ChinaStudy visa

X1 study visa in China

The long-stay study visa is China's visa for those travelling to study at a Chinese school, college or university for an extended period. It confers the right to enter the country and then to obtain a study-type residence permit for the whole period of study.

Source: Embassy of China in the USA (china-embassy.gov.cn), Chinese visa requirements and procedure, September 2025 update

Who can obtain an X1 visa

The visa confers the right to enter China to study for more than 180 days; the format of the supporting document depends on the level of study.

University, college and language-programme students

Travelling to study in China for more than 180 days
Admitted to a Chinese educational institution that issues the Confirmation Form for Study in China (JW201 or JW202)
A copy of the admission letter is attached to the application

Primary and secondary school pupils

Travelling to study at a Chinese school for more than 180 days
Status is confirmed by the Confirmation Form for Elementary Stage Students Study in China
An X1 visa is not required if the child is moving to China through family reunification

When the X1 visa will not suit

Study in China of less than 180 days

Short-stay Study Visa (X2 Visa)

Travelling to China to work rather than to study

Work Visa (Z Visa)

What it costs

Study residence permit — valid for up to 1 year	400 CNY
Study residence permit — valid for 1 to 3 years	800 CNY
Study residence permit — valid for 3 to 5 years	1 000 CNY

The fee for the X1 visa itself is not included: the scale published by the Chinese embassy in the USA is broken down by number of entries and visa validity rather than by category, and differs from the general table for some foreign applicants. The scale given here is the fee for the study residence permit obtained after entry; it is common to all categories of residence permit, including the study one.

Documents to gather

The list differs at two stages: obtaining the visa itself and obtaining the residence permit after entering China.

Confirmation Form for Study in China (JW201 or JW202) — for the visa, if you are going to a university, college or language programme
Confirmation Form for Elementary Stage Students Study in China — for the visa, if you are going to school
Copy of the admission letter from the receiving educational institution — for the visa
Letter from the educational institution stating the period of study and a certificate of enrolment — for the residence permit after entry
Health certificate from the quarantine service or a medical institution at county level or above — for a residence permit valid for more than a year

How the process runs

After obtaining the X1 visa you must enter China and, within a month, obtain a study residence permit — the visa itself does not confer long-term status.

1
Admission and receipt of the JW201/JW202 form
The Chinese educational institution admits the foreign student and issues the Confirmation Form for Study in China (JW201 or JW202); school pupils instead receive the Confirmation Form for Elementary Stage Students Study in China.
2
Filing the X1 visa application
4 working days, or 3 under the express tariff
The applicant submits the passport, the confirmation form and a copy of the admission letter to a Chinese embassy or consulate. The Chinese embassy in the USA processes the application in 4 working days, or in 3 working days under the express tariff.
3
Registration of residence after entry
24 hours
After checking in, the foreign national registers their place of residence with the local police within 24 hours; if staying in a hotel, the hotel does this itself.
4
Obtaining the study residence permit
30 days to apply, decision within 15 working days
Within 30 days of entry you must file an application for a study-type residence permit with the exit and entry department, together with the educational institution's letter stating the period of study. The decision is taken within 15 working days, and the residence permit itself is issued for the period of study stated by the institution.

Timelines and rights

Work

Study is not work. Part-time work and off-campus internships are possible only with the permission of the educational institution, and the endorsement is entered in the residence permit.

Who you can bring with you

Close relatives of a student enter China separately — on a family visa, not on the X1 study visa.

Spouse, parents, children under 18 and parents-in-law — for a trip of more than 180 days

They obtain an S1 visa.

A wider circle of relatives: spouse, parents, children (with no age limit), their spouses, brothers and sisters, grandparents, grandchildren and parents-in-law — for a trip of no more than 180 days

They obtain an S2 visa.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

Within 30 days of entry, apply for a study residence permit. It is issued for the period of study stated by the institution. Accommodation is registered with the police within 24 hours of check-in; in a hotel this is done by the hotel.

An application to extend the study residence permit is filed 30 days before it expires, together with updated supporting documents from the educational institution.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	X1 study visa	Z work visa	R visa for foreign talents
Visa term	Intended period of stay — more than 180 days	Z visa 30 days; conversion into a residence permit (~1 year) within 30 days, renewable	Often a multiple-entry visa for up to 5 years, renewable
Grounds	Official wording: issued to those who intend to study in China for more than 180 days	Employment	High-level qualifications
Work	Study is not work	Work only for the sponsor in the approved position	Work for the designated employer / host
Residence	Within 30 days of entry, apply for a study residence permit	Police registration within 24 hours	A residence permit is obtained after entry

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

Study does not lead to permanent residence. Permanent residence is granted for direct and stable investment with a clean tax record for 3 consecutive years, for 4 years of work in a position from deputy general manager upwards or with a title from associate professor upwards together with 3 years of residence in China, or for an outstanding contribution.

Route to citizenship

China does not recognise dual citizenship. Citizenship is granted to close relatives of Chinese citizens, to those who have settled in China and on other lawful grounds. If approved, you lose your foreign citizenship.

Frequently asked questions about X1 study visa

Who can obtain an X1 visa?

The X1 visa is issued to those planning to study in China for more than 180 days. University, college and language-programme students confirm their status with the Confirmation Form for Study in China (JW201 or JW202) and a copy of the admission letter; school pupils use the Confirmation Form for Elementary Stage Students Study in China.

How long does it take to obtain the X1 visa itself?

The Chinese embassy in the USA issues the X1 visa in 4 working days under the standard tariff and in 3 working days under the express one. Timelines may differ at other consulates.

What must be done after entering China on an X1 visa?

Within 30 days of entry you must apply for a study residence permit at the local exit and entry department, together with the educational institution's letter stating the period of study. The decision is taken within 15 working days, and the permit is issued for the period stated by the institution.

How much does the study residence permit cost?

The fee for the residence permit depends on its validity: CNY 400 for up to 1 year, CNY 800 for 1 to 3 years and CNY 1,000 for 3 to 5 years. This scale applies to all types of residence permit, including the study one.

Is part-time work allowed while studying on an X1 visa?

Officially, only with the permission of the educational institution. For part-time work or an off-campus internship you must submit to the exit and entry department a letter of approval from the educational institution and from the receiving organisation; the endorsement is entered in the residence permit. Work outside these conditions counts as illegal employment.

Can the family travel with the student?

The X1 study visa does not cover the family. A spouse, parents, children under 18 and parents-in-law obtain an S1 visa if travelling for more than 180 days. For a trip of no more than 180 days a wider circle of relatives applies (additionally including adult children, their spouses, brothers, sisters, grandparents and grandchildren) — the S2 visa.

Does the X1 study visa lead to permanent residence?

No, study in itself is not among the grounds for permanent residence in China. Permanent residence is granted for direct and stable investment with a clean tax record for 3 consecutive years, for 4 years of work at deputy general manager level or above with 3 years of residence in China, for a special contribution or through family — for example, to the spouse of a Chinese citizen after 5 years of marriage and 5 years of residence in the country.

Other ways to move to China

Every route in one list — migration programmes: China.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.