Get Your Documents Ready to Teach English AbroadPlanning to teach English in South Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, China or elsewhere? You'll need your TEFL certificate, degree and police clearance properly legalised before you can apply for jobs. We handle the complete process.📞 087 001 0733 | ✉️ info@apostille.co.za
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Why TEFL Documents Need Legalisation

When you apply to teach English overseas, foreign employers and immigration authorities need to verify that your South African documents are genuine. They cannot contact South African institutions directly to check, so your documents must be officially authenticated.Depending on your destination country, this means either:

• Apostille – For Hague Convention countries (e.g. South Korea, Japan, most of Europe)
• Authentication + Embassy Attestation – For non-Hague countries (e.g. Vietnam, Thailand, China, UAE)

Without proper legalisation, your job application will be rejected—no matter how qualified you are.

Documents You'll Need for Teaching English Abroad

Most countries require three core documents from TEFL teachers:

1. Police Clearance Certificate

• Original SAPS police clearance (not older than 6 months for most countries)
• Must be apostilled or authenticated, depending onthe  destination

2. TEFL/TESOL/CELTA Certificate

• Your teaching qualification certificate
• If issued in South Africa, it needs notarisation, thena  High Court apostille
• If issued overseas, may need authentication in the country of origin first

3. Degree or Diploma

• Most countries require a bachelor's degree (any field)
• South African degrees need SAQA verification before a DIRCO apostille
• Some countries accept diplomas—check specific requirements

Additional documents sometimes required:

• Passport (certified copy, notarised and apostilled)
• Health certificate (authenticated by HPCSA, then DIRCO)
• Academic transcripts
• Reference letters
• CV/Resume (some countries require notarised copies)

Apostille or Authentication: Which Do You Need?

Your destination country determines the legalisation process:

Apostille Route (Hague Convention Countries)
For countries such as South Korea, Japan, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and others that are members of the Hague Convention. Documents receive an apostille certificate—no embassy visit required.

Authentication + Attestation Route (Non-Hague Countries)
For countries like Vietnam, Thailand, China, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and others, not in the Hague Convention. Documents must be:

1. Authenticated by DIRCO
2. Attested by the destination country's embassy

This is a longer process with additional embassy fees.
Check if your destination is a Hague member →

How We Prepare Your TEFL Documents

Police Clearance Certificate

1. We can apply to SAPS on your behalf if you don't have one yet
2. Original certificate goes directly to DIRCO for apostille/authentication
3. For non-Hague countries, we then attend the relevant embassy

TEFL Certificate

1. Our Notary Public certifies a copy or notarises the original
2. We submit to the High Court for an apostille
3. For non-Hague countries, further DIRCO authentication and embassy attestation

Degree/Diploma

1. We apply to SAQA for verification of your qualification
2. SAQA verification letter goes to DIRCO for apostille/authentication
3. For non-Hague countries, embassy attestation follows

Timeline varies depending on:

• Whether you already have your police clearance
• SAQA verification processing (typically 15-25 working days)
• Embassy appointment availability (for non-Hague countries)

Contact us early—some processes take several weeks.

Popular TEFL Destinations

South Korea

• Hague Convention member (apostille accepted)
• Requires: Degree apostille, police clearance apostille, TEFL apostille
• Documents must typically be issued within 6 months

Vietnam

• Non-Hague (authentication + embassy attestation required)
• Requires: Degree, police clearance, TEFL certificate, health check
• Embassy attestation required for all documents

Thailand

• Non-Hague (authentication + embassy attestation required)
• Requires: Degree, police clearance, TEFL certificate
• Thai embassy attestation required

China

• Non-Hague (authentication + embassy attestation required)
• Strict requirements—degree must be related to education or English for some positions
• Police clearance, degree and TEFL all require embassy attestation

Japan

• Hague Convention member (apostille accepted)
• Requirements vary by employer
• JET Programme has specific document requirements

Not sure what your destination requires? Contact us with your destination country and we'll advise on the exact requirements.

TEFL Document Legalisation Pricing

Additional costs:

Bundle pricing available – Contact us for a quote on your complete document set.[Get a Quote →]

Things to Know Before You Start

Start early
The complete process can take 4-8 weeks depending on SAQA processing times and embassy availability. Don't leave it until the last minute.

Police clearance validity
Most countries require your police clearance to be issued within 6 months of your application. Some require 3 months. Check your destination's requirements.

SAQA verification is essential
DIRCO will not apostille or authenticate a South African degree without a SAQA verification letter. There are no shortcuts.Original vs certified copies

• Police clearance: Must be the original from SAPS
• Degree: SAQA verification letter is apostilled (not your original degree)
• TEFL: Depends on issuing institution—we'll advise

Overseas-issued TEFL certificates
If your TEFL certificate was issued outside South Africa (e.g. online course from UK or USA), it may need authentication in the country of origin first. Contact us to discuss your specific situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the whole process take?
For Hague countries: 3-4 weeks (mainly due to SAQA). For non-Hague countries: 5-8 weeks, depending on the embassy's processing time.

Can I start the process if I'm already overseas?
Yes. You can have someone in South Africa courier documents to us, or we can apply for police clearance on your behalf using your fingerprints taken at a South African embassy abroad.Do I need my original degree?No. We apostille the SAQA verification letter, not your original degree. Keep your original safe.

What if my TEFL is from an online course?
Online TEFL certificates from international providers may need authentication in the country where the provider is registered. Contact us with details of your certificate and we'll advise.

Can you help if I don't have a degree?
Some countries accept diplomas or have specific programmes that don't require degrees. Contact us with your destination, and we'll check the requirements.

Ready to Teach English Abroad?

Get your documents prepared properly the first time. Contact us with your destination country, and we'll provide a complete quote and timeline.[Contact Us →]Get in touch:

• 📞 087 001 0733
• 💬 WhatsApp
• ✉️ info@apostille.co.za

Related Services

• DIRCO Apostille – For government documents
• High Court Apostille – For notarised documents
• Police Clearance – Obtain and apostille
• Academic Qualifications – SAQA verification + apostille
• Embassy Attestation – For non-Hague countries