- Alifa offers two different services in China: UFP guardian information sharing, and K-12 full guardianship.
- UFP students use Tier 1 ($200) or Tier 2 ($800). These are document services only.
- K-12 students use Tier 3 ($2,000 per year). This is the only tier with the Six Pillars of active care.
- UFP students email the university to confirm three things: guardian rules, Apostille need, and submission timing.
- UFP coverage spans 48 cities across almost every Chinese province. One guardian covers all universities in one province.
- Order is always the same: Service Agreement first, then itemised invoice. No hidden fees.
- Contact business@alifaedtech.com or WhatsApp +86 152 0107 9455.
In This Guide
Is your child going to study in China? If they are under 18, you need a local guardian. This is the rule at almost every Chinese school and university.
But not all guardian services are the same. The kind your child needs depends on the programme. Alifa Education Services offers two clear options:
- UFP Guardian Information Sharing ($200 Tier 1 or $800 Tier 2) — a document service for university foundation applicants, with coverage across 48 Chinese cities.
- K-12 Full Guardianship Service ($2,000 per academic year) — active year-round guardianship for international school students, with the Six Pillars of care.
This guide explains both services, the three questions every UFP student must ask the university, the exact billing process, and how Alifa works with leading Chinese international schools like Dehong, Dulwich Beijing, Dulwich Suzhou, AIC, and ISA Science City.
What Is a Student Guardian in China?
Direct answer: A student guardian in China is a local adult chosen by the parents. The guardian's name, ID number, and phone number go on the school's official file. If the school needs to reach an adult in China, the school contacts the guardian.
That is the legal meaning. But the daily work of a guardian is different for each programme. A UFP guardian and a K-12 guardian do very different jobs.
The Two Types of Guardianship Alifa Provides
Type A — UFP Guardian Information Sharing
This is for students applying to a Chinese university foundation programme.
Before the university can send a Pre-Admission Letter (the letter the student needs to apply for a student visa), the university must have a verified local guardian on its file. Alifa Education provides this guardian as a document service. We give the university the guardian's profile, ID, and phone number.
UFP students live in the university's own dormitory. The university takes care of them every day. The guardian is a legal contact only — not a daily caretaker.
Alifa Education does not help with the university application itself. We provide only the guardian information.
Price: Tier 1 ($200) or Tier 2 ($800).
Type B — K-12 Full Guardianship Service
For students at Chinese K-12 international schools (day school or boarding school).
Here, the guardian is active every day of the school year. They visit the student. They talk to teachers. They go to hospital visits. They arrange a safe place to stay during school holidays.
Schools like AIC Guangzhou and ISA Science City Guangzhou ask for an active local guardian under contract before they accept a minor foreign student.
Price: Tier 3 ($2,000 per school year).
UFP Guardian Information Sharing (Tier 1 & Tier 2)
In short: UFP guardianship is a document package. Alifa gives a verified local guardian's details to the university so your child can get a Pre-Admission Letter. It is not active care, and it is not university application help.
Some Chinese universities ask for only basic guardian details. Others ask for notarised documents with a Hague Apostille (an international stamp that proves a document is real). Before you choose a tier, your child must email the university and ask what is needed.
What you get with Tier 1 and Tier 2
Both tiers give you a verified local guardian. This includes:
- Guardian profile and contact details
- National ID scans (front and back)
- A signed Chinese Guarantee Letter (a letter from the guardian promising to act for the student)
- An active local phone number for the university to call
Tier 2 adds: notary public certification, certified translation, and Hague Apostille help.
What neither tier includes: welfare visits, school contact, holiday homestay, emergency response, or medical support. Those are Tier 3 services.
Three Questions to Ask the University
Before you choose a tier, your child sends one email to the university's international admissions office. The email asks three questions. The answers tell us which tier your child needs.
rules
What does the university want from a guardian?
- Which city or region?
- Local hukou needed?
- Any rules about relationship to student?
→ Tells us if you need Tier 1 or Tier 2
authentication
Do the documents need to be authenticated?
- Hague Apostille on the Parental Authorisation?
- Does the school have its own letter template?
→ Apostille needed = Tier 2
Standard only = Tier 1
timing
When do you need the documents?
- Before or after the Admission Letter?
- What is the final deadline?
→ Tells us how much time we have
The three answers we need before we can confirm the right tier
Always attach a scanned copy of the student's passport with the email. When the university replies, forward the reply to your Alifa advisor. We read the answer and confirm Tier 1 or Tier 2 within 24 hours. This step is free.
Email Template to Send the University
Copy this template and change the parts in brackets. The student should send the email from their own email address — universities prefer to hear from the applicant directly. We can give you the same template in Russian, Spanish, or Chinese on request.
Subject: Guardian Requirements Inquiry — Minor Applicant, [Programme Name], [Intake]
Dear International Admissions Office,
My name is [Student Name]. I am a minor international student from [Country]. I am preparing to apply to your [Programme Name] starting [Semester / Year]. As I am under 18 years of age, I will appoint a registered local guardian in China.
