X1 or X2: which China student visa the 180-day rule gives you
Unofficial summary · Sources checked
The length of your study decides the visa. More than 180 days: X1. 180 days or less: X2. An X1 holder must then apply for a residence permit within 30 days of entering China; an X2 holder has no residence permit step and stays for the duration printed on the visa.
You can run your own dates through the X1 or X2 visa check, which also lists the steps after arrival.
Where the 180-day line comes from
China's Regulations on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners say the X1 visa is issued to people who apply for long-term study and the X2 to people who apply for short-term study (Article 6). Chinese embassy guidance puts the number on it: the X1 is for study "for a period exceeding 180 days" and the X2 for study "of no more than 180 days". A study period of exactly 180 days therefore falls under the X2.
Documents for each visa
The Chinese Embassy in the United Kingdom lists these documents. The visa categories are national, but each mission can add local requirements, so read the visa page of the embassy or consulate where you will apply.
| X1 | X2 | |
|---|---|---|
| From the institution | Admission letter | Admission notice, original or photocopy |
| Form | "Visa Application for Study in China" (Form JW201 or JW202), original or photocopy | Not listed |
| Elementary-stage students | Confirmation form issued by the relevant Chinese authorities | Not listed |
After you enter on an X1
- Residence permit within 30 days. Under Article 30 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law, you apply to the exit/entry administration of the public security organ, at county level or above, in the place where you will live. The 30 days run from the date of entry.
- What to bring. Your passport, the application form with one photo, a letter from your school stating the study period, and your admission or enrolment proof. The National Immigration Administration's service guide says paper copies may be waived where the information is already registered in the national system for international students. You apply in person and give fingerprints.
- Health certificate for longer permits. A permit valid for one year or more needs a health certificate from the local health quarantine department or a medical department at county level or above.
- The receipt. The office issues a receipt of acceptance. While your passport is held, you may reside in China legally on the strength of that receipt (Regulations, Article 18).
The service guide prints the fee as RMB 400 for a permit valid for under one year, RMB 800 for one year to under three years, and RMB 1,000 for three to five years.
After you enter on an X2
Stay within the duration of stay on the visa, which is counted from the day after entry. If you need longer, apply to the local exit/entry administration for an extension. Under Article 14 of the Regulations, an extension is valid only for the current entry and the total extension cannot exceed the duration of stay originally granted.
Both visas: register where you live
If you stay anywhere other than a hotel, you or the person who accommodates you must register with the public security organ within 24 hours of arrival (Law, Article 39). The National Immigration Administration offers the registration online with the same legal effect as registering in person. The official pages do not say how university dormitories handle registration, so ask your international student office.
Questions people ask
Is an X1 visa enough to stay for my whole degree?
No. The X1 lets you enter. The residence permit you apply for within 30 days of entry is what lets you stay for the study period. The service guide says a study permit can be issued for a period that matches the study period stated in the school's letter.
What happens if I miss the 30 days?
The Chinese Embassy in the UK states that failing to apply within 30 days of entry counts as illegal overstay.
Can I work on a student visa?
Off-campus work-study or an internship needs your school's approval and an endorsement on your residence permit showing the location and duration; without it they are not allowed (Regulations, Article 22). Ministry of Education rules add that international students may take part in work-study activities but may not take employment or do business.
My course is exactly one semester. Which visa?
Count the days in the study period on your admission notice. At 180 days or fewer it is an X2; at 181 or more it is an X1.
Sources, checked 11 October 2026: Exit and Entry Administration Law of the PRC and Regulations on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners, English texts published by the National Immigration Administration; Embassy of the PRC in the UK, visa categories, documents by category and FAQs; National Immigration Administration, residence permit service guide (Chinese) and policy interpretation on online accommodation registration; Ministry of Education, Order No. 42 (Chinese). This page is an unofficial summary, not immigration advice. Embassies decide visas and exit/entry administrations decide residence permits.