Teaching abroad can be a great career move for UK teachers, tutors and education professionals. International schools, language centres, private academies and overseas education authorities often ask for documents before they can confirm a job offer, support a visa or approve you to work with children.
The exact paperwork depends on the country, school and role, but it is common to be asked for proof of identity, qualifications, teaching experience, background checks and medical fitness. Some UK documents may also need translation, certification or official preparation before they are accepted abroad.
Passport and identity documents
Your passport is usually the first document requested. It may be needed for the job offer, work visa, school records and travel arrangements.
You may also need:
- passport copy
- certified passport copy
- passport-style photographs
- proof of address
- birth certificate
- marriage certificate, if your name has changed
- change of name deed, if applicable
Make sure your name is consistent across your passport, qualifications, DBS certificate and references.
DBS or police certificate
Schools abroad often ask for a criminal record check, especially if the role involves children or young people.
UK applicants may be asked for:
- DBS certificate
- enhanced DBS certificate
- ACRO police certificate
- overseas police certificates, if they have lived in other countries
Check which certificate is required before applying. A DBS certificate and an ACRO police certificate are not the same, and submitting the wrong one can delay your start date.
Degree certificate
Many schools ask for a degree certificate, particularly for qualified teaching roles, international schools and visa applications.
You may need:
- bachelor’s degree certificate
- master’s degree certificate
- academic transcript
- university confirmation letter, if the certificate is unavailable
If your degree certificate is in a previous name, prepare your marriage certificate, deed poll or other name change evidence.
Teaching qualification
Your teaching qualification may be one of the most important documents.
Depending on your role, schools may ask for:
- PGCE certificate
- QTS confirmation
- teacher reference number
- CELTA certificate
- DELTA certificate
- TEFL certificate
- TESOL certificate
- early years qualification
- subject-specific training certificate
Requirements can differ widely. A language school may accept TEFL, while an international school may require QTS or a recognised teaching qualification.
Employment references
Schools usually ask for references from previous employers. These should be clear, signed and preferably on official letterhead.
A reference may need to include:
- your full name
- job title
- employment dates
- subjects or year groups taught
- main duties
- safeguarding or conduct comments
- referee contact details
Some schools ask for references to be sent directly from the employer.
Medical documents
Some countries require teachers to provide medical documents for a work visa or school onboarding.
You may need:
- medical certificate
- fit-to-work letter
- vaccination record
- GP letter
- prescription list
- health insurance documents
Medical documents may need to be recent and may need translation depending on the destination country.
Documents for dependants
If your family is moving with you, the visa process may require extra documents.
This can include:
- marriage certificate
- child’s full birth certificate
- dependant passport copies
- child travel consent letter
- school records for children
- vaccination records
Family documents are often checked carefully, especially for dependant visas and school enrolment.
Translation and official copies
If you are moving to a country where English documents are not accepted, translations may be needed. This can apply to DBS certificates, degree certificates, medical documents, marriage certificates and birth certificates.
Some schools or visa authorities may also ask for certified copies or documents prepared for official overseas use. Always check the school’s checklist before sending originals.
Common mistakes to avoid
Teaching applications abroad are often delayed because documents are missing or not in the required format.
Common issues include:
- wrong police certificate
- DBS certificate is too old
- degree certificate is missing
- teaching qualification is not accepted
- references do not include dates
- names do not match across documents
- medical certificate is not recent enough
- translations are missing
Preparing documents early can help protect your job offer and start date.
Final thoughts
Working as a teacher abroad usually requires more than a CV and interview. Schools may ask for your passport, DBS or police certificate, degree certificate, teaching qualification, references and medical documents.
Requirements vary by country and school type, so ask for a written checklist before preparing documents. Getting the right paperwork ready early can make the move into an overseas teaching role much smoother.