China student visa guide: X1 vs X2 and the JW202 form

Once a university admits you, three documents drive your visa: the admission letter, the JW201/JW202 form (Visa Application for Study in China), and your passport.

JW202 vs JW201 — which one you get

Both forms do the same job; the difference is who funds you:

• JW201: issued for Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) students
• JW202: issued for self-funded students

The university’s international office sends it to you (email is now common, paper less so). Do not confuse it with the admission letter — you need both.

X1 or X2?

• X1 visa: for study longer than 180 days — all bachelor’s, master’s and PhD programs. Issued as a single entry, usually valid 30 days from entry.
• X2 visa: for study of up to 180 days — one-semester exchange or language programs.

After arrival: the residence permit

Within 30 days of entering China on an X1, you must convert it into a residence permit for study at the local Entry-Exit Administration. Your university’s international office runs this process — they will need:

1. Passport + visa
2. Admission letter and JW202/JW201
3. Registration form of temporary residence (from your dorm or local police station)
4. Health certificate (from your entry-exit medical check or a pre-departure physical)
5. University enrollment proof

The residence permit is then your multi-entry travel document for the whole degree — renew it annually.

Practical notes

• Start the visa application as soon as your JW202 arrives; processing at Chinese embassies takes days to weeks and peaks before September
• Keep every original document in your hand luggage
• Health checks done in China (at an approved center) are usually cheaper than pre-departure ones in your home country — but some universities require arrival checks anyway

Your first weeks also involve the campus medical insurance check and SIM/bank setup — our city guides cover what’s around each campus.