Teaching abroad can be a rewarding career move, whether you are joining an international school, language centre, university, private academy or government education programme. However, before you can start work, you may need to provide several UK documents to prove your identity, qualifications, teaching experience, background and health status.
Many teaching roles overseas require more than a CV and passport. Employers, visa authorities and education regulators may ask for a DBS certificate, degree certificate, teaching qualification, reference letters, medical report and sometimes an apostille or translation.
Preparing these documents early can help prevent delays with your job offer, visa application or start date.
Why teachers need extra documents when working abroad
Teachers often work with children, young people or vulnerable groups. Because of this, overseas employers and authorities may carry out detailed checks before allowing someone to teach.
They may need to confirm:
- your identity
- your education level
- your teaching qualifications
- your employment history
- your criminal record status
- your physical health
- your right to work in the destination country
- your suitability for the role
If the documents were issued in the UK, the overseas organisation may also need confirmation that they are genuine. This is where certification, apostille services and translation can become important.
Passport and identity documents
Your passport is usually the main identity document for an overseas teaching role. It will be needed for the job offer, visa application, employment contract and travel arrangements.
You may also be asked for:
- certified passport copy
- passport-style photographs
- proof of address
- driving licence
- birth certificate
- marriage certificate, if your name has changed
- change of name deed, if applicable
Some schools or visa authorities may ask for a certified copy of your passport rather than the original. In certain cases, the certified copy may also need an apostille.
DBS certificate
A DBS certificate is one of the most important documents for teachers moving abroad from the UK. It shows information about your criminal record status and is often requested by schools, recruiters and visa authorities.
A DBS certificate may be required for:
- international school jobs
- English language teaching roles
- nursery or early years positions
- private tutoring companies
- boarding schools
- childcare roles
- education visas
- teacher registration overseas
Some countries may ask for a DBS certificate to be issued recently, often within a specific number of months before the application. If your DBS certificate is too old, you may need to apply for a new one.
ACRO police certificate
In some cases, a DBS certificate is not the document requested. You may be asked for an ACRO police certificate instead, especially for immigration or visa purposes.
A DBS certificate is commonly used for employment checks in the UK, while an ACRO police certificate is often used for overseas immigration and visa applications.
Before applying, check exactly which certificate is required. Submitting the wrong criminal record document can delay your visa or employment process.
Does a DBS certificate need an apostille?
A DBS certificate may need an apostille if it is being submitted to a foreign authority or overseas employer. The apostille helps confirm that the document is suitable for international use.
This may be required for:
- work visa applications
- teacher registration
- international school onboarding
- ministry of education approval
- embassy or consulate submissions
Not every employer or country requires an apostille, so always check the exact instructions before arranging legalisation.
Degree certificate
Many overseas teaching roles require a degree certificate, especially if the role is at an international school, university or language centre. Visa authorities may also require a degree to prove eligibility for a skilled worker or teaching visa.
You may be asked for:
- bachelor’s degree certificate
- master’s degree certificate
- academic transcript
- university confirmation letter
- professional qualification certificate
Some countries require the degree certificate to be apostilled. Others may also require embassy legalisation or translation.
If you no longer have your original degree certificate, contact your university as early as possible to request a replacement or official confirmation letter.
Teaching qualification documents
If you are applying for a qualified teaching role, your employer may ask for evidence of your teaching qualification.
This could include:
- PGCE certificate
- QTS confirmation
- teacher reference number
- CELTA certificate
- DELTA certificate
- TEFL or TESOL certificate
- early years qualification
- subject-specific teaching qualification
Requirements depend on the school, country and type of teaching role. Some employers accept TEFL certificates for language teaching, while international schools may require QTS, PGCE or equivalent qualifications.
Academic transcripts
A degree certificate confirms that you completed the qualification, but an academic transcript shows your modules, grades and study details. Some visa authorities, universities and education ministries ask for transcripts as part of the approval process.
Academic transcripts may be required to confirm:
- subject specialism
- length of study
- academic level
- course content
- eligibility for teacher registration
If your transcript is issued by a UK university and used abroad, it may need certification, apostille or translation.
Employment reference letters
Teaching employers abroad often request reference letters from previous schools or employers. These help prove your experience and suitability for the role.
