Visas · Study
X1 and X2 visas: studying in China
China issues two study visas, and the difference is simply how long you will study. X1 is for programs longer than 180 days; X2 covers anything up to 180 days. If you hold an X1 visa, the visa is only half the job — you must convert it into a study residence permit within 30 days of arrival.
Checked against official sources on 13 October 2026. Rules change — confirm with the issuing authority before you apply. Sources at the bottom.
First, the good news
Do you even need a visa?
At a glance
X1 or X2 — which one is yours?
The split is decided by the length of your study, not by the level of the course. A one-semester exchange is usually X2; a full degree is X1.
| Item | X1 visa | X2 visa |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Study in China for more than 180 days Verified · official source | Study in China for no more than 180 days Verified · official source |
| Key study document | Admission letter from the school plus the Confirmation Form for Study in China (JW201 or JW202) | Admission letter from the school (a DQ short-term study form may also be asked for) |
| After you arrive | Apply for a study residence permit within 30 days of entry | No conversion needed — stay within the visa’s duration of stay |
| Typical duration of stay | Set by the visa officer; the residence permit then follows your school’s stated study period Verified · official source | Up to 180 days, set by the visa officer Verified · official source |
| Entries | Decided by the officer when the visa is issued Summary — decided case by case | Decided by the officer when the visa is issued Summary — decided case by case |
| Where to apply | The Chinese embassy or consulate-general for your area, or the China Visa Application Service Center that serves it. Summary — the center for your region handles it | |
| Official channel | China Visa Application Service Center (visaforchina.cn) · China Online Visa Application System | |
Who can apply
You need a school to admit you first
An X visa follows admission. You apply to the university, language school or training institution directly, or through an official scholarship program, and the school — once it accepts you — issues the admission document the visa center asks to see. No admission document, no X visa.
Degree or long program
More than 180 days of study. Expect an X1 visa, then a study residence permit that matches your school’s stated study period.
Exchange or short course
One semester, a summer program or a language course of 180 days or less. Usually X2 — no residence permit conversion afterwards.
Scholarship student
CSC programs issue the admission letter and the JW201 confirmation form. X1 is used for programs longer than six months. See the study guide.
What you need
Documents for an X visa application
The basic documents are the same for both X visas; the study documents differ. Your school and your visa center are the two places to confirm the exact list.
| Document | What to prepare | Varies? |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Valid for at least 6 months with blank visa pages, plus a copy of the information page. Verified · official source | Confirm with your center |
| Visa application form and photo | The completed online form, printed and signed, with a recent, front-facing color photo on a white background. | Photo format follows the center’s instructions |
| Proof of legal stay, if you apply outside your own country | Your valid residence, work or study permit — or a valid visa — for the country where the center is located. | Depends on where you apply |
| Admission letter (X1 and X2) | Issued by the school or admitting entity in China. Original and photocopy are commonly requested. Verified · official source | Center-specific |
| Confirmation Form for Study in China — JW201 or JW202 (X1 only) | The form your school or the scholarship authority issues with your admission. Verified · official source | Issued by the admitting body |
| Short-term study form DQ (X2, if applicable) | Some short-term and training programs provide this form for X2 applications. Verified · official source | Only where the school issues one |
| Previous Chinese passports or visas | Required if you were formerly a Chinese citizen, or if you have held a Chinese visa before and are applying with a new passport. | Only for some applicants |
| Documents for applicants under 18 | Birth or guardianship documents, passports or IDs of the parents or guardians, and a signed parental consent letter where needed. | Varies by center |
The number one confusion
Validity vs duration of stay
Validity period
The window in which you may enter China. You can enter on any day inside that window. It is not the same as your allowed stay.
Duration of stay
The number of days you may remain per entry. Days are counted from the day after you arrive — this is where X2’s 180-day ceiling applies.
| Item | Typical position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| X2 duration of stay | No more than 180 days. The visa is not converted; you leave, or apply to extend, before it runs out. | Verified · official source |
| X1 duration of stay | Set by the visa officer. It only needs to cover your arrival — the residence permit takes over from there. | Verified · official source |
| Residence permit needed? | X1: yes. Apply within 30 days of entry at the exit-entry administration of the public security bureau at or above county level in your place of residence. X2: no. | Verified · official source |
| How long the student permit lasts | A residence period consistent with the study term your school states in its letter. Verified · official source | Verified · official source |
| Fees | Visa fees vary by nationality and number of entries — read the official fee schedule. Residence-permit fees are fixed (see below). | Summary — check the official fee table |
Step by step
From admission to residence permit
Get admitted — and get the right paper
Apply to the institution directly, or through an official scholarship program. When you are accepted, the school issues your admission letter; for longer programs it also issues the Confirmation Form for Study in China (JW201 or JW202). Verified · official source
Check your admission documents against your visa type
Longer than 180 days → X1, and you need the JW201/JW202 form as well as the admission letter. 180 days or less → X2, admission letter only.
Apply for the X visa
Complete the online form and submit your passport and documents at the Chinese embassy, consulate-general or visa center for your area. Give fingerprints if asked.
