Job Discussion Forums

etung · Joined: 20 Jun 2009 Posts: 4

i'm currently investigating the possibility of going to china to teach english, but just heard from a contact over there that the minimum age to acquire a work visa is 24. does anyone know if that's true? is there any way of getting around it?

i'm also wondering if anyone knows how difficult/costly it is to switch a tourist visa to work? any info would be greatly appreciated!

Renegade_o_Funk · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 125

how old are you ? I don't know what the minimum age limit is. I have seen many universities require the FT to be 24. Perhaps for a high school, or kindergarten you could get a job. Unless you find a school with good connections that wants to hire you, you may need to fly to hongkong once you get a job offer, in order to get a work visa.

The Ever-changing Cleric · Joined: 19 Feb 2009 Posts: 1523

CJD · Joined: 19 Jun 2009 Posts: 116

there is no age limit as far as i know. there are ads for people age 20+

Renegade_o_Funk · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 125

It sounds like you have answered your own questions. Is there an age limit ? no it seems there is not. No need to switch a tourist visa to a work visa if the university is sponsoring a Z visa for you.

evaforsure · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 1217

there is an age requirement mentioned somewhere...but it seems to be ignored most of the time unless the school deems it necessary...

Mister Al · Joined: 28 Jun 2004 Posts: 840 Location: In there

I read somewhere that those born after 1985 could not get a Foreign Expert Certificate so I suppose the year would change every year. Generally speaking to get FEC you need a minimum BA and at least two years related working experience, but as many have said some organisations can get round the 'rules'.

etung · Joined: 20 Jun 2009 Posts: 4

Renegade_o_Funk · Joined: 06 Jun 2009 Posts: 125

I may have worded that wrong. Basically, if you are already in the country, you would want to have whatever visa you came in on, changed to a residency permit.

If you came in on a tourist visa, you would want the school to get you a residency permit, rather than a Z visa, as that is only good for a 30 day period.

Technically it is illegal to convert anything but a valid work visa, to a residency permit, which is why many people have to go to hongkong.

Going there is considered leaving the country, as you need to be out of the country to get a Z visa issued. Some schools have enough stroke with the local PSB (police) that there is no need for you to do that, and they will just convert whatever visa you have to a residency permit.