How to apply for a Chinese student visa

China is leading in the race of economic prosperity, academic excellence and development. Home to some of the world’s most renowned universities, China has transformed into a prospective place for Indian students to pursue various academic programs. The country’s rigorous and comprehensive education system imparts not only practical knowledge but also instils a deep sense of respect and culture. A Chinese visa requirement is essential to fulfilling your dream to study in this marvellous country. In this article, we shall discuss the process of obtaining a Chinese visa for Indian students.

Who needs a student visa?

In China, students can work part-time and undertake suitable internships along with their primary education program. Moreover, students that have graduated within a year with a master’s degree from a well-known university abroad or a Chinese university may be permitted to obtain a work permit and employment license in China. A Chinese visa for Indian students is required if they wish to pursue any of the following educational programs: -

• Graduate and Post Graduate Coursework
• Vocational Education and Training
• Postgraduate Research
• Primary, secondary or high school education
• Any exchange program of a recognised institution

What type of visa is suitable for you?

It is important to understand which type of Chinese student visa (X visa) would be required by you. The X Visa is issued to those Indian students who have been admitted to a recognized Chinese university or institution. It is sub-divided into two categories:

• X1 Visa: This is issued to those students who aim to pursue an education program which is for more than 6 months. It provides multiple entry with validity up to 5 years.
• X2 Visa: This issued to those students who aim to pursue an education program for a period of fewer than 6 months. It provides one entry only and is valid for up to 6 months.

Pre-requisites for a Chinese Student Visa

Chinese visa requirement makes it mandatory for Indian students to acquire the following documents. Original as well as copies of the same must be with the student. -

1. A Covering letter from the school or university you have recently graduated.
2. The ‘Admission Notice’ issued by the University you have been accepted in, in the PRC. This serves as proof of your enrollment at a Chinese university.
3. The ‘Student Visa Application Form’ issued by the Ministry of Education, Govt. of China. Please note that you will either receive a JW201 form or JW202 form, whichever is deemed suitable for your chosen academic program. Each form has a unique code so do not download it yourself.
4. 'Physical Examination Record of Foreigner’ issued by recognized doctors from an Indian hospital. This form can be downloaded from the Chinese Embassy website or directly collected from the Visa Office, Chinese Embassy.

What are the documents needed?

1. If you are applying for a Chinese Medical Internship, you are required to provide two documents issued by your chosen university. They are- the Application Form for a medical internship and the Admission Notice for training in practice. An original and photocopy of both are needed.
2. IThe scorecards of language proficiency tests (such as HSK, IELTS, TOEFL) or eligibility tests (such as GRE, GMAT) if applicable, are required.
3. ICertificate or original copies of high school education or any other relevant courses undertaken are required, these must be officially attested by authorities.
4. IRecommendation letters from two professors or scholars, with their address and phone numbers, are needed to be submitted as well.
5. IA solvency certificate from the bank is needed as a proof of financial stability.

Procedure for a student visa

Once you have collected all the necessary documents for a Chinese student visa for Indian students, you can follow these steps to smoothly apply for a Chinese Student Visa or the X-Visa.

1. First, you’ll need to download the Visa Application Form V.2013 from the on the internet.
2. Fill all the details carefully and then take out of the application form and sign it. Please note that handwritten forms will not be accepted. Therefore, an error-free print out is essential. Once printed, corrections are not permitted on the printed form.
3. The next step involves attaching all the needed documents along with your form. This includes recently taken coloured passport size photograph, the JW201 or JW202 form (original stamped copy and photocopy) and the Admission Notice (original stamped copy and photocopy) issued by your University.
4. After you have attached all the documents with a paper clip, ensure no use of glue or stapler, then you may proceed to submit the visa application form. The form needs to be submitted at the Chinese Embassy or Consulate via a travel or visa agency or personally by you. Please note that application sent by post/online/fax is rejected by the majority of the Chinese Embassies.
5. .If the consular officer deems it necessary, you would be required to face a visa interview as well. The details of the same would be notified to you.
6. After submission of your application, you would be required to pay the non-refundable visa application fee; it can be paid through debit or credit card.

Things to keep in Mind

1. Within 30 days upon entry in China, the X1 Visa holders are expected to apply for a Temporary Residence Permit from a local Public Security Bureau. It stays valid for 180 days to 5 years and is essential to avoid illegal stay. This permit is not necessary for X2 visa holders.
2. You should ensure to fill all the details in your online application form, even is a section isn’t applicable you must fill ‘None’ or ‘N/A’. Failure to do so will lead to rejection of the application.
3. In case you are a Chinese descendant, click here for the additional requirement for Chinese descendants.
4. Your passport should have validity for at least 12 months left, and minimum two blank pages. You should first acquire a new passport if these requirements aren’t met.
5. Please ensure not to overstay in China as it may lead to the imposition of hefty fines.

Reasons for rejection

Some of the reasons for Chinese visa rejection for Indian students are:-

1. If you were unable to establish a clear purpose or motive in your visa application process.
2. Unavailability of adequate funds to support your stay and return fair to the home country.
3. Discrepancies in any academic or other