Kind of Visa

• a)  X1 Visa
X1 Visa is for people studying in China for more than 6 months. Once issued, it allows applicants 30 days to register at the international student office of their university and apply for a residence permit. Before applying for a residence permit, however, students are required to get a health report from the Beijing Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau.

• b)  X2 Visa
X2 visa is for people engaging in short-term (less than 6 months) academic activities in China. It specifies how many days in total applicants are allowed to stay in China on the visa page. For instance, if you enter China with an X2 visa valid for 90 days on August 25, you may stay until November 23.

• c)  L Visa
L visa is a tourist visa. It is for people or groups traveling to China.

• d) S1 and S2 Visa
S1 visa is a long-term visa pass for dependents such as family members, parents/parents-in-law of work/study visa holders.
S1 visa is a short-term visa pass for dependents such as family members, parents/parents-in-law of work/study visa holders.

• e)  Z Visa
A Z visa is required if you are coming to China to perform services in a pre-arranged professional job.

• .f)  Residence Permit
Residence permit is issued to people studying in China for more than 6 months. Once granted, it allows students unlimited entry into China for the time that the visa is valid.

What type of visa I need to hold when I study in China?

You can study in China by holding these two kinds of visa.

1. X1 Visa is for people studying in China for more than 6 months. Once issued, it allows applicants 30 days to register at the international student office of their university and apply for a residence permit, otherwise will be treated as illegal residence.

2. X2 visa is for people engaging in short-term (less than 6 months) academic activities in China. It specifies how many days in total applicants are allowed to stay in China on the visa page.

How to apply the visa and Residence Permit

There is a little bit difference of visa application between international students and other foreigners. According to the policy of Beijing Public Security Bureau, international students should apply the visa at ISO through the Trader-Link Agency. The Trader-Link Agency will transfer the applicants’ personal information to Beijing Public Security Bureau. With the permission of Beijing Public Security Bureau, applicants can get the Visa Application Form.
There are two ways to extend or apply the residence permission:

1. Apply by the Trader-Link Agency

1) Get the Visa Application Form at ISO by necessary documents

2) Provide the application documents, pay the visa application fee and commission fee (the commission fee is 100 RMB), then get the receipt from Trader-Link Agency

3) Get your passport after 11-18 work days (please make sure the pickup date with Trader-Link Agency)

4) After getting the passport, please renew the Temporary Residence From at the front desk of your dormitory and the police station within 24 hours

※Note: The final interpretation of visa application is owned by the Trader-Link Agency, if you apply the visa through the Trader-Link Agency.

2. Apply the visa by yourself

1) Apply the Visa Application Form at ISO with required documents

2) Pick up the Visa Application From and other application documents at ISO after two days

3) Apply visa at Beijing Public Security Bureau with your Visa Application Form and other visa application documents. And then get the receipt.

4) Pay the visa application fee and pick up the passport in the date which is written on the receipt at Beijing Public Security Bureau

5) After getting the passport, renew the Temporary Residence Form at the front desk of your dormitory and the police station within 24 hours

6) After getting the passport, renew the visa information at ISO within 72 hours

※Note: The final interpretation of visa application is owned by ISO and Beijing Public Security Bureau, if you apply the visa by yourself.

The Required Documents of Visa Application and Residence Permit

1. Residence Permit

An international student with an X1 visa shall apply for a residence permit within 30 days after entry into China. Those who fail to make the application and continue to stay with expired visas are treated as illegal stay and will be imposed the penalty prescribed by the law. When an international student with a residence permit needs to extend the duration of residence to continue his/her study, he/she needs to file an application of residence permit extension, at least 30 days prior to the expiration of duration of the validity period on the residence permit. The documents required for the application of residence permit are as follows:

1) The valid passport;

2) One passport-size photo (2 inches, facing the front, without hat, white background);

3) The valid Temporary Residence Form

4) The Admission Notice of BNU and Visa Application Form for Study in China (JW201 or JW202 Form), if you apply the visa first time

5) The Health Certificate issued by Beijing International Travel Healthcare Center;

6) Insurance Documents 

2. X2 Visa
If your X2 visa is expired, you can apply a new X2 visa which valid period of entrance is no longer than one year, residence period no more than 180 days and entrance time is zero, once, twice or multiple times. The required documents are as follows:

1) The valid passport;

2) One passport-size photo (2 inches, facing the front, without hat, white background);

3) The valid Temporary Residence Form

4) The Admission Notice of BNU and Visa Application Form for Study in China (JW201 or JW202 Form), if you apply the visa first time

5) The Health Certificate issued by Beijing International Travel Healthcare Center

6) Certificate of Birth, parents’ passport and certificate of the residence permission out of China

7) Insurance Documents

Cancellation of Visa

If you decide to suspend your study or are dismissed from the University, the international student office in accordance with the relevant visa regulations will cancel your visa/residence permit and reduce it into a 30-day temporary pass. If you do not reduce the visa, you cannot get the permission of study suspension and ISO will tell this information to Beijing Public Security Bureau.

Penalties for Illegal Residence

Please check your visa status and the expiration date of your residence permit. If you have any questions about the visa, please come to ISO and get the official answer. If you don’t have a valid visa or fail to register at the police station within 24 hours of your arrival, you will be dismissed as an illegal resident. This will cause a heavy fine up to 500 RMB per day, no more than 5000 RMB penalty. Please come to ISO to extend your visa before 30 days of the expiration date of your present visa.

Lost Passport

If your passport has been lost or stolen, you must follow the instructions listed below:

1.Report to the local police station about your case and ask for a report of the loss

2.Go to the International Student Office to get a certificate of the loss

3.Bring the report and certificate to the Beijing Public Security Bureau and apply for a written confirmation of the loss

4.Apply for a new passport with the written confirmation at your embassy in Beijing.

5.Get a new Temporary Residence Form when you get the new passport

6.Go back to the International Student Office with your new passport, Temporary Residence Form, one passport photo, visa fee and apply for a new student visa within 10 days after you get the new passport

7.Renew your Temporary Residence Form within 7 days after you get the new visa and renew your residence information with your passport and new Temporary Residence Form at ISO(International Students Office)

Renew Passport

If you get the new passport, please apply for a new Temporary Residence Form with your old and new passport and renew your personal information at ISO within 7days after you get the new passport. Please note that you must go back to the Beijing Public Security Bureau to renew your passport information as well, otherwise you will get penalties.

How to apply for a Temporary Residence Form

If you live in hotels or hostels off campus, you should contact the reception there for Temporary Residence Form.
If you live in rented apartments, you should go to the police station with your landlord within 24hrs of check in, to obtain the Temporary Residence Form. Landlords should bring along their local registered residence, housing certificate, rent contract and ID. International students need bring their passport. If you live off campus and do not have a Temporary Residence Form, the Beijing Public Security Bureau cannot accept your visa application.
Every time you leave China and reentry, please go to Police Station to get the new Temporary Residence Form. If you change the address and the date of your Temporary Residence Form has already expired, please give your new Temporary Residence Form to ISO within 3 days and renew your residence information at Beijing Public Security Bureau within 10 days. Please apply for the new Temporary Residence Form after extend or renew your visa within 24 hours, otherwise you will get penalties. Please note that if you change the address, renew the passport or visa, please reapply for a new Temporary Residence Form within 10 days, otherwise you will be treated as an illegal resident.