Conditions and Procedures for Recruiting Foreign Teachers

All Chinese organizations on the mainland that are going to employ foreign cultural and educational experts must be approved by the relevant local government authorities and possess the Qualification Certificate for Employment of Foreign Experts (hereinafter referred to as Certificate). The processes for applying for this Certificate are as follows:
1. The applying organization files an application with the educational administration in charge of that organization's supervision.

2. After that educational administration had received the application it conducts on-site inspection together with public security, foreign affairs division of the government, and national security. The inspection covers:
1) The organization's foreign affairs management procedures;
2) The safety conditions of the foreign experts' living quarters;
3) Its professional management team; and
4) Its security measures.

3. The application is submitted to the provincial educational administration after passing the check by the local supervising educational administration. Universities and colleges directly under the jurisdiction of the provincial government will have their application examined directly by the provincial educational administration.

4. Twice a year, together with the foreign affairs division, provincial public security, and provincial national security, the provincial educational administration checks the applying organizations and, after they have passed the check, submits the applications for approval to the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs.

5. The State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs approves the application and the applying organization receives the qualification to recruit foreign cultural and educational experts. However, the certified organization is subject to annual checks.

Only a certified organization can on its own recruit foreign cultural and educational experts. The recruiting procedures are as follows:
1. The recruiting organization independently negotiates with foreign job candidates, signs an employment agreement, and in an independent document reports to the local educational administration in charge of its supervision. Colleges and universities directly under the jurisdiction of the provincial government directly report to the provincial educational administration.

The conditions for the foreign experts normally will include the following:
1) The minimum salary for a foreign teacher as specified by the national authorities is ￥2,200 and there is no upper limit;
2) For one-year employment, a two-way international ticket or the travel cost (the latter does not exceed a limit, usually between 7,000 and 8,000 RMB) is provided; for half-year employment a one-way international air ticket is provided;
3) Free housing. Normal requirements include a separate bedroom, a living room, a toilet and bathroom, a color TV, air-conditioner for summer and winter, a telephone that can access the Internet, a refrigerator, a washing machine, and some necessary furniture;
4) Telephone, power, and water subsidies or free provision of these;
5) 2,200 RMB a year for travel;
6) Normally, medical cost subsidized according to the standard for a Chinese teacher in the same organization;
7) Paid holidays and pickup/sendoff at the nearest airport; and
8) Teaching hours: 12-16 hours/week.

2.The provincial educational administration approves and issues a letter of job offer and an expert confirmation. In some provinces these two documents can be obtained at the provincial foreign affairs office.

3. The offer and expert confirmation are to be sent to the foreign teacher.

4. The foreign teacher goes to the Chinese embassy or consulate in their country for a Work Visa (Z), or a Visiting Visa (F).

5. The foreign expert confirms his date of arrival in China, books a ticket, and advises the employer for pickup.

6. The foreign teacher arrives at the school.

Besides, because many employers face the pressure of time, in many provinces and cities of China, the employers can ask the foreign teachers to apply for a Travel Visa and after arrival help them to alter the type of visa.

The following procedures shall be completed after the arrival of the foreign teacher:
1. Within 24 hours of arrival, the foreigner's Chinese residence shall be registered with the local public security or he/she will face penalty by the public security.

2. The foreign teacher shall be given a physical checkup at an appointed hospital for a health certificate within one month of his/her arrival.

3. A Foreign Expert Certificate shall be applied for at the provincial educational administration or the provincial foreign affairs office.

A foreigner's Residence Permit shall be obtained from a local public security department. The foreign teacher can then start teaching. The employer shall provide good day-to-day management and service.

Source: english.gz.gov.cn

Editor: Jessie Hwang