Student visas for China: X1, X2 and the JW form
Which student visa you need turns on one number — 180 days. X1 holders then have 30 days after arrival to convert to a residence permit, and that deadline is the one students miss.
Studying in China runs on two documents you cannot get yourself: the admission letter and the JW form. Both come from your university, and no consulate will process a student visa without them.
X1 or X2
The split is the same 180-day threshold that runs through the whole visa system:
- X1 — study of more than 180 days (more than six months). This is the degree-programme visa.
- X2 — study of no more than 180 days. Language terms, exchange semesters, summer programmes.
The practical difference is larger than the labels suggest: X1 converts to a residence permit after arrival; X2 does not. That single fact governs whether you can open a bank account, sign a lease easily, and leave and re-enter the country freely.
What the consulate needs
- The JW201 or JW202 form — original and a photocopy. Your university issues this and will tell you which of the two applies to you.
- Your admission letter, if you are a new student — or a return certificate from your school, if you are a continuing student
- Passport and the standard visa application materials
Both the JW form and the admission letter are normally required as originals. Do not post your only copy anywhere before you have applied.
The 30-day deadline after you land
This is the one that catches students. On an X1, you must obtain a residence permit within 30 days of entry, from the Exit-Entry Administration of the public security organ at county level or above.
Universities usually organise a group appointment for new intakes — but the obligation is yours, not the university’s. If you arrive outside the normal intake window, or defer registration, nobody will chase you and the clock still runs.
Where to go, by city: Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan.
Address registration is separate, and comes first
The residence permit is not the same thing as accommodation registration. Within 24 hours of moving in you must register your address with the local police — unless you live in university dormitories, where the school normally files it for you.
If you rent off campus, it is on you. See Wuhan for how this works in a large student city.
Working while studying
A student visa does not authorise employment. Part-time work or internships require separate approval — working without it is unlawful employment, with consequences for both you and the employer. See work permits for what lawful employment requires.
Sources
- Beijing Municipal Government — Guidelines for Application for Student Visas to China (X1/X2)
- Chongqing Municipal Government — How to Apply for a Student Visa
- Jilin Provincial Government — Long-term student visa (X1)
- National Immigration Administration — Entry-Exit and Stay (Residence) of Foreigners
Document requirements are set nationally but applied by individual embassies and consulates, and universities differ in what they handle for you. This page records what the official sources said on the verification date shown above; confirm with your university international office and the mission handling your application.