To study in China for more than 180 days you need an X1 visa and, within 30 days of arrival, a study residence permit issued by the local exit-entry administration. Courses of up to 180 days use an X2 visa. Both are issued on the basis of the university's admission letter and an electronic form: JW201 usually for Chinese Government Scholarship holders, JW202 for everyone else, and for short programmes some universities now issue a new DQ form. Visa-free entry, which many nationalities now enjoy for up to 30 days, does not cover study.
This guide explains which visa to choose, what to prepare, how applications work in visa centres (with country details for Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan), what it costs and what to do in your first 30 days in China. Rules were checked against Chinese embassy and visa centre pages, China's National Immigration Administration and the Ministry of Education on 23 September 2026.
X1 or X2: which visa do you need?
| X1 | X2 | |
|---|---|---|
| For | Study of 180 days or more: bachelor's, master's, PhD, a language year or a 180-day-plus semester | Study of up to 180 days: language courses, summer and winter schools, short exchanges |
| University documents | Admission letter plus JW201 or JW202 | Admission letter plus JW201, JW202 or a DQ form for programmes under 180 days |
| After arrival | Apply for a study residence permit within 30 days | Usually nothing: the permitted stay is on the visa |
| Fingerprints at application | Required (the 2025–2026 waiver for short-term visas does not apply) | Waived in Moscow until 31 December 2026 as a short-term visa |
| Work | Only permitted work-study and internships annotated on the residence permit | Internships only with separate approval through the university |
The dividing line is programme length, not preference. A one-year language programme means the university issues a JW202 and you apply for an X1. If you go for one semester but may continue to a degree, ask the university in advance which form to use so you do not have to leave China for a new visa.
Visa-free entry does not replace a study visa
China has extended visa-free entry to many countries, usually for up to 30 days. For example, Russian citizens may enter visa-free for up to 30 days until 31 December 2027 for business, tourism, family visits, exchanges or transit; citizens of Kazakhstan (since 10 November 2023) and Uzbekistan (since 1 June 2025) may stay up to 30 days per visit and 90 days in any 180. None of these arrangements covers study; Uzbekistan's agreement excludes it explicitly. Visa-free entry is fine for an open day or a campus visit, but you need an X visa before you enter to start a programme.
University documents: admission letter and JW202
After admission the university sends:
- an admission letter (录取通知书), often electronic;
- a JW201 or JW202 form ("Visa Application for Study in China"). Since 2023 the JW202 is electronic and sent to the e-mail in your application. JW201 usually goes to Chinese Government Scholarship holders, JW202 to self-funded and other students;
- a DQ form, a newer information form for short-term students that Fudan University, for example, issues for programmes under 180 days.
You can download JW201, JW202 or DQ forms on the Study in China portal (www.studyinchina.edu.cn) under Visa Application using your name, passport number and e-mail. At Fudan, preparing admission documents takes two to four weeks.
The electronic form is tied to your passport number. Fudan asks students not to renew their passport before registering at the university, as the form would become invalid. If your passport expires within a year, renew it before you apply to universities.
Documents for an X1 or X2 visa
| Document | What to check |
|---|---|
| Passport | Valid for more than 6 months with at least 2 blank pages; copy of the photo page |
| Online application form | Completed on the visa centre website or the system named by the embassy; sign the printed first and last pages |
| Photo | Colour, taken within 6 months, no headwear, 48 × 33 mm |
| Admission letter | Original or printout and a copy |
| JW201, JW202 or DQ | Printout and a copy |
| Foreigner Physical Examination Form | Universities ask X1 applicants to bring the original and a copy (外国人体格检查表); valid for 6 months |
| Proof of funds | Required in Kazakhstan: a deposit of $2,500 per remaining year of study for X1, or a scholarship letter |
| Previous Chinese visas and passports | If any |
Under Ministry of Education rules, an applicant under 18 whose parents do not live in China is admitted only with a guardian resident in China; the university provides a guardianship form to be notarised.
How visa centres work: the Moscow example
Chinese Visa Application Service Centres now take applications online first. In Moscow, since September 2025:
- Complete the form on www.visaforchina.cn, upload documents and submit online.
- Wait for a preliminary check; missing items change the status to "awaiting additional documents".
- When the status reads "awaiting passport submission" and you get an e-mail, print the Visa Application Certificate and sign the first and last pages of the form.
- Visit the centre with your passport, the certificate, one paper photo and any requested documents.
