For employer-sponsored teaching in China, check the work-permit, entry and residence requirements for the specific role before accepting it. A published guide puts ESL pay at ¥15,000 to ¥25,000 Chinese yuan per month and international school pay at ¥25,000 to ¥40,000 Chinese yuan or more, usually with housing support and a flight allowance.
Glasgow Caledonian University
English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Tutor – Joint Institute of UJN and GCU
Jinan · China
Pay not published
Before you apply
You must qualify for a Chinese work visa and have the right to work in China. The partner university supports the application.
Read full requirementsUniversity of Nottingham Ningbo China
Assistant Professor in Applied Linguistics and ELT
Ningbo · China
Pay not published
Before you apply
BASIS International School Shenzhen
English Language Arts Teacher - Upper Primary School
Nanshan District · China
$55,000 to $65,000 US dollars
Per year
Before you apply
(12) The Z visa is issued to persons who apply for work in China.
(1) The residence permit for work is issued to persons who work in China
Article 41 Foreigners who work in China shall obtain work permits and work-type residence permits in accordance with relevant regulations. No entities or individuals shall employ foreigners who have no work permits or work-type residence permits.
(1) To apply for a residence permit for work, the applicant shall submit such certification documents as a work permit
A foreigner applying for a visa shall fill out the application form, and submit his or her passport or other international travel documents, qualified photos, and material relating to the purpose of application.
When applying for a residence permit valid for more than 1 year, a foreigner shall, in accordance with relevant provisions, submit his or her health certificate. A health certificate is valid for six months beginning from the date of issue.
They shall have a bachelor's degree or higher degree and language teaching experience of at least two years.
The “Non-Criminal” Rule: Background checks must be issued within 6 months of your application.
Work Permit Notification (WPN): Your school applies for this while you are still in your home country.
In 2026, Safea uses a points-based system to categorize teachers into Class A (Elite), Class B (Professional), or Class C (Junior).
International and bilingual schools often hire months in advance for August or September starts, while ESL and private language schools may hire more often throughout the year, depending on demand.
Jinan · China