Planning to teach abroad? Learn which UK documents teachers may need, including qualification certificates, transcripts, references, police checks, translations and legalisation.

If you are planning to teach abroad, you may need to prepare several UK documents before you can start work. Overseas schools, education authorities, visa offices and professional regulators may ask for proof of identity, qualifications, teaching status, employment history, police checks, references, translations and legalisation.

The exact requirements depend on the country, school type, age group, subject and visa category.

Start with the school and local authority

Before preparing documents, ask the overseas school, recruiter or education authority for a written checklist.

Confirm:

• Which documents are required
• Whether originals or certified copies are needed
• Whether documents need translation
• Whether documents need legalisation
• Whether embassy attestation is required
• Whether police checks must be recent
• Whether references must follow a specific format
• Whether qualification documents must be sent directly by the university or awarding body

Do not rely only on a general teaching abroad checklist.

Passport and identity documents

You will usually need to prove your identity for employment, visa and safeguarding checks.

Documents may include:

• Passport
• Passport copy
• Birth certificate
• Marriage certificate
• Deed poll or name change document
• Proof of address
• Passport photos
• Visa application form
• Previous passports, if relevant

Check whether passport copies need to be certified, notarised, translated or legalised.

Teaching qualification certificate

Your teaching qualification certificate may be needed to prove that you are qualified to teach.

Depending on your background, this may include:

• PGCE certificate
• QTS evidence
• Degree certificate
• Teacher training certificate
• Professional qualification certificate
• Induction completion evidence
• Teaching licence or registration document

Ask whether the school or authority needs the original, a certified copy or a legalised version.

Degree certificate and academic transcript

Many overseas schools ask for degree documents as well as teaching qualifications.

You may need:

• Degree certificate
• Academic transcript
• Course completion letter
• University verification letter
• Medium of instruction letter
• Qualification comparison evidence
• Certified translation
• Legalisation

Some visa authorities may require education documents even if the school has already accepted them.

Evidence of qualified teacher status

If you hold qualified teacher status or a similar teaching recognition, the overseas authority may ask for evidence.

This may include:

• QTS certificate or confirmation
• Teacher reference number
• Letter from the relevant authority
• Online status check evidence
• Induction or ECT completion evidence
• Professional registration document

Check whether the authority requires a recent confirmation letter rather than an older certificate.

Employment references

Schools abroad often ask for references from previous employers. These may be used to check teaching experience, safeguarding history and professional conduct.

References may need to include:

• School name
• Your job title
• Dates of employment
• Age groups taught
• Subjects taught
• Duties and responsibilities
• Safeguarding statement
• Referee name and position
• Official letterhead
• Signature and date

Ask whether references must be sent directly by the previous employer.

Police certificate or DBS check

Teaching roles often require criminal record evidence. The exact document can vary by country and employer.

You may be asked for:

• ACRO police certificate
• DBS check
• Enhanced DBS check
• Local police clearance
• Subject access record
• Safeguarding declaration
• Certificate issued within a specific timeframe

A DBS check and an ACRO police certificate are not the same, so confirm which one is required.

Safeguarding and child protection documents

Some schools may ask for safeguarding evidence, especially for roles involving children.

Documents may include:

• Safeguarding training certificate
• Child protection training record
• Safer recruitment reference
• DBS or police certificate
• Employer safeguarding statement
• Professional conduct declaration
• Teaching registration evidence

Check whether these documents need to be recent.

Medical and fitness documents

Some countries or schools may require medical evidence before issuing a work visa or employment approval.

You may need:

• Medical certificate
• Fit-to-work letter
• Vaccination record
• TB test result
• Health insurance certificate
• Doctor’s letter
• Occupational health clearance

Ask whether medical documents must come from an approved clinic or doctor.

Name change documents

Name differences can delay teacher registration, visa applications or school onboarding.

Supporting documents may include:

• Marriage certificate
• Deed poll
• Divorce document
• Previous passport
• Statutory declaration
• Change of name deed

These may also need translation or legalisation if they are submitted overseas.

Translation requirements

If the receiving authority does not accept English documents, certified or sworn translation may be needed.

Ask:

• Which documents need translation?
• Which language is required?
• Is certified translation accepted?
• Is sworn translation required?
• Should legalisation happen before translation?
• Should stamps, seals and signatures be translated?
• Must the translator be approved locally?

Education, police, medical and name change documents may all need translation depending on the destination.

Legalisation requirements

Some UK documents may need legalisation before they are accepted abroad. Legalisation confirms the authenticity of the signature, stamp or seal on the document.

Documents that may need legalisation include:

• Degree certificate
• Academic transcript
• Teaching qualification certificate
• QTS confirmation
• Police certificate
• DBS check
• Employment reference
• Medical certificate
• Birth or marriage certificate
• Notarial document

Check whether the original, certified copy or notarised version should be legalised.

Embassy attestation

For some countries, UK legalisation may not be the final step. Embassy or consular attestation may also be required before education or work documents are accepted.

This can apply to teaching certificates, degree documents, police checks and employment papers. Ask the school, visa authority or education regulator whether attestation is needed.

Teachers working abroad document checklist

Before submitting documents, check:

• Is the school’s checklist confirmed?
• Is the visa authority’s checklist separate?
• Is your passport valid?
• Are teaching qualification documents required?
• Are degree and transcript documents required?
• Is QTS or registration evidence needed?
• Are employment references complete?
• Is a DBS check or ACRO certificate required?
• Do documents need translation?
• Do documents need legalisation or attestation?

Common mistakes to avoid

Avoid these mistakes when preparing teaching documents for overseas work:

• Sending only a CV and degree certificate
• Forgetting QTS or teacher registration evidence
• Submitting a DBS check when ACRO is required
• Using old police checks
• Missing employment references
• Ignoring safeguarding document requirements
• Forgetting certified translations
• Missing legalisation
• Legalising the wrong document version
• Not checking school and visa rules separately

Final thoughts

Teachers working abroad may need several documents beyond a job offer. Schools, visa authorities and education regulators may ask for qualification certificates, degree records, QTS evidence, references, police checks, medical documents, translations and legalisation.

Check the school, recruiter, visa authority and local education regulator requirements early. Preparing the correct documents in the right order can help avoid delays with your overseas teaching role.

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