Before I submit my application, could you please confirm the following three points:
1. Guardian rules. What does the university require from a guardian? In particular: which city or region must the guardian be based in, must the guardian hold local hukou (household registration), and are there any restrictions on the guardian's relationship to the student?
2. Document authentication. Does the Parental Authorisation (Power of Attorney) need to carry a Hague Apostille? Does the university provide a Guarantor Letter template I should follow?
3. Submission timing. May guardian materials be submitted after the Admission Letter is issued, or must they be on file beforehand? What is the final submission deadline?
A scanned copy of my passport is attached for your reference. Thank you for your time. I look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
[Student Name]
[Application ID, if known] · [Country]
K-12 Full Guardianship Service (Tier 3)
In short: Tier 3 is the only Alifa tier with active daily care. It is for K-12 students aged 6 to 18, in day school or boarding school. All Six Pillars are included. Price: $2,000 per school year.
The Six Pillars — included only in Tier 3
Our K-12 service runs from the first day of school to the last. We attend every parent-teacher meeting. We track every grade report. We sign every consent form. We arrange care for every school break.
Tier 3 also includes all the document services from Tier 1 and Tier 2. This means: Guardian Authorization Letter preparation, notary public certification, Hague Apostille processing, and visa support letters — whenever your child's school requires them. You do not pay extra for these documents.
Schools we currently support
Many leading international schools across China use Alifa for the guardianship of their foreign high school students. Our partners include:
- Dehong School (international group of schools)
- Dulwich College Beijing (DCB) — British curriculum
- Dulwich International High School Suzhou
- Alcanta International College (AIC) Guangzhou
- ISA Science City Guangzhou
Many other international schools across China also use our services. Contact us to confirm whether your child's school is already on our network.
All Three Tiers, Side by Side
UFP Basic — Info Sharing
University accepts standard guardian details
- Verified guardian profile
- National ID scans (front and back)
- Handwritten Chinese Guarantee Letter
- Local Chinese phone number for the university
No welfare visits. No school contact. No homestay. Document service only.
UFP Notarised — Apostille
University requires authenticated documents
- Everything in Tier 1
- Hague Apostille on the Parental Authorisation
- Notary public certification
- Certified bilingual translation
- Embassy attestation help
No welfare visits. No school contact. No homestay. Document service only.
K-12 Full Service
Active care for school students all year
- Monthly welfare check-ins
- Parent-teacher meeting attendance
- 24/7 emergency response
- Medical coordination
- Holiday homestay
- Guardian Authorization Letter
- Notary public & Hague Apostille
- Visa support letters
- Dedicated bilingual account manager
Pricing Examples and Transparent Billing
How Tier 1 pricing works
Tier 1 is $200 per guardian, per province. This is the most common tier for UFP applicants — most Chinese universities accept standard guardian details without notarisation.
Alifa covers UFP guardianship across 48 cities and almost every Chinese province. Wherever your child's university is located, we can match a verified local guardian who meets the university's requirements.
One guardian can be used for many universities in the same city — you pay only once.
For universities in different provinces, you need one guardian per province. Each new province adds $200.
- 2 universities, both in Beijing → $200 (one guardian)
- 3 universities, all in Shanghai → $200 (one guardian)
- 1 university in Beijing + 1 in Shanghai → $400 (two provinces)
- 4 universities across 3 provinces → $600 (one guardian per province)
How Tier 2 pricing works
Tier 2 is $800 total. This covers documents for up to 2 cities and includes the Hague Apostille.
Some Chinese cities — Beijing, Shanghai, and Suzhou are common ones — require notarised guardian documents from a local notary office. Tier 2 covers this. Alifa has offices in both Guangzhou and Beijing, so we handle Beijing notarisation directly through our local team.
If you need notarised documents for more than 2 cities, the price is higher. Alifa will calculate the exact cost for you before you pay.
- Apostille needed for Beijing only → $800
- Apostille needed for Beijing + Shanghai → $800 (both cities covered)
- Apostille needed for 3 cities → contact Alifa for a custom quote
How billing works. The order is always the same. First, after we confirm your tier, we send the Customer Service Agreement. The agreement shows the full service scope and total fee. You read it and sign. After signing, we send the itemised invoice. Then you pay. You see exactly what you are paying for before any money changes hands. No hidden fees.
Who We Serve
Alifa serves families from these regions, with service agreements in English, Russian, and Spanish:
- CIS: Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Armenia. Russian-language support.
- ASEAN: Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar.
- South Asia: Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka.
- Latin America: Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Argentina. Spanish service agreements with local partner agents.
How to Get Started
From first contact to active guardianship: 7 to 14 days. Six simple steps:
Identify the programme
K-12 students use Tier 3. UFP students go to step 2.
Email the university (UFP only)
Send the three-question email. Wait for the reply.
Send the reply to Alifa
We open a WhatsApp or WeChat group for your case. We confirm the right tier within 24 hours.
Review and sign the Service Agreement
We send the bilingual Customer Service Agreement first. The full scope and total fee are listed in Schedule A. Read it, then sign.
Receive the invoice and pay
After you sign the agreement, we send the itemised invoice. Pay by bank transfer, WeChat Pay, or Alipay.
Guardian package delivered
Documents arrive through the case group. For Tier 3, active care starts on day one of school.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between UFP guardianship and K-12 guardianship?
UFP guardianship is a document service. Alifa gives the university a verified guardian profile so the family can meet enrolment rules. K-12 guardianship is a full active service. It includes the Six Pillars: monthly welfare visits, school contact, 24/7 emergency response, medical coordination, holiday homestay, and document help.
How much do guardianship services in China cost?
Alifa Education offers three tiers. Tier 1 — UFP Basic Information Sharing: $200 per guardian per province. Tier 2 — UFP Notarised with Hague Apostille: $800 covering up to two cities. Tier 3 — K-12 Full Guardianship Service: $2,000 per academic year. Tier 1 and Tier 2 are document services for UFP students. Tier 3 is a full active service for K-12 students.
Are the Six Pillars included in Tier 1 or Tier 2?
No. The Six Pillars are only in Tier 3, the K-12 full service. Tier 1 and Tier 2 are document services for UFP applicants.
Does Alifa help with the university application itself?
No. For UFP students, Alifa provides only the guardian information the university needs. The application is handled by the family or by an education agent.
If I apply to universities in Beijing and Shanghai, do I pay Tier 1 once or twice?
Twice. Beijing and Shanghai are in different provinces, so each one needs its own guardian — $200 per guardian, total $400. If you apply to many universities in the same city, one $200 guardian covers all of them.
What is hukou and why does it matter?
Hukou is the Chinese household registration system. Each Chinese person is registered in one city. Many universities require the guardian to hold local hukou in the city where the university is. This is why the same guardian cannot always cover universities in different cities.
What is a Hague Apostille and does my child need one?
A Hague Apostille is an international stamp under the 1961 Hague Convention. It proves a document is real and can be used in another country. Many Chinese universities — especially in Beijing, Shanghai, and Suzhou — require the Parental Authorisation to carry a Hague Apostille. Tier 2 includes Apostille help.
How does Alifa Education send the bill?
The order is always the same. After we confirm your tier, we send the Customer Service Agreement first. The agreement shows the full scope and total fee. You sign the agreement. After you sign, we send an itemised invoice with every charge listed — tier base fee, any extra provinces or cities, notarisation, translation. You always see the agreement before you see the bill. You always see the bill before you pay.
Which Chinese cities and provinces does Alifa cover?
Alifa covers UFP guardianship across 48 cities and almost every Chinese province. Wherever your child's university is located, we can match a verified local guardian who meets the university's requirements. For K-12 full service, our active school partnerships are mainly in Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, and Guangzhou — including Dehong School, Dulwich College Beijing, Dulwich International High School Suzhou, Alcanta International College, and ISA Science City.
Can I move from Tier 1 to Tier 2 or Tier 3 later?
Yes. If the university later requires Apostille documents, we move you from Tier 1 to Tier 2 — you pay only the difference. UFP students who move to a K-12 school can change to Tier 3. Upgrade documents take 5 to 10 working days.
About Alifa Education Services
Alifa Education Services (阿里发教育科技) is a China-based international education company. The legal entity is Hefei Alialibo Education Technology Co., Ltd. Founded by Larry Wang, CEO.
What we do
- UFP Guardian Information Sharing for international minor students at Chinese university foundation programmes. Coverage in 48 cities and almost every Chinese province. Tier 1 ($200) or Tier 2 ($800).
- K-12 Full Guardianship Service for international school students aged 6 to 18. The Six Pillars plus Guardian Authorization Letter, notary, and Hague Apostille. Tier 3 ($2,000 per academic year).
Where we operate
- Guangzhou office: 14 Guangsheng Road, Nansha District, Guangzhou, China.
- Beijing office: Taijia Culture (Wanhe Campus), Building 13, Wanhe Culture Silicon Valley, Chaoyang District, Beijing.
Who we serve
Families from the CIS region, ASEAN, South Asia, and Latin America. Service agreements in English, Russian, and Spanish.
Contact
Email: business@alifaedtech.com
WhatsApp: +86 152 0107 9455
WeChat: larry9455
Website: www.alifaedtech.com
Tagline: Experience Excellence, Embrace Opportunity.
Get the Right Guardianship Tier
UFP families: send the three-question email to your university, then send us the reply. K-12 families: contact us directly for Tier 3. Clear pricing from $200. Service Agreement first, then itemised invoice.
Offices in Guangzhou and Beijing · Serving CIS, ASEAN, South Asia & Latin America