When you’re offered a job teaching English abroad, you may be asked to legalise your TEFL certificate. “Legalisation” is a way of proving to foreign governments and employers that your official documents are genuine.

Legalise Your TEFL Certificate South-Africa image
Step 1: Check where to legalise your documents
In general, you need to legalise documents in the country in which they were issued. The steps for legalisation differ depending on the destination country where the document will be used. You will either follow an Authentication, Apostille or Authentication and Embassy Legislation Process. It's usually best to esquire with the foreign entity what legalisation steps they require.

Step 2: Get your documents Notarised
Before you can get your TEFL certificate legalised, you need a notary public to notarise it. There are notaries all over the world, so search for “notary public + your local town” to find one close to you. The notary will advise you on which documents are required to certify your qualification.

Step 3: Legalise your TEFL certificate

Attend the High Court, DIRCO and Foreign Embassy. While the High Court is a walk-in service DIRCO, and the Embassy will require you to drop off and pick up the document at a date in the future.
It usually takes between 7-10 working days for DIRCO to process your documents – so you should receive your legalised TEFL certificate back within a couple of weeks. Various certificates and stamps would be added to the document. Check our example page in this regard.

Step 4: Use your legalised TEFL certificate
The apostille certificate means that your TEFL certificate will be accepted as a legal document in any country or state that has signed up for an international agreement known as Convention 12 of the Hague Conference. If you want to work in a country that isn’t a signatory of this agreement, they will usually request that you firstly get the apostille and then take your documents to the relevant embassy for further authentication. Always make sure you check visa requirements in advance.

Other Documents. Wait there is more?
Remember that simultaneously with the above process you will also be required to supply further legalised documents: Police Clearance Certificate Notarised passport copy SAPS Police Clearance Certificate Health certificates Academic qualification certificates such as degrees or diplomas.

Although you can do the process yourself be aware that getting the process wrong may be costly. It will also take considerable time and multiple attendances. Rather let the experts facilitate the process on your behalf.

Discounted Attestation Service for TEFL PACK Customers
Legalising TEFL PACK of documents
We are pleased to offer exclusive, discounted rates for legalising documents for TEFL customers. We aim to make the process of document attestation as simple as possible. Simply order online, send your documents to us and we will ensure they are correctly attested!
This refers to the 3 documents needed to be legalised to be able to teach English overseas. (Degree or Diploma, Police Clearance and TEFL Certificate)

Get no obligation quotation to legalise TEFL pack of documents