Foreign students studying or exchanging in China must apply for visas through Chinese embassies or consulates abroad. The types of visas are as follows:
X1 individuals who have been studying in China for a long period of time (exceeding 180 days)
X2 personnel studying in China for a short period of time (not exceeding 180 days)
Personnel engaged in exchange, visit, inspection and other activities in China
L travel to China or participate in summer (winter) camp personnel
For applicants studying in China, please be sure to apply for a study visa (X visa) to study in China. Among them, the X1 visa is a long-term convertible visa that must be converted into a residence permit within 30 days of entry; The X2 visa is a short-term non convertible visa, and students holding this visa can only travel to and from China once, and can stay in China for a maximum of 180 days. Therefore, if your study period in China exceeds 180 days, you need to apply for an X1 visa (residence permit); If it does not exceed 180 days, an X2 visa application is required.
When applying for a student visa (X-visa), you need to prepare the following materials:
（1） Passport: Original passport with a validity period of more than 6 months, blank visa page, and 1 copy of passport photo information page.
（2） Visa application form and photo: 1 copy of the "People's Republic of China Visa Application Form" and 1 recent, frontal, color (light background), passport photo pasted on the application form.
（3） Legal stay or residence certificate (applicable to visa applicants who are not in their country of nationality): If you are not applying for a visa in your country of nationality, you need to provide valid proof of legal stay, residence, work, or study in your country, or the original and photocopy of a valid visa.
（4） Original Chinese passport or original Chinese visa (applicable to those who previously held Chinese nationality but later acquired foreign nationality): If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you must provide the original Chinese passport and a copy of the passport photo information page; If you have previously obtained a Chinese visa and applied for a visa with a newly issued foreign passport, you must provide the original foreign passport photo information page and a copy of the Chinese visa you have previously obtained (if the name recorded on the new passport does not match the original passport, you must also provide relevant official proof of name change).
(V)
X1 visa
1. The original and photocopy of the admission notice issued by the recruiting unit within China;
2. Original and photocopy of the "Application Form for Foreign Students' Visa to China" (JW201 or JW202 Form).
Please note:
After entering China, the holder must apply for a residence permit from the exit and entry management agency of the public security organ of the local people's government at or above the county level where they intend to reside within 30 days.
Please ensure that the embassy returns your admission letter and original JW201/JW202 forms to you while you retrieve your passport and obtain your entry visa for China. This is an important document that you need to provide to the Public Security Bureau when applying for a residence permit after coming to China.
X2 visa
The original and photocopy of the admission notice issued by the recruiting unit within China.
For more detailed information, please visit the following website:
Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website: http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/mfa_eng/
China Consular Service Network: http://cs.mfa.gov.cn/wgrlh
China Visa Application Service Center: https://www.visaforchina.org/
*International students entering the country must hold a study visa (X visa). If they enter with a tourist visa (L visa) and then wish to convert to a study visa, they may be required to leave the country and re-enter, which is not recommended.