Apply for X1 X2 China Student Visa – Requirements, Fees, Process, Docs

China Student Visa Information

The only visa for studying in China is the China Student visa. So if you have secured an admission into a Chinese University or college to pursue Degree Programs or even learn Chinese Language for a semester / Year / or short term like the summer. The China Student Visa is categorize into 2 major main types, known as X1 and X2. Usually most international students get confused here but here is the difference. The X1 student visa is issued to students whose study with Universities irrespective of their course and also covering a duration longer than 6 months (up to 360 days). International students will get the X2 student visa if their intended time of stay is less than 6 months (<180 days). X1 visa holders have multiple entries which means they can enter China and legally leave and re-enter any time of the duration of the Visa. Students who decide to travel in Asia, go home and also visit friends may do so without worrying about re-applying.

The X1 student visa also require holders to register with the Public Safety Bureau (PSB) within the 30 days of arrival in China in order to secure a valid resident permit as a replacement for the X1 Visa. The opposite is true for X2 China Student visas. It is usually issued with a single entry notation valid up to 6 months. Holders of the X2 Visa cannot re-enter China unless they apply for a new Visa an indication that X2 visas are not multiple entry visa. To apply for China student X Visa, applicants need to a set of documents to apply for these visas at the Chinese Embassy in their country.
The most important requirement for an international student, is to get admission into a university or other Educational Institution to study in China for degree or Language courses. Also internship organizations are able to offer a JW201 or JW202 documents with admission letter which is paramount to securing China Student Visas.

X Visa - China Student Visa Requirements & Documents

Passport & Photocopy of Bio Data Page

Getting prepared to apply for your Chinese Student Visa? The first document you need to have is a passport

Applicant should submit their own passport.
We recommend that Your Passport have at least 12-18 months validity period to expiry.
Always ensure you have 2 to 3 blank pages left in your passport.
If you are not a citizen of the country you are applying from, attach your resident permit
Attach a photocopy of your Bio-Data page

Completed Visa Application Form

You will need to fill out application forms. Currently the Chinese Embassies have online forms while some are PDF you can download and complete. Check with your local embassy before taking any step

Complete and sign the application form on your computer.
All forms must be filled in digital formal – hand written is not acceptable
Make sure you complete all areas of the form and proof read before submitting
Do not print the forms front and back
Our team will help you review the forms before submitting

JW202 or JW201 from Ministry of Education in China

The JW202 or JW201 are official documents issued by the Ministry of Education in China and usually are powerful documents that embassies do not reject

You need to secure an admission with an institution in China
Some language schools could help as well with these
X2, Internship organizations and agencies can help as well
You need original documents and not photocopies- Most institutions will deliver this via DHL

Official Admission notice

Admission notices comes for the institution offering the courses/ program. It states your duration of study, city, name of institution and other personal details of the students

It should have university’s official stamp
Your name and passport number with other vitals
It is in both English and Chinese

Recent 2inch Passport Picture

Check the Chinese embassy website for details and specifications, here are the common ones

Full face, frontal with a plain white or off-white background,
Photo printed on regular paper or photo of poor quality is not acceptable.
Photo needs to be taken within 6 months.
Please use paper clip to attach the photo face-down (avoid scratching) to the form. Do not staple or glue the photo.

Health Certificate (Only X1 Applicants)

All X1 applicants are supposed to submit a health certificate to show they are fit to study in China

Download the visa health check from your local embassy’s website
Get the health check done by a certified doctor and stamped
Notarize the copy of the health check form
It should not be older than 6 months
Submit original form and a copy

Visa Application Process

Steps 1

Pre Application Document check

At this stage, applicants should make sure they have all the needed documentation. The China Scholar applicants are guided through the check process.

Steps 2

Fill out Visa Application

You fill out the visa application form, review and be sure all details are properly provided and sign the application form. Online applications are same.

