Teach English at a kindergarten in China
Teach English to 2 to 6 year olds at kindergartens in China. Earn 8,000 RMB a month after tax with free housing, medical insurance and a sponsored Z visa. Open to South Africans.
Teach English at a kindergarten in China
Private kindergartens across mainland China are hiring South African teachers to lead their own English class of 2 to 6 year olds. The school pays for your housing, covers your medical insurance and sponsors a proper Z work visa.
You'll earn 8,000 RMB a month after tax, in cities from Guangzhou in the south to Shenyang in the northeast. Schools want to fill places now, so if your visa documents are ready you could be in a classroom within weeks. There's no fee to apply through ESLstarter.
Salary and benefits for kindergarten teachers in China
The package is simple: a salary you keep, a home you don't pay for, and a visa done the legal way.
- 8,000 RMB a month, net. Tax is already taken off, so the number in your contract is what lands in your account.
- Free accommodation. The school arranges and pays for your housing, so none of your salary goes on rent.
- Medical insurance. Health cover runs for the full length of your contract.
- A sponsored Z work visa. A genuine teaching work permit, not a tourist or business visa.
- Small classes. Between 10 and 20 children, so you'll know every name by the end of your first week.
- Your own classroom. As homeroom teacher you run English for one class, instead of rotating around the school.
- Immediate starts. Schools recruit on a rolling basis all through the academic year.
- A choice of city. Tell us where you'd like to live and we'll match you to a school with a vacancy.
What a Lead English Homeroom Teacher does
These are full-time, Monday to Friday roles at private kindergartens where English is the classroom language. You're the English-speaking lead for one class, working alongside Chinese co-teachers and teaching assistants who know the children and the school routines.
Your week in the classroom
- Run daily English sessions through circle time, songs, picture books and play.
- Build phonics, vocabulary and speaking confidence with games and repeated routines.
- Plan activities around the school's curriculum and each week's theme.
- Join in the wider day: mealtimes, outdoor play, festivals and parent events.
- Keep short progress notes and share them with your co-teachers and parents.
What schools look for
- Lots of energy, and patience to match.
- Clear, steady pronunciation that little ones can copy.
- A genuine enjoyment of very young children.
- Flexibility when the timetable changes at short notice.
- Early-years experience is welcome, but not required.
Where in China you could teach
Kindergartens are hiring in nine cities and regions. Southern cities have mild winters and a faster pace. The north and northeast have proper snow, lower living costs and fewer foreigners, which many teachers find is the best way to really live in China.
Guangzhou
Guangdong, south ChinaA huge, food-obsessed city on the Pearl River, with warm weather most of the year.
Shenzhen
Guangdong, south ChinaChina's young, modern tech city, right on the border with Hong Kong.
Zhongshan
Guangdong, south ChinaA calmer, greener Pearl River Delta city, a short hop from Macau.
Chongqing
Southwest ChinaA steep mountain city on the Yangtze, famous for hotpot and night views.
Anqing
Anhui, east ChinaA historic riverside city on the Yangtze, with a slower, more local pace of life.
Huaibei
Anhui, east ChinaA smaller city with lakes and parks, and very few other foreign teachers.
Tianjin
North ChinaA coastal city about 30 minutes from Beijing by high-speed train.
Shenyang
Liaoning, northeast ChinaHome of the Mukden Palace, with cold, snowy winters and a big-city feel.
Dongbei
Northeast ChinaSchools across the wider northeast region, known for friendly locals and low costs.
Life in China outside the classroom
Kindergarten hours leave your evenings and weekends free, and China's high-speed rail network puts major sights within a few hours of most placements. Public holidays such as Chinese New Year and the October National Day week give you time for longer trips.
Requirements to teach English in China
These kindergarten roles are open to South African citizens. To qualify for the Z work visa you'll need:
- A bachelor's degree
- In any subject.
- A TEFL or TESOL certificate of 120 hours or more
- Chinese visa rules set the 120-hour minimum. If you don't have one yet, see the discounted courses below.
- A clean police clearance
- Issued within the last six months.
- Fluent English with clear pronunciation
- You'll be the English model the children copy all day.
