to legalise your TEFL certificate as part of your visa application.
Notarisation and apostille explained
Notarisation (or certification) comes first. A practising solicitor or notary public checks your certificate and confirms it's a true document.
Legalisation comes next. The Legalisation Office at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) adds an apostille, an official stamp that confirms the solicitor's or notary's signature is genuine. Some countries also want an extra embassy attestation on top.
Do you need to legalise your TEFL certificate?
- Usually yes, if your work visa application asks for legalised documents, as it often does in China
- Usually no, for online teaching jobs
- Documents are legalised in the country where your training provider is based, so TEFL UK certificates are legalised in the UK
- You don't need to be British. Anyone who studies with TEFL UK can have their certificate legalised
How to legalise your TEFL certificate, step by step
Get your TEFL certificate
Complete your TEFL UK course and download your certificate. Check which documents your school and visa application need legalised, as you may need your degree done too.
Have it certified
Take your certificate to a practising solicitor or notary public to be certified. A document must be certified before it can be legalised.
Send it to the Legalisation Office
Once it's certified, apply through the UK government's document legalisation service. The Legalisation Office adds the apostille and returns your documents to you.
Receive your apostille
You should receive your TEFL certificate, complete with apostille, within about 2 weeks of the Legalisation Office receiving it.
Embassy attestation: some countries ask for an extra stamp from their embassy after the apostille. A specialist agency such as i2 Visa can arrange this for you. Short on time, or living outside the UK? An agency can handle every step and post the legalised certificate to you wherever you are in the world.
Legalise it yourself or use an agency?
You can legalise your TEFL certificate yourself, but we highly recommend using a recognised agency. It saves you a lot of time and effort, especially if you need embassy attestation or don't live in the UK.
| Step | Do it yourself | Use i2 Visa |
|---|---|---|
| Certification | You find a solicitor or notary public | i2 Visa arranges notarisation |
| Apostille | You apply to the FCDO Legalisation Office | i2 Visa handles the FCDO apostille |
| Embassy attestation | You contact the embassy yourself | Processed for many TEFL hub countries |
| Living outside the UK | Harder to arrange from abroad | Legalised certificate sent to you anywhere |
Getting it done with i2 Visa
We recommend i2 Visa for TEFL certificate notarisation and legalisation. They're registered with and recognised by the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC), and also cover notary services for other Asian countries and the Middle East.
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| Services | Notarisation, FCDO apostilles and embassy attestation for many countries where demand for English teachers is high |
| Recognised by | The Chinese Visa Application Service Centre (CVASC) |
| Who can use it | Anyone with a TEFL UK certificate, from any country |
| Postal and written applications | i2visa UK Ltd, Forth House, 28 Rutland Square, Edinburgh EH1 2BW |
| Phone | +44 131 460 7023 or +44 7546 905394 |
| Website | Visit the i2 Visa website |
Which TEFL course is best for teaching abroad?
Every TEFL UK certificate can be legalised for jobs abroad, so pick the course that fits where you want to teach. The 120hr gets you into most first jobs, the 150hr helps you stand out in competitive cities, and the Level 5 suits senior roles and the Middle East.
| Feature | Get started120hr Professional TEFL | Stand out150hr Advanced TEFL | Go further168hr Level 5 TEFL |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hours | 120 | 150 | 168 guided learning hours |
| Qualification | Accredited TEFL certificate | Accredited TEFL certificate | Ofqual-regulated, RQF Level 5 |
| Can be legalised | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Your first teaching job abroad | Competitive cities like Shenzhen, Shanghai and Beijing | Senior roles, Japan and the Middle East |
| Price | £99 | £179 | £269, or pay in 3 |
| View 120hr course | View 150hr course | View Level 5 TEFL |
Still deciding? Compare every TEFL UK course package.
TEFL jobs where you may need a legalised certificate
TEFL UK offers a free job support service for teaching jobs abroad and online. Once your documents are ready, take a look at our latest roles.
- China: see all our TEFL jobs in China, including teaching jobs in Shenzhen for spring 2027
- New to teaching? Our China TEFL internship gives you paid classroom experience with support on the ground
- Southeast Asia: browse TEFL jobs in Vietnam
- The Middle East: browse TEFL jobs in Saudi Arabia
- Prefer to stay at home? Online TEFL jobs don't usually need a legalised certificate
Legalising your TEFL certificate: your questions answered
What does it mean to legalise a TEFL certificate?
Legalising a TEFL certificate proves to a foreign government or employer that it's genuine. In the UK, a solicitor or notary public first certifies the certificate, then the FCDO Legalisation Office adds an apostille. Some countries also ask for an embassy attestation.
Can my TEFL UK certificate be legalised?
Yes. Every TEFL UK certificate can be legalised and used for teaching jobs abroad or online. Because TEFL UK is based in the UK, your certificate is legalised through the UK government.
Can I legalise my TEFL certificate if I'm not from the UK?
Yes. Your nationality doesn't matter, because the certificate is legalised where TEFL UK is based. An agency like i2 Visa can arrange it and send the legalised certificate to you wherever you are in the world.
How long does it take to legalise a TEFL certificate?
You should receive your TEFL certificate with its apostille within about 2 weeks of the Legalisation Office receiving it. Allow extra time to have it certified first, for postage, and for any embassy attestation.
Do I need to legalise my TEFL certificate for online teaching?
Usually not. Legalisation is mainly needed for work visa applications, so it's rarely required for online teaching jobs. Check with your online school if you're unsure, or browse our online TEFL jobs.
Do I need my TEFL certificate legalised to teach in China?
Most teachers applying for a Chinese work visa are asked for legalised documents, often including their TEFL certificate and degree. Since November 2023, China has accepted apostilles from the UK, so the extra Chinese embassy step is usually no longer needed. Check the latest requirements with your school or i2 Visa, and see our TEFL jobs in China.
Who does TEFL UK recommend for legalising certificates?
We recommend i2 Visa, an agency registered with and recognised by the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre. They handle notarisation, FCDO apostilles and embassy attestation for many countries where English teachers are in demand.
Documents ready? Find your teaching job abroad
TEFL UK offers free job support for teaching jobs abroad and online. Email [email protected] or message us on WhatsApp to find out about the latest roles.