Apply for a Chinese Visa

Apply for a Chinese Visa

Students who intend to study in China need to apply for a visa. Foreign students studying in China are required to hold an ordinary passport and either a Study visa (X-visa) (study period of more than 6 months) or a Business visa (F-visa) (study period of 6 months or less). If you enter China on a Tourist visa (L-visa), you will be required to change your visa into the relevant visa after entering China, if your program of study is longer than 1 month.

Applicants should apply for a Chinese visa from their nearest Chinese Embassy or Consulate.

Types of Chinese Visa

Please note: If you intend to study in China, only the following three categories of visa are appropriate for you.

Study visas (X-visa) are issued to those coming to China for study or an internship for longer than six months.

Documentation required:

1. A valid passport as well as a copy of its information page. Your valid passport must have at least six months of remaining validity and at least one blank visa page in it.
2. Application form: One completed Visa Application Form with genuine information and your signature.
3. Photo: one recently-taken 2x2 square inch sized color photo glued or stapled to the application form.
4. An original and a photocopy of the Letter of Admission, Foreign Student Visa Application Form (JW202) issued by the relevant Chinese government unit.

Besides the documentation mentioned above, other documents might be required by visa officers in order to decide whether to issue the visa on a case by case basis.

Business visas (F-visa) are issued to those invited to China to do business or study for a period of less than six months.
Documentations required:
1. A valid passport as well as a copy of its information page. Your valid passport must have at least six months of remaining validity and at least one blank visa page in it.
2. Application form: One completed Visa Application Form with genuine information and your signature.
3. Photo: one recently-taken 2x2 square inch sized color photo glued or stapled to the application form.
4. An original and a photocopy of the Letter of Admission, Foreign Student Visa Application Form (JW202) issued by the relevant Chinese government unit.
Besides the documentation mentioned above, other documents might be required by visa officers in order to decide whether to issue the visa on a case by case basis.

Tourist visas (L-visa) are issued to those coming to China for sightseeing, visiting family or friends, or for other personal affairs (including certain short-term study courses). Therefore, students who do not receive their admission package by post in time to apply for the above visa categories may be able to apply for a tourist visa (L visa) instead. University staff will help you do a visa conversion at the local public security bureau when you arrive at school. NB This option is only available to students from North America, South America, Europe, East Asia and South East Asia.

Documentation required:
1. A valid passport as well as a copy of its information page. Your valid passport must have at least six (6) months of remaining validity and at least one blank visa page in it.
2. Application form: One completed Visa Application Form with genuine information and your signature.
3. Photo: one recently-taken 2x2 square inch sized color photo glued or stapled to the application form.
Besides the documentation mentioned above, other documents might be required by visa officers in order to decide whether to issue the visa on a case by case basis.

NB: Chinese authorities do not allow students from some countries to study in China with a tourist visa. If you want to apply for a tourist visa to study in China, please enquire at service@cucas.cn.

Visa Information on Different Countries

Students from other countries please contact or check the website of the China Visa Application Service Center or your nearest Chinese Embassy or Chinese Consulate for details.

Instructions regarding Visa Processing for Late Applicants
In the case that you are unable to receive the required JW202 form (which requires about 2-4 weeks time to be processed once you have been accepted by the university, longer during the July-August summer vacation) in time to apply for your student visa and arrive in China for your course, please refer to the following instructions:
1. Students commencing short-term programs (study period of 6 months or less)
2. Students commencing long-term programs (study period of 6 months or longer)

1. Students commencing short-term programs (study period of 6 months or less):

Normally, you can apply for the F-visa with the scan of your acceptance letter and JW202 form, which will be sent to you through email when you are accepted. To avoid waiting for the JW202 form and to save time, if the university agrees, you can enter China on a tourist visa (L-visa) and convert it to an F-visa upon arrival. After entering China on an L-visa (with the university’s prior agreement), you will either receive your admission package from your university in person or from our office, depending on the relevant university’s policy. Please check this with us in advance. But before you apply for the L visa, you must make sure that the university is able to help you with the visa conversion. Please confirm with us in advance.

NB: Chinese authorities do not allow students from some countries to study in China on a tourist visa. If you want to use a tourist visa to study in China, please enquire at service@cucas.cn.

If your program duration is less than 1 month, you can apply for a tourist visa (L-visa) by yourself, without waiting for your admission package to be delivered.

2. Students commencing long-term programs (study period of 6 months or longer):

You should apply for an X-visa with the original acceptance letter and original JW202 form. In order to save you time and make sure you will be able to arrive in China on time, we suggest you email us at admission@cucas.cn before you fill in the Admission Package Delivery Registration form.

If the university agrees, you can enter China on a tourist visa (L-visa) and convert it to a student visa upon arrival. But before you apply for the L visa, you must make sure the university is able to help you with the visa conversion. Please confirm with us in advance.
After entering China on an L-visa (with the university’s prior agreement), you will either receive your admission package from your university or from our office, depending on the relevant university’s policy. Please check this with us in advance.

For late applicants, please contact us (email: admission@cucas.cn) as soon as you are aware you cannot arrive in the university on time because of your visa. We will help you communicate with your university. Otherwise your late registration may not be accepted.