- Give fingerprints in person; for X1 this applies unless you are under 14 or over 70 or gave them at the same centre with the same passport within 5 years.
- Pay all fees at submission and collect your passport with the receipt.
The Moscow centre advises applying no earlier than 3 months before travel.
Where Russian, Kazakh and Uzbek citizens apply
| Country | Where | Fees (checked 23 Sep 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Russia | The embassy in Moscow (via the Moscow visa centre) or one of six consulates general by consular district; see below | Moscow, Russian citizens, single entry: RUB 6,300 ($75) standard, RUB 10,300 ($123) express; double RUB 8,800 ($105); multiple RUB 11,200 ($133). Includes RUB 3,800 service fee; the visa fee is refunded if refused, the service fee is not |
| Kazakhstan | Visa centres in Astana (18 Dostyk St) and Almaty (20 Gogol St), weekdays, submissions 9:00–15:00 | Paid at submission, non-refundable; tariff on the centre's site |
| Uzbekistan | Visa centre in Tashkent (42 Shahrisabz St, Seoul Plaza, 3rd floor); express only with consular approval, usually on humanitarian grounds | Reduced embassy fees until 31 Dec 2026: single UZS 700,000 ($59), double UZS 1,050,000 ($89), 6-month multiple UZS 1,400,000 ($119), 1-year multiple UZS 2,100,000 ($178), plus service fee; non-refundable |
Consular districts in Russia (per the consulates' websites, checked 23 September 2026):
| Consulate general | Regions served |
|---|---|
| St Petersburg (a Chinese visa centre also operates in the city) | St Petersburg, Leningrad, Novgorod, Pskov, Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions, Karelia |
| Kazan | 14 regions of the Volga Federal District, including Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Saratov and Perm |
| Yekaterinburg | Sverdlovsk, Chelyabinsk, Tyumen, Novosibirsk and Omsk regions, Krasnoyarsk Territory |
| Irkutsk | Irkutsk region, Zabaykalsky Territory, Buryatia, Khakassia, Tuva |
| Khabarovsk | Khabarovsk Territory, Amur region, Jewish Autonomous Region, Yakutia |
| Vladivostok | Primorsky and Kamchatka Territories, Sakhalin and Magadan regions, Chukotka |
Regions not on these lists, including Moscow, are served by the embassy through the Moscow visa centre. Submission formats differ, so check your post's consular page before booking. The St Petersburg visa centre quotes 4 working days for standard and 3 for express processing with a complete file.
The Chinese embassy in Kazakhstan (requirements of 14 March 2023) asks X1 applicants for the admission letter and JW201/JW202 (originals and copies) and a bank deposit of $2,500 × remaining years of study, or a scholarship certificate; X2 applicants need a deposit above $1,500. Non-Kazakh applicants must show legal residence in Kazakhstan for more than 180 days. For a four-year bachelor's that means $10,000 on deposit, ideally placed well before you apply.
Your first 30 days in China
| When | What to do | Who decides |
|---|---|---|
| Before departure | Fill in the free online arrival card (since 20 November 2025, via the NIA website, the NIA 12367 app or WeChat and Alipay mini-programs) | National Immigration Administration |
| Within 24 hours | If you live off campus and not in a hotel, register your address with the local police; since 21 September 2026 this can be done online nationwide via the NIA website, the NIA 12367 app or WeChat and Alipay mini-programs | Local police |
| On enrolment | Have your medical check verified or done by the health quarantine service | Health quarantine authority |
| On enrolment | Buy medical insurance: it is compulsory for international students, and universities do not register students without it | University |
| By day 30 after entry | Apply for a study residence permit with your passport, the university's letter on study duration, a health certificate and fingerprints | Exit-entry administration of the local public security bureau |
The exit-entry office decides within 15 days. A non-work residence permit is valid for 180 days to 5 years, usually within your programme dates. A permit longer than one year requires a health certificate no older than 6 months. Apply to extend at least 30 days before expiry. Missing the 30-day deadline is a breach of residence rules, not a formality; most universities organise group applications, but the deadline is yours.
Changing university, graduating and internships
- Universities report status changes. When a student graduates, withdraws or leaves early, the university must notify the exit-entry office. After graduation a study permit is no longer a basis to stay.
- Off-campus internships require university approval and an annotation of the place and period on your residence permit. See our guide to work and internships for students in China.
- Changing university means new documents from the new school and a reissued permit.
