Living in China Questions

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• Which visa do I need to work legally in China?
  
  To teach legally in China you need to have a Z visa. In order to get this you’ll need a visa invitation letter from your employer. Once you have your invitation letter you can apply for your visa at your local embassy. Your employer shoul...
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• What is the cost of living like in China?
  
  Unless you’re living in the centre of Beijing, Shanghai or Hong Kong, living in China is VERY cheap. Many teaching contracts include free accommodation – and if yours doesn’t rent costs from 500 to 1,500RMB per month. A three ...
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• What is the standard of accommodation like in China?
  
  Accommodation in China can range from pretty swish to pretty basic. Most apartments have squat toilets and wet rooms, rather than traditional bathrooms, but apart from that your apartment will probably be pretty similar to small studio apartmen...
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• How many hours a week do TEFL teachers in China usually work?
  
  This just depends. Teachers in China can end up working anti-social hours at evenings and weekends, so make sure you are firm when signing your contract about what kind of hours you want to work. On average you’ll have 25 contact hours pe...
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• How much tax will I have to pay on my earnings in China?
  
  Depending on where you’re working, you’ll pay 0-10% of your salary as tax....
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• Will my employer pay for the cost of my flight to China?
  
  Sometimes – you just need to negotiate the cost of your flights to be included as an end of contract bonus....
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