Enter China inside the validity window
Check every date on the visa sticker when you collect your passport. Arrive in time for registration — schools set a deadline, and scholarships are not held for students who miss it.
Register your address within 24 hours
Dormitories and hotels normally handle this for you; if you rent privately, you or your landlord register at the local police station within 24 hours of arrival. Living in China guide · pre-departure checklist.
X1 only: apply for the study residence permit within 30 days
Take your passport, the school’s letter stating your study period, and your admission or enrollment certificate to the local exit-entry administration. Verified · official source
After you arrive
The student-type residence permit
This is the document that carries you through your studies. It also defines what you may and may not do outside class.
| Item | What the official guide says |
|---|---|
| When to apply | Within 30 days of entering China. Verified · official source |
| What you submit | Your valid passport, a completed application form with a compliant photo, a letter from your school stating the study period, and your admission or enrollment certificate. If your details are already recorded in the national study-in-China information system, paper copies may be waived. Verified · official source |
| How long it lasts | A residence period consistent with the study term your school states. Verified · official source |
| Part-time work or off-campus internship | Not automatic. With your school’s approval, you must apply to the exit-entry administration to have the location and duration added as a remark on your permit. Working without that remark is not allowed. Verified · official source |
| Health certificate | Required if you apply for a residence permit valid for more than 1 year, issued by a local health and quarantine authority or a health institution at or above county level. Verified · official source |
| Decision time and fee | A residence-permit decision is made within 15 working days. The fee is CNY 400 for a permit valid up to 1 year; CNY 800 for 1–3 years; CNY 1,000 for 3–5 years. Verified · official source |
| Extending it | Apply 30 days before the permit expires, with documents showing your study is continuing. Verified · official source |
Before you pay or fly
Four things people get wrong
Visa fees are not one price
Fees depend on your nationality and the number of entries, and some nationalities pay under a bilateral agreement. We deliberately do not quote a number — read the official fee schedule at the visa center that serves you. Summary — see the official fee table
Your passport must have room and time
At least 6 months of remaining validity and blank visa pages, and it must stay valid at least as long as the visa validity plus the duration of stay. Verified · official source
Register your address within 24 hours
Dorms and hotels usually do it for you. In a private rental, you or your landlord must register with the local public security authority within 24 hours — since 21 September 2026 this can be filed online nationwide, and the offline counter remains available. Verified · official source Living in China guide.
Do not start work on a study visa
Part-time work and internships need your school’s approval and a remark on your residence permit. Working without one is an immigration violation, and it can end your study stay. Verified · official source
Keep reading
Related pages
Study in China
Choosing a university, CSC scholarships, admission documents and enrollment.
Open the guide →Live in China
Registration, banking, phone plans, housing, medical care and campus life.
Living guides →All Chinese visa types
Compare L, M, Z, X, Q, S and R visas side by side.
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Sources & disclaimer
Facts on this page are linked to the official sources below, checked on 13 October 2026. Requirements, fees and timelines change — always confirm with the issuing authority. This page is for reference only — official sources prevail; always check the latest version with the relevant Chinese authority. General information, not legal advice.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China Consular Service Network — Visa Application Instructions of the People’s Republic of China: X1 is for study over 180 days, X2 for study of no more than 180 days; X1 requires the admission letter plus form JW201/JW202, X2 the admission letter; X1 holders apply for a residence permit within 30 days of entry.
- Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sweden — Instructions for Applying for a Visa (2026): X1 documents, the X2 admission notice and the short-term study (DQ) form where applicable, and the 30-day residence-permit reminder.
- National Immigration Administration — Service Guide on Issuance of Residence Permit for Foreigners: what a student-type residence permit requires, that its length follows the school’s stated study term, the part-time work and internship remark rule, the 15-working-day decision and the fee schedule.
- National Immigration Administration — Guidelines for foreigners’ visa, stay permit and residence permit applications: study-type residence permit documents for X1 holders and the application rules.
- China Scholarship Council, Study in China (campuschina.org) — guidebook: scholarship students apply for an X1 visa for programs over six months and an X2 for six months or less, use the admission letter and JW201 form, and apply for a residence permit after arrival.
- National Immigration Administration — Regulations on Filing Accommodation Registration for Foreigners: the 24-hour registration duty for anyone not staying in a hotel, and the penalties for missing it.
- National Immigration Administration — List of Countries Covered by Unilateral Visa Exemption Policies (as of 17 February 2026): 30-day visa-free entry covers business, tourism, family visits, exchange visits and transit — not study.
- China Visa Application Service Center — notice that reduced Chinese visa fees continue to 31 December 2026, with a national-flag table showing why fees differ by nationality and number of entries.
- China Visa Application Service Center (visaforchina.cn) — the official application portal, the online visa form and the fee schedule for the center serving your region.
- National Immigration Administration — Announcement No. 7 of 2026 (21 September 2026): nationwide online filing of accommodation registration for foreigners staying outside hotels, with the offline counter retained and equal legal effect.