A reference letter may need to include:
- your full name
- job title
- employment dates
- subjects or year groups taught
- working hours
- main responsibilities
- behaviour or safeguarding comments
- school letterhead
- signature of an authorised person
Some employers may ask for references to be signed and dated recently. In certain cases, reference letters may need to be certified or apostilled.
Medical report or fit-to-work certificate
Many countries require teachers to complete a medical check before issuing a work visa. This may be done through an approved clinic in the destination country, but some employers may also ask for a UK medical report.
You may need:
- medical certificate
- fit-to-work letter
- GP letter
- vaccination record
- blood test results
- chest X-ray report
- prescription information
Medical documents often need to be recent. If issued in the UK, they may need to be signed by a doctor and prepared correctly for overseas use.
Proof of teaching registration or good standing
Some countries require teachers to prove that they are registered, licensed or in good professional standing.
Depending on your background, you may need:
- teacher registration confirmation
- letter of professional standing
- licence to teach
- QTS confirmation letter
- professional body membership certificate
- safeguarding training certificate
This is more common for regulated teaching positions, government schools and international schools following a specific curriculum.
Family documents for dependants
If your spouse, partner or children are moving with you, the visa process may require family documents.
You may need:
- marriage certificate
- civil partnership certificate
- full birth certificates for children
- adoption certificate
- child travel consent letter
- custody documents, if applicable
- dependant passport copies
These documents may need apostilles or translations before they are accepted by the overseas visa authority.
Name change documents
If your documents show different names, prepare supporting evidence before applying. This is common if your degree certificate, passport and DBS certificate do not all show the same name.
You may need:
- marriage certificate
- change of name deed
- divorce document
- birth certificate
- statutory declaration
Name differences can delay teacher registration or visa approval, especially if the authority needs to confirm that all documents belong to the same person.
Translation requirements
If you are teaching in a country where English is not accepted for official paperwork, your documents may need translation.
This may apply to:
- degree certificate
- teaching qualification
- DBS certificate
- ACRO police certificate
- medical report
- marriage certificate
- birth certificate
- employment references
Some countries require certified translations, while others require sworn or locally approved translations. Check whether the apostille should be added before translation, as the apostille itself may also need to be translated.
Embassy legalisation
Some countries require further legalisation after the apostille. This means the document may need to be submitted to an embassy or consulate before it is accepted.
This can apply to teaching roles in countries with stricter document rules, especially where education ministries or immigration departments need formal verification.
Documents that may require further legalisation include:
- degree certificate
- teaching qualification
- DBS certificate
- medical certificate
- employment reference
- marriage certificate
- child birth certificate
Always check the destination country’s requirements before starting the process.
Common reasons teaching applications are delayed
Teaching applications abroad are often delayed because documents are missing, outdated or prepared in the wrong format.
Common issues include:
- DBS certificate is too old
- ACRO certificate was required instead of DBS
- degree certificate has not been apostilled
- teaching qualification is missing
- references do not include employment dates
- medical certificate is not recent enough
- names do not match across documents
- translation is missing
- apostille was added to the wrong document
- family documents for dependants are incomplete
Because visa and school term dates can be strict, document delays can become stressful very quickly.
Practical checklist for teachers moving abroad
Before accepting a teaching role overseas, ask your employer or recruiter for a complete document checklist.
Confirm:
- whether a DBS or ACRO certificate is required
- how recent the criminal record check must be
- whether your degree certificate needs an apostille
- whether your teaching qualification needs legalisation
- whether medical documents are required
- whether references must follow a specific format
- whether translations are needed
- whether embassy legalisation is required
- whether dependants need separate documents
- the final deadline for submitting everything
Keeping documents organised from the start can make the move smoother.
Final thoughts
Teaching abroad from the UK can involve a detailed paperwork process. Alongside your passport and job offer, you may need a DBS certificate, ACRO police certificate, degree certificate, teaching qualification, employment references, medical report and family documents.
Some documents may need to be certified, apostilled, translated or legalised before they are accepted overseas. Requirements vary by country, school and visa type, so always check the exact instructions from your employer, recruiter or immigration authority.
Preparing your documents early can help protect your start date and make your move into an overseas teaching role much easier.