- Availability to start soon
- Schools are filling places now, and ready applicants are placed first.
Why South African teachers?
South Africa is one of the countries China recognises as native English-speaking for teaching visas. South African teachers are also popular with Chinese kindergartens for their warmth, adaptability and clear accent.
Already teaching in China?
You can still apply. You'll need a release letter from your current school and confirmation that your work permit has been cancelled before a new school can sponsor you. We'll tell you exactly what to ask for.
Your China Z visa document checklist
A school can only sponsor your visa once your documents are authenticated. Getting these four things ready is what decides how fast you can start.
Apostilled bachelor's degree
Your original degree certificate, verified by your university and apostilled by DIRCO in Pretoria. If you graduated outside South Africa, it's apostilled in that country instead.
Allow several weeksSAPS police clearance
A South African Police Service clearance certificate, apostilled by DIRCO. It must be under six months old when your visa application goes in.
Allow several weeks, and watch the expiry dateApostilled TEFL or TESOL certificate
At least 120 hours, apostilled in the country it was issued in. Courses from TEFL UK are issued in the UK, and we'll guide you through the UK apostille.
Order alongside your degree apostillePassport, photos and medical form
A passport valid for at least 12 more months, recent passport photos and a standard foreigner medical check form. We send you the form once you're matched to a school.
Sorted after matchingStart your paperwork now. Apply even if your documents aren't ready yet. We'll put you in line for the next intake and tell you which document to start first.
Need a TEFL to teach in China?
China requires at least 120 hours of TEFL training for a Z visa. ESLstarter applicants get a discount on both of these internationally recognised TEFL UK courses.
120-hour TEFL course
- Meets China's 120-hour visa minimum.
- Covers the core skills first-time teachers need.
- Finish in as little as three weeks.
Level 5 TEFL course (168 hours)
- Ofqual-regulated at Level 5, the same level as a CELTA.
- Goes well beyond the visa minimum, which stands out to schools.
- Keeps doors open for better-paid roles after your first contract.
Teaching kindergarten in China: FAQs
Can South Africans legally teach English in China?
Yes. China accepts South African passport holders as native English speakers for teaching work visas. With a bachelor's degree, a 120-hour TEFL and a clean police clearance, a school can sponsor you for a legal Z work visa.
Is 8,000 RMB a month enough to live on in China?
For most teachers, yes. The 8,000 RMB is paid after tax and your accommodation is covered by the school, so your main costs are food, transport, your phone and travel. Local food and public transport in China are cheap, particularly outside the biggest cities, so many teachers put some money aside each month.
How long does the visa process take from South Africa?
Usually a matter of weeks to a few months, and most of that time is spent getting your documents ready. Your SAPS clearance and DIRCO apostilles can each take several weeks, so start them as early as you can. Once they're done and you're matched to a school, the work permit and visa steps move much faster.
Do I need kindergarten teaching experience?
No. Early-years experience helps, but schools care more about energy, patience and clear pronunciation. You'll work alongside Chinese co-teachers and assistants, and the school's curriculum and weekly themes give you a structure to plan from.
What is the accommodation like?
Your school arranges and pays for your housing. The type and size of accommodation varies by school and city, so we'll tell you exactly what's provided before you accept an offer.
I'm already in China. Can I switch to one of these schools?
Yes, if you hold a Z visa. You'll need a release letter from your current school and proof that your current work permit has been cancelled before your new school can sponsor you. We can tell you exactly what to ask your employer for.
Do I need to speak Mandarin?
No. You teach in English, and your Chinese co-teachers handle communication with children who need it and with parents. Learning a few phrases will help with shopping and getting around, and most teachers pick up more as they go.
How do I apply for a kindergarten teaching job in China?
Fill in the application form on this page. An ESLstarter advisor will contact you to talk about your preferred cities, check your documents and arrange your school interview. If your paperwork isn't ready yet, apply anyway and we'll tell you where to start.
Apply for a kindergarten job in China
Fill in the form below and an ESLstarter advisor will get back to you with your next steps. It's free to apply, and you can apply before your documents are ready.
