Resources -

1. Passport (must be valid and within its validity period)
2. Higher Education Diploma
3. Certificate of No Criminal Record and No Ongoing Investigation
4. Teaching Certificate approved by the Ministry of Justice (TEFL / TESOL / CELTA / DELTA)
5. Reference Letter from Employer confirming at least two years of professional work experience
6. Medical Examination Report
7. Two Photographs (3×4 cm) and an electronic version
   • (Must meet visa photo standards: no accessories, no bangs/fringe, full face and neck must be clearly visible)
8. Work Permit Notification issued by the Chinese employer

Procedure for Document Preparation

Higher Education Diploma

• The diploma must be certified with an apostille (APOSTILLE).
• It is strongly recommended that before obtaining the apostille, you first notarize a copy of the diploma in both Armenian and English at a notary public office.
  This helps to avoid having the Ministry affix stamps or seals directly onto the original diploma.

Steps for Notarization of the Diploma Copy:

1. Bring the original diploma and your passport to a notary office.
2. Request notarization of one copy of the diploma, translated and certified in both Armenian and English.
3. The fee is:
   • 1,300 AMD for the service
   • 400 AMD for the terminal payment
   • (Please bring small-denomination cash for ease of payment)
4. The service is completed on-site within minutes.

Steps for Apostille Certification at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia:

• Address: 3/8 Vazgen Sargsyan Street, Yerevan

5. Take the notarized diploma copy provided by the notary and your passport to the Ministry.
6. The fee is:
   • 7,000 AMD for the apostille
   • 200 AMD terminal fee
   • (Payable via the instant payment terminal located at the Ministry — please bring small-denomination cash)
7. Processing time: 1 business day
8. Submission hours: 09:00–17:00
   • (To avoid queues, it is recommended to arrive in the morning hours)
9. Document collection: The following working day after 16:00

If the Document is Being Submitted by Another Person on Your Behalf:

• The representative must submit:
  • The notarized diploma copy
  • A copy of their own passport, which replaces the need to submit your passport

Certificate of No Criminal Record and No Investigation

• This document is issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of the Republic of Armenia, valid for six months, and must be certified with an apostille.
• The state fee for obtaining this document is 7,000 AMD + 200 AMD (terminal fee).
  Please bring small-denomination cash.

There are Two Options for Obtaining the Certificate:

1. Online Application via the Ministry’s Website:

• Fill out the online application form and complete the payment, attaching a scanned copy of your passport.
• Application portal:
  https://nid.e-gov.am
• Processing time: 1–2 business days.
• You may collect the physical document at the Public Reception Hall of the MFA Administrative Building (3 Vazgen Sargsyan Street) or request delivery via Haypost (postal service), which takes approximately 20 days.
• If the certificate will be collected by someone else, indicate during the online application that the document will be received by an authorized person, including their full name.

2. In-Person Application at the MFA Public Reception Hall:

• Visit the Public Reception Hall of the MFA Administrative Building (3 Vazgen Sargsyan Street), complete the application form, and make payment:
  • 7,000 AMD + 200 AMD terminal fee.
  • Please bring small-denomination cash.
• Processing time: 5 business days.
• You may collect the document at the MFA’s reception hall or request delivery by Haypost (20 days delivery).
• If another person is collecting the document on your behalf, provide a handwritten authorization letter including:
  • Full details (passport and social card data) of both the authorizing and authorized persons.
  • Two copies of both passports and social cards.
  • The authorized person’s passport.

Working Days and Hours:

• Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday
• 10:00–12:00
• Location: MFA Public Reception Hall (3 Vazgen Sargsyan Street)
• Bring your passport.

If You Are in China:

• You can pay the state fee online via the MFA’s website:
  https://www.mfa.am/hy/criminal-record-certificate/
• Then, email the Consular Section at the Embassy of Armenia in Beijing, attaching:
  • Application
  • Payment receipt code
  • Employer’s information in China
  • Your passport
  • Your full address in China
• The certificate will be mailed to the address you provided in China as an apostilled, legalized document.