Common reasons for visa trouble
- Trying to study on visa-free entry.
- Choosing X2 for a one-year programme.
- Renewing your passport after the JW202 was issued.
- An expired medical form (valid 6 months to the date of application).
- An insufficient deposit in Kazakhstan, which is counted for all remaining years.
- Missing the 30-day residence permit deadline, which runs from the entry date, not the first day of classes.
Visas are decided by the Chinese embassy or consulate and residence permits by the exit-entry administration. Neither a university nor an agent can guarantee them.
Timeline
| Before the start of study | Step |
|---|---|
| 6–9 months | Choose university and programme; check passport validity |
| 3–6 months | Apply to the university; in Kazakhstan, open the deposit |
| 1–3 months | Receive the admission letter and JW202; do the medical on the Chinese form |
| 3–6 weeks | Apply for X1 or X2 |
| 0–30 days after entry | Address registration, medical check, insurance, residence permit |
For the university application itself, see applying to Chinese universities; for the first-year budget, the cost of studying in China; and for the bigger picture, our China country page.
FAQ
X1 for study longer than 180 days, followed by a study residence permit after entry; X2 for programmes up to 180 days. Both require the admission letter and a JW201, JW202 or DQ form.
No. Visa-free stays of up to 30 days do not cover study. You need an X1 or X2 visa before entry.
Both serve as the university's visa application form. JW201 goes to Chinese government scholarship holders; JW202 to self-funded students and those on other scholarships. Both are now electronic.
In Moscow a single-entry visa costs RUB 6,300 ($75) standard including the visa centre's service fee, or RUB 10,300 ($123) express. Double entry is RUB 8,800 and multiple entry RUB 11,200.
Within 30 days of entry, at the exit-entry office of the local public security bureau where you study. The decision takes up to 15 days.
Universities ask X1 applicants to bring the Foreigner Physical Examination Form, and after arrival the exam is verified by the health quarantine service. A residence permit longer than one year needs a health certificate issued within 6 months.
Not in regular employment. Work-study under university rules and off-campus internships approved by the university and annotated on your residence permit are allowed.
Apply for an X1 from the start. X2 is designed for stays up to 180 days, and any extension or change of status is decided by the exit-entry office, not the university. If your programme may be extended, ask the university which form it will issue.
Sources
- Chinese Embassy in Russia — visa-free entry for Russian citizens extended to 31 Dec 2027
- Chinese Embassy in Russia — fingerprint waiver notice (19 Dec 2025)
- Chinese Visa Application Service Centre Moscow — fees
- Chinese Visa Application Service Centre Moscow — online application procedure
- Chinese consulates general in Russia — consular districts: St Petersburg, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Irkutsk, Khabarovsk, Vladivostok
- Chinese Visa Application Service Centre St Petersburg — address and processing times
- Chinese Embassy in Kazakhstan — visa requirements (14 Mar 2023)
- Chinese Embassy in Kazakhstan — mutual visa exemption agreement
- Chinese visa centres in Astana, Almaty and Tashkent
- Chinese Embassy in Uzbekistan — Q&A on mutual visa exemption
- Chinese Embassy in Uzbekistan — reduced visa fees to 31 Dec 2026
- NIA — Exit and Entry Administration Law (Arts. 30, 32, 39, 41–43)
- NIA — Regulations on the Administration of Entry and Exit of Foreigners (Arts. 22, 26)
- NIA — online arrival card
- NIA — online accommodation registration nationwide
- Ministry of Education — Measures on admitting and training international students (Order No. 42, Arts. 35–40)
- Fudan University — autumn 2026 Chinese language programme brochure (JW202 and DQ forms)
- Guangzhou Medical University — visa documents after admission
- Bank of Russia — official exchange rates, 23 Sep 2026
Rouble and sum amounts are converted at the Bank of Russia official rates of 23 September 2026 ($1 = RUB 84.07; UZS 10,000 = RUB 71.18), because the ECB does not publish these currencies.
During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step. Apply
Next steps
- Applying to Chinese Universities: Documents Checklist for 2027
- Work and Internships for Students in China: What a Study Visa Allows and How to Register an Internship
- Cost of Studying in China: Tuition, Housing and a First-Year Budget
- Chinese Language Programmes in China: University Courses, 2026 Fees, Visas and Scholarships
- Studying in China for international applicants
- Bachelor's Degree in China: How to Apply for the 2027 Intake
