TEFL / TESOL apostille
We turn U.S.-issued TEFL, TESOL, CELTA, and English-teaching certificates into documents foreign schools, ministries of education, and work-visa offices will accept — starting with the right notarized copy and the correct state apostille route.
This page covers TEFL, TESOL, CELTA, and English-teaching certificates. For the full range of academic credentials we apostille, see the school and academic documents hub. For a teaching license issued by a state board of education, see the college diploma page or contact us about state-issued credentials. For an FBI background check (commonly required alongside the TEFL apostille for teaching abroad), see the federal documents hub.
What this page covers
A TEFL or TESOL certificate apostille is what foreign schools, ministries of education, and work-visa offices in countries like China, South Korea, Spain, Vietnam, and the UAE require before issuing a teaching work permit or Z-visa. Because TEFL providers are private companies (not government agencies), the certificate is notarized as a true copy in front of a notary, then apostilled by the Secretary of State where the notary is commissioned. For non-Hague destinations like the UAE and Saudi Arabia, we coordinate consular legalization.
Common reasons people need this
Most foreign schools require an apostilled TEFL or TESOL certificate as part of the hiring file — alongside an apostilled degree and FBI background check. The apostille proves the certificate is authentic and lets the school submit it to immigration for the work permit.
Foreign immigration offices issuing teacher work permits (China's Z-visa, South Korea's E-2, Spain's residency, Saudi Arabia's iqama, etc.) usually require the TEFL or TESOL apostille as part of the visa documentation. Without it, the visa is delayed or refused.
China (Hague member since November 2023), South Korea (EPIK, GEPIK, hagwons), and Japan (JET, eikaiwa) all require apostilled TEFL or TESOL certificates for native-English-teacher placements. We handle ordering, notarization, and apostille for all three.
International recruiters and credential evaluators working on behalf of foreign schools often require apostilled TEFL or TESOL certificates as part of the candidate vetting process before placement, even before the work permit stage.
How it works
Text or email a clear photo of the certificate, the issuing TEFL/TESOL provider, the destination country, your program start date, and your deadline. We confirm in writing whether the certificate can be notarized as a true copy and which apostille route applies.
We notarize the original certificate as a true copy in front of a notary commissioned in the state that will apostille it (California or other). If you only have a digital certificate, we tell you exactly how to request a printed copy from your provider.
We file with the correct Secretary of State (California or other), monitor processing, and return the apostilled certificate by secure courier, mail, or in-person pickup. Same-day rush is available for most California cases.
What will and won't be accepted
Realistic timelines
Before you contact us
TEFL / TESOL Certificate Apostille FAQ
Yes, in most cases. China, South Korea, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, and many other countries explicitly require an apostilled or legalized TEFL/TESOL certificate as part of the teacher work-permit package. Some schools may not enforce it, but the visa office almost always will.
Yes. The most common path is to notarize the printed original certificate as a true copy in front of a notary, then apostille the notary's signature through the Secretary of State. The TEFL/TESOL provider does not need to be involved in the apostille step.
You need a printed copy. Most TEFL/TESOL providers will mail you a printed certificate on request — sometimes for a small re-issuance fee. We can tell you exactly what to ask for so the printed copy is suitable for notarization and apostille.
Common Hague-member countries that require it include China, South Korea, Spain, Japan, Germany, and Italy. Non-Hague countries that require consular legalization include the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and (pre-2026) Thailand. Always confirm your destination's current rule, as China and Canada both joined the Hague Convention recently.
California TEFL apostilles can often be completed in 1–3 business days with in-person filing, and same-day rush is available in most cases. Other states vary, typically 1–6 weeks. Non-Hague destinations requiring consular legalization add 2–6 weeks.
Yes. Teaching abroad almost always requires three apostilled documents — TEFL/TESOL certificate, college diploma, and FBI background check. The FBI check is a federal document apostilled through the U.S. State Department, while the TEFL and diploma are state-level. We coordinate all three so they're ready together.
Other school & academic documents