Thanks to China’s progressive higher education system, elite mathematics and technology programs and a growing economy, the number of international students studying in China has more than doubled over the past few years. Hundreds of thousands of students from around the world chose to continue their education in the world’s most populous country.
But before you too can join these progressive scholars in the birthplace of the compass, paper and gunpowder, you must first obtain a visa. And as with everything in life, there are specific rules and regulations you must follow before obtaining your golden ticket to China.
Lucky for you, the requirements are all here in black and white.
To save yourself some trouble, ensure that you have all of the items below before applying for your visa and don’t worry if you aren’t sure what some of the forms are, they will be explained later.
When you are accepted to the Chinese institution of your choice (congratulations!) they will send either a JW201 or JW202 form along with your acceptance letter. A photocopy of both must be included with the visa application when you submit it through the consular office of the Chinese Embassies or a travel/visa agency that can act on your behalf. Keep in mind that most Chinese embassies and consulates will refuse mailed applications, so a little legwork is required.
There are two types of student visas:
The X1 Visa is for long-term students who will study in China for more than six months.
The X2 Visa is for short-term students who will study in China for less than six months.
The process to receive your visa takes about four working days on average, but it’s better to be safe than sorry, so give yourself at least a week and a half of “wiggle room” when submitting your application. For last-minute submissions, a rush service is available for $20 USD (two to three working days) or $30 USD for an emergency one working day processing.
By now you’ve heard the saying “nothing in life is free” and the same proves true about the Chinese visa. The visa itself costs $130 USD for Americans and $30 for citizens of other countries. Acceptable forms of payment include: Visa, MasterCard, money order, cashier’s check or company check made payable to the Chinese Embassy.
We have a range of insurance plans, however for students studying in China the best insurance options are: