For International Students Intending to Study in China
1. What type of visa do international students need to study in China? How to apply?
They need to apply to a Chinese embassy or consulate for their student visa (X1 or X2). They need their Admission Notice and Visa Application for Study in China(JW202/201) to apply for their student visa.
2. What’s the difference between X1 visa and X2?
X1 visa allows a stay in China for a maximum of 30 days. X1 visa holders are suggested to register at their schools in China as soon as possible and apply for their resident permit before their visa expires. X2 visa allows a stay in China for up to six months. X2 holders are allowed to study in China while X2 is valid.
3. Could X1 visa holders travel in China for a couple of days before registering at their school?
They are not suggested to do it because it takes quite a long time to process resident permit for new students as first-time applicants and X1 visa is only valid for 30 days after entry in China.
4. Can holders of non-student visa study in China?
No, they can’t. Any inconsistency between their activities and those allowed by their visa, if found, will lead to a fine, a warning, a detention or a deportation from China depending on their specific violations.
5. Can a visa on arrival be converted into a student visa?
No, it can’t. As a holder of a visa on arrival, you have to leave China before it expires and apply for a student visa and re-enter China on the student visa in order to study in China.
For International Students in China
1. What documents do international students need to apply for their resident permit?
They need to have the following documents:
（1）An application letter for legal documents from their school
（2）A photocopy of Admission Notice and JW201/202
（3）Original passport, a photocopy of passport photo page, visa page and entry stamp page
（4）A photo of passport photo size
（5）Registration Form of Temporary Residence for Visitors
（6）A valid physical examination report (needed for over-six-month study in China)
2. Does resident permit allow entry in or exit from China?
As a legal document for foreigners, resident permit allows long-term study and residence in China as well as multi entries in and exits from China.
3. Under what circumstances do I need a resident permit?
X1 visa holders need to apply for their resident permit for the purpose of study within 30 days after their entry in China. For X2 visa holders with an intention to study in China for over three months and a plan to leave China in the middle, they need to apply for their resident permit before their visa expires. Holders of a visa other than X1 and X2 are not allowed to study in China. In order to study in China, they need to obtain the resident permit for the purpose of study.
4. If a student visa expires before the student could get his or her physical examination report, what can he or she do to obtain his or her resident permit?
He or she could apply to Bureau of Exit and Entry Administration with other supporting documents first before submitting his or her physical examination report when it is available.
5. Do I need to have another physical examination to apply for a new resident permit while my current one expires soon?
No, you don’t.
6. Can I apply for my resident permit in Wuxi when I live elsewhere?
No, you can’t. You need a registration form of temporary residence for visitors showing a residence address in Wuxi in order to apply for your residence permit in Wuxi.
7. When does a resident permit expire for a public-funded international student?
The resident permit is valid until the end of study (unless passport expires earlier).
8. What should I do if I lost my passport?
You are expected to contact your own consulate in China for your new passport. You need apply to Bureau of Exit and Entry Administration for a new visa and resident permit once you have a new passport.
9. What should I do after I have a new passport?
You should re-register your residence and your new passport information and obtain a new application letter for legal documents. You need to report your passport change to Bureau of Exit and Entry Administration within 10 days after you obtain your new passport.
10. If I need to drop out or leave for some reason while holding a long-term resident permit for the purpose of study, what exit procedure should I go through?
You need to cancel your resident permit for the purpose of study before you leave China. Otherwise, your school could annul your resident permit by reporting your case to Bureau of Exit and Entry Administration. You are expected to bear all the following consequences.
11. How shall I extend my visa when I intend to continue my study in China while my current X2 expires soon?
You should get your preparation done (such as completion of tuition and insurance payment for next semester and a physical examination report within six months) and apply for your resident permit for next semester before the end of your first semester
