If your plan is to teach English abroad, you need to know about a critical step in the visa process: Government Authentication (or Apostille).
More countries now require teachers to have their TESOL, TESL, or TEFL certification authenticated by the government of the country where the certificate was issued. Unless a government agency validates your certificate, many countries (including South Korea, China, Vietnam, and the UAE) will not issue the work visa you need.
The Trap of Unaccredited Courses: There are many cheap certification courses online that lack official accreditation—including some university-branded TEFL courses offered by recruitment agencies. If a course isn’t recognized by a government-sanctioned body, it cannot be notarized or authenticated.
Don’t limit your job options with a certificate that isn’t valid. As a provider of TESL Canada-approved certification courses (Professional Standard 1 and 2), OnTESOL is one of the few online institutes whose certificates meet the strict requirements for government authentication.
Below is a guide on how to get your OnTESOL certificate authenticated by the Government of Canada.
How to Authenticate Your OnTESOL Certificate
Because OnTESOL is a Canadian institute with TESL Canada accreditation, our certificates are eligible for validation by Global Affairs Canada. This is the “Gold Standard” verification that foreign immigration officers look for.
The “Apostille” Update (New for 2024)
As of January 2024, Canada has joined the Hague Apostille Convention.
- If you are going to an Apostille country (e.g., South Korea, Spain, Chile): You now only need one step—an Apostille from Global Affairs Canada or a provincial authority. You no longer need legalization at the embassy.
- If you are going to a non-Apostille country (e.g., Vietnam, UAE, Taiwan, China): You still need the traditional 2-step process (Authentication by Global Affairs + Legalization by the Embassy).
The General Process
- Notarization: Take your original OnTESOL certificate to a Canadian Public Notary or lawyer to have it notarized as a “true copy.”
- Global Affairs: Submit the notarized document to Global Affairs Canada (or the relevant provincial body) for an Apostille or Certificate of Authentication.
Government Authentication for International Students (Outside Canada)
People from all over the world complete our online TESOL/TEFL certification courses. Even if you are not Canadian, your certificate is! Because your diploma is issued in Canada, it must be authenticated by Canadian authorities.
- If you are currently abroad: You do not need to fly to Canada. You can mail your documents to Global Affairs in Ottawa, or use a private service (see below) to handle the physical logistics for you.
- Embassy Limitations: Please note that Canadian embassies/consulates in your home country usually cannot authenticate educational documents. This must be done within Canada before the document is sent to you or the foreign visa office.
Fast-Tracking the Process: Using Private Companies
Moving to another country is a complex process. You need to gather university transcripts, process criminal background checks, and secure visas. Navigating the bureaucracy of notarization and Global Affairs on top of that can be overwhelming.
The authentication process can take anywhere from 2 to 5 months if you do it via standard mail, depending on government backlogs.
Need it faster? For this reason, many of our graduates use private companies that specialize in fast-tracking the authentication/Apostille process. Although it costs a fee, this option can significantly lower your burden.
They can physically walk your documents into the correct offices in Ottawa, shaving weeks off the wait time. This service is especially useful if you are located outside of Canada or are on a strict timeline to get your visa approved.
Ready to start your journey? Find TEFL Jobs Abroad on the OnTESOL Job Board.
