China Student Visa

The China study visa is granted for a period of 3 months and is a single entry visa. When you enter China you will have to visit the immigration office which will extend the visa to the duration of your studies. In order to obtain a study visa to China you will have to show proof of all your liquid assets and how you plan to pay for your education. These documents will include your income tax papers as well as your bank statements. You may also be required to provide health documents along with your study visa application. The visa process for China can take time and you should therefore apply early.

A Student Visa (X-visa) is issued to foreign citizens who visit China for the purpose of education for a period of six or more months. A foreign citizen who will study in China for less than six months should apply for a business visa(F-visa).

What are the different types of China student visas?

China offers two main types of student visas for foreign nationals who wish to study in the country:

X1 Visa

Duration: Long-term visa (more than 180 days).
Purpose: Issued to students who intend to study in China for more than six months.
Extension/Conversion: Can be converted to a Residence Permit for study, which allows multiple entries and exits during the period of study.

X2 Visa

Duration: Short-term visa (up to 180 days).
Purpose: Issued to students who intend to study in China for less than six months.
Extension/Conversion: Typically, X2 visas cannot be extended or converted to a Residence Permit.

Requirements for a China Student Visa?

To study in China, you need to apply for a student visa, which is either the X1 Visa or the X2 Visa. The type of visa you need depends on the duration of your study program.

1. X1 Visa (for long-term study)

The X1 Visa is issued to students who plan to study in China for more than 180 days. This visa is typically for students enrolled in degree programs or long-term academic courses.

Required Documents:

Passport: Original passport with at least six months of remaining validity and blank visa pages, along with a photocopy of the passport's data page.
Visa Application Form: Completed and signed Visa Application Form (Form V.2013).
Passport Photo: Recent passport-size colour photograph (2 inches, bare-head, full face, white background).
Admission Letter (Original and Copy): Admission notice from the Chinese institution you will be attending.
JW201 or JW202 Form (Original and Copy): The "Visa Application for Study in China" form issued by the Chinese Ministry of Education, known as JW201 (for students on scholarships) or JW202 (for self-funded students).
Physical Examination Record: Some embassies may require you to submit a physical examination record. The examination should be conducted at an authorised hospital and include tests for HIV, syphilis, and other contagious diseases.
Proof of Funds: Documentation showing that you have sufficient funds to support your studies and stay in China.
Police Clearance Certificate: Some Chinese embassies might require a police clearance certificate from your home country.
Other Supporting Documents: Depending on your nationality, the Chinese embassy may ask for additional documents, such as proof of previous academic qualifications, proof of accommodation in China, etc.

X2 Visa (for short-term study)

The X2 Visa is issued to students who plan to study in China for less than 180 days. This is typically for students attending short courses, language programs, or exchange programs.

Required Documents:

Passport: Original passport with at least six months of remaining validity and blank visa pages, along with a photocopy of the passport's data page.
Visa Application Form: Completed and signed Visa Application Form (Form V.2013).
Passport Photo: Recent passport-size colour photograph (2 inches, bare-head, full face, white background).
Admission Letter (Original and Copy): Admission notice from the Chinese institution you will be attending.
Proof of Funds: While not always required, it is advisable to have proof of funds to show that you can support yourself during your stay in China.
Other Supporting Documents: Depending on your nationality, the Chinese embassy may request additional documents such as flight itinerary, proof of accommodation, etc.

Timeline for Admissions

Finalizing university

A few months after your application has been submitted, universities will get back to you with their answers. You will be notified over email or university portal about the outcome of your application. We will discuss these outcomes with you in detail and keep your priorities in mind, we will arrive at the final university which you will be attending.

Apply for relevant documents

Once you have finalized your university, you will have to notify said university about you attending their course in the coming term. The university will send you a confirmation that will be required for you to start your visa application. You will also need several other documents like financial papers, medical certificates, bank letters, income tax papers, etc. for your application. We will help you prepare all these documents by providing you with samples and guidelines.

Apply for relevant documents

Apply for visa

Now that you have everything ready with you, you can apply for your visa application through the Chinese embassy or Consulate General. You should do this as early as allowed as visa applications can take very long to process. We will be filling out your application form online and helping you navigate the process.

Visa interview

You may have to appear for a visa interview if the visa officer reviewing your case feels like they need to speak with you to get more clarity about your goals and intentions. This is rare in case of the Chinese student visa and even if you are invited for an interview, we will help you prepare for it by sharing guidelines and conducting several mock interviews.

Visa interview (if applicable)

Receive visa and prepare for departure

When you receive your passport back with the visa stamped inside, you have successfully received your visa. We will be guiding you on what all you need to travel and steps to take in order to settle down at your university and to make the transition smooth.

Success rate

100%

When to start

3 months in advance

Duration

1 month at least

Success Story

Nitin Sheth

Tsinghua University

I want to thank the entire KGC team for helping me with my student visa. I had never applied for a visa before or even travelled abroad so this was all very new for me. I could not find a lot of clear details online which is why I was looking for help. I ran into KGC online and decided to hire their services. They helped me so much. They kept me on track and followed up all the time. I was very stressed but their constant attention kept me going. Thank you KGC and Karan.

Nitin Sheth was confused about the Chinese student visa process after securing admission in Tsinghua University. With Dr. Gupta's step by step guidance throughout the process, he received his study visa.

Some images and names in the reviews have been changed to protect the privacy of the concerned.

Message from Dr. Karan Gupta

The X-visa is issued by the Chinese Embassy or the Chinese Consulate General and is usually a single entry visa, valid for 3 months. Holders of the student visa will apply for a residence permit at a local Public Security Bureau within 30 days of entry into China. If invited for an interview, follow the 3 Cs when it comes to your visa interview. Be Calm, Confident and in Control. Your interviewer is looking for more information from you and your motivation behind studying abroad so try to be as articulate and precise as possible.

Our Counselling Services Will Make You

Confident

A dedicated counselor will be helping you throughout the process who will be there to assist you in matters and resolve issues that may arise.

Prepared

We will make sure that you are ready for any challenges and hurdles that come your way throughout the application process.

Stay on track

With the help of scheduled reminders and our personalized timeline for the application process, you will always remain on track.

Our Services

Specific application advice

General guidance on student visa processes

Application and support documents check

Interview skills training and mock interview practice

We Have Helped Students With

Previous rejections

Low IELTS scores

Low finances

Interview Anxiety

FAQs

What is the validity of the visa I will receive?

The visa you get initially is valid for three months and will be a single entry visa.

Will I get rejected if I don't have enough money?

It is recommended that you have all your financial documents like family and personal bank asset statements in place before you apply for the visa. If you don’t have the required finances, you can approach the university for scholarships or trusts which provide scholarships for students. Additionally, you can take a bank loan too. The key is to be able to prove that you have sufficient funds to fund your education and take care of your living expenses.

I have been rejected 2 times before. What should I change while applying now?

There could be a variety of reasons. We need to check the whole application in detail in order to provide you with the possible solution.

When should I apply for the visa?

The earliest that you can apply is 3 months before the start of your course. The X1 visa is meant for longer duration courses (more than 6 months) while the X2 visa is for shorter duration courses (less than 6 months). The normal processing time is a week. X1 visa holders have to compulsorily register with the local security bureau within 30 days of arrival in the country after which the X1 visa will be replaced by the China residence permit.

Do I have to apply for a residence permit separately?

Yes. The visa you get initially is valid for three months and will be a single entry visa. Within the first 30 days of your arrival in China, you will have to apply for a residence permit at a local Public Security Bureau.