3. Proof of Work Experience (Minimum 2 Years)

• This document should be an official reference letter issued on company letterhead.
• It must clearly state the job title or specialization for which you are applying for the visa.
• The letter must include:
  • Full name of the company director
  • Telephone number, address, and email
  • Official stamp and signature
• This document is submitted only to Chinese authorities and is not subject to validation in Armenia.

TEFL / TESOL / CELTA / DELTA Certificate

• Prior to May 2019, individuals often traveled to China to teach English with limited qualifications, prompting the Chinese government to require official certification.
• In September 2019, a new law was passed by China mandating that TEFL/TESOL certificates be:
  • Notarized and apostilled
  • Legalized by both the Armenian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy
• From March 2021, according to Armenian law, only certificates issued by licensed Armenian institutions are eligible for legalization.
• As of October 2023, China is listed among the countries that accept apostilled documents.

Apostille Certification Process:

• The certificate must be certified with an apostille at the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia (3/8 Vazgen Sargsyan Street).
• Fee: 7,000 AMD + 200 AMD (terminal fee)
  (Bring small-denomination cash.)
• Processing time: 1 business day
• Submission hours: 09:00–17:00 (recommended: morning)
• Collection: Next business day after 16:00

Work Experience Letter (Reiterated)

• The experience letter must:
  • Be in English
  • Be printed on official letterhead
  • Specify the professional experience relevant to the job for which the work visa is being requested
• It must include:
  • Employer contact details
  • Company director’s full name
  • Stamp and signature
• This document is presented only to Chinese authorities; it does not require legalization in Armenia.

Medical Examination

• You may undergo the required health examination at any polyclinic.
• However, some polyclinics are not informed about the specific requirements or may refuse to provide the service.
• If performed at your registered polyclinic, the exam should be free of charge under the law.
• At other clinics, the fee ranges between 21,000–25,000 AMD.

Required Documents:

• Passport and its copy
• One 3×4 cm photo
• Chinese visa medical examination form (available for download/print from the attachment; bring with you)
• The form must be filled out in English, and:
  • Officially stamped (on the first page—partially over the photo, and on the last page)
  • Signed by the attending doctor
• Employers may request this medical certificate in both Armenia and China, or only in China.
  Please consult your employer in advance.
• The certificate is valid for 7–20 days, depending on the employer.

 It is recommended not to undergo the examination unless it is specifically required.

• Processing time: 1–2 business days

List of Required Documents for a Chinese Family Visa

4. Marriage Certificate – This must be either notarized or translated (depending on the employer’s requirements).
   • Notarization of a copy: 1,300 AMD + 400 AMD
   • Translation fee: Depends on the target language
   • Legalization by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA): 7,000 AMD + 200 AMD (terminal fee)
   • Legalization by the Embassy: 7,000 AMD (payment must be made at Ameriabank only)
5. Child’s Birth Certificate – This must also be either notarized or translated (depending on the employer’s requirements).
   • Notarization of a copy: 1,300 AMD + 400 AMD
   • Translation fee: Depends on the target language
   • Legalization by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA): 7,000 AMD + 200 AMD
   • Legalization by the Embassy: 7,000 AMD (payment must be made at Ameriabank only)
6. Medical Examination – To be conducted following the procedures outlined above.

Please note that if even one of the aforementioned documents is missing, you will not be eligible to obtain a family visa.

P.S. – Relocating with your family, particularly with a child, requires careful consideration. Initially, you may encounter a period of adaptation, and your household expenses will likely increase. It is important to note that in China, the most significant costs are typically housing—which is often provided by your host institution—and your child’s education.
A phased approach is often recommended. You may wish to consider moving first to establish yourself, and then apply for your family’s visas once you are settled.
Furthermore, it is crucial to complete the legalization of all required documents in Armenia before your departure. The standard 90-day entry period can pass quickly while processing a visa, and while institutions may indicate the process will be efficient, unforeseen delays can sometimes occur.
Upon entering China, you must register with the local police station in your residential area in order to avoid future issues and fines.
Also note that the information provided here is current at the moment, but the laws in China can change at any time, and everything may be subject to complete revision.
It is also possible that the management of your host institution may have strong connections with government authorities, which could facilitate a smoother document verification and visa process compared to others.