X1 and X2 study visas at a glance: the entries in the consular instructions

The X1 visa is for study in China of more than 180 days, and the X2 visa is for study in China of no more than 180 days. The category table in the Visa Application Instructions of the People's Republic of China on the China Consular Services website gives both lines. The X1 Visa and X2 Visa sections of the same page name the documents for each.

Category table

The category table in the consular instructions reads:

Visa category	Who may apply
X1	Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of more than 180 days
X2	Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of no more than 180 days

X1 visa

The X1 Visa section lists two documents:

• The Admission Letter issued by a school or other admitting entity in China;
• The Confirmation Form for Study in China (Form JW201 or Form JW202).

Under "Please note:", the X1 Visa section says the holder "must, within 30 days of entering China, apply for a residence permit at the exit-entry administration of the public security bureau of the people's government at or above the county level of the intended place of residence."

X2 visa

The X2 Visa section lists one document: the Admission Letter issued by a school or other admitting entity in China.

Regulations

Regulations, Article 6, item (11): "The X1 visa is issued to persons who apply for long-term study in China; the X2 visa is for persons who apply for short-term study in China."

Article 6 item (11) gives no day count. The 180-day lines come from the category table in the consular instructions.

Regulations, Article 7, item (11), for the X1 visa: "the applicant shall, in accordance with relevant provisions, submit the admission notice issued by the admission institution and the certification documents provided by the competent authority."

Regulations, Article 7, item (11), for the X2 visa: "the applicant shall, in accordance with relevant provisions, submit such certification documents as the admission notice issued by the admission institution."

The Regulations text in this entry is the English text published by the National Immigration Administration.

Suggestion, not a rule: both document sections start with the Admission Letter, so it is a useful first document to request from your school or admitting entity.

Sources

• Visa Application Instructions of the People's Republic of China (申请办理中华人民共和国签证须知), Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC, China Consular Services
• Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners, National Immigration Administration

Checked 11 October 2026

This page is an unofficial summary. It is not published by or affiliated with the National Immigration Administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, any embassy, consulate or visa application service centre, and it is not legal or immigration advice. The official text and the current notice of the office handling your case prevail if they differ.