China student visa (X1): documents and steps

What the X1 and X2 student visas are, which documents you need, and what to do after you arrive in China.

Once a Chinese university has admitted you, the next step is the student visa. Embassies and visa centres set their own detailed procedures, so use this as a checklist and confirm the current rules with the Chinese embassy or visa centre that serves you.

X1 or X2?

  • X1: for study of more than 180 days. It is usually valid for a single entry and for 30 days after you arrive, and during that time it must be converted into a residence permit.
  • X2: for study of 180 days or less. Holders of an X2 normally do not apply for a residence permit.

Documents commonly required

  • Passport with enough validity and blank pages
  • Visa application form completed online and printed
  • Passport-style photo that meets the specification
  • The original Admission Notice from the university
  • The Visa Application for Study in China form: JW201 is normally issued to students on a Chinese government scholarship and JW202 to other students. For a short X2 stay some universities use a different form, so use the one your university sends you.
  • Foreigner Physical Examination Record, usually required for stays of more than six months
  • Any extra items your embassy asks for, such as a criminal record certificate

Steps

  1. Receive the admission notice and the visa application form from the university.
  2. Complete the visa application form and book an appointment.
  3. Submit documents and biometrics.
  4. Collect the visa and check the entry deadline printed on it.
  5. Arrive, register at the university, and apply for the residence permit. With an X1 the 30 days run from the day you enter China, and that day counts, so do not leave it late.

Tips

  • Start the medical examination early; it can take days to complete.
  • Keep scans of every document.
  • Do not enter on a tourist visa intending to study; a tourist visa generally cannot be converted into a student residence permit.
  • Missing the residence-permit window can lead to fines or other penalties, so ask your university how it handles the application.

Checked against the visa guidance of several Chinese universities in November 2026. Rules and document lists differ by embassy and change, so confirm with the Chinese embassy or visa centre that serves you.

Questions? Contact CAS.

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