Steps 3

Submit Form Online

Curently, most Chinese embassies only accept online forms so applicants at this stage should submit all details online and be sure they are set for a visit

Steps 4

Book Appointment with Embassy

You are now ready to book an appointment. Applicants are given a code and allowed to select a date that works best for them. You choose a date that you can visit the embassy .

Steps 5

Interview – Only Few Cases

Some Chinese embassies require that applicants attend a compulsory interview. Usually if this is the case, the applicant will be notified ahead of the date

Steps 6

Collection

After submitting your documents, the embassy will provide an exact date that you will be able to pick your visa. Usually 7 days after submission, your visa should be ready

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China Student Visa Application Fees

COUNTRY / # ENTRIES	US CITIZENS	CANADA	UK CITIZENS	AUSTRALIA
Single Entry Cost	$140	CAD 142	GBP 151	AUD 109
Double Entry	$140	CAD 142	GBP 151	AUD 139
Others	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

What You Pay At the EMBASSY

Chinese Embassies across the world charge visa processing fees to cover the administration of visa services. The fees charges are same for all types of visas and the X student Visa is no exception. We encourage student visa applicants to cross check prices in their local embassies before budgeting. If you need quick delivery or express services be prepared to pa extra fees for expedited service. X1 and X2 Visa applicants who prefer their visas delivered through courier services, the embassy will charge for that extra service.

X1, X2 Visa Processing Timeline

HOW LONG WILL THE VISA PROCESS TAKE

There are various processing timelines for China Student visas classified as normal and express services. The normal processing time is usually set to 5 working days with all other things being equal and also under condition that the applicant is not subject to interview. Visa applicants who wish to speed the application process and for some reasons cannot wait for normal processing time, ma apply for express service. Check the timelines below

Normal Service : 5 working days
Express Service: 2-3 working days with extra charge.
Rush Service: 1 working day processing

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Does X1 visa holders need Resident Permit?

X1 visa holders shall apply for a Temporary Residence Permit from the local Exit and Entry Administration within 30 days upon entry into China. The temporary residence permit can be issued with the validity of up to 5 years. Documents required include passport, admission notice, JW201 or JW202 form, Foreigner Physical Examination Record, a registration of accommodation, and a passport-style white-background photo. Within the validity of the Temporary Residence Permit, students can travel into and out of mainland China freely. When the study in China ends, X1 visa holders should go to the local Exit and Entry Administration to cancel the Temporary Residence Permit and apply for a 30-day tourist visa with zero entry to avoid problems.
Should X2 Visa Holders apply for resident permit?

X2 holders shall stay in China within the duration period as indicated on the visa, and it is not necessary for them to apply for the temporary residence permit. In case they need to extend the X2 visa, please go to the local Exit and Entry Administration to handle this affair 30 days before the expiration date.
Can I work in China on X visa?

You are not permitted to work on the X type visa. But part-time work and internships off-campus may be authorized. You should contact you university or employer after you have settled in China to see what can be arranged. For foreign students who work in violation of Chinese regulations or beyond the prescribed scope of jobs or time limit, they shall be deemed unlawful employment and will probably have to stop or be expelled.
How long does the Chinese Visa application take?

The time for processing Chinese student visa is normally 5 working days but applicants could seek express service with about 2 days of processing
How much does it cost to apply for China student Visa?

The cost of processing a Chinese student visa is usually $150 and ay cost more if the applicant wants an express service
Whats the difference between X1 and X2?

The X1 visa is valid for a stay more than 180 days in China and it comes with multiple entries. X1 visa holders should apply for temporary resident permits in China. X2 visa only lasts less than 180 days and is available for only single entry and X2 holders are not required to apply for a temporary residence permit
What is JW202 and JW201?

These are codes assigned to documents that are issued by the Chinese Ministry of Education (MoE) to help international students apply for X1 visa for their study in China. It spells all details of the applicant including university they are admitted, a program they are enrolled in and the duration of stay. It bears the official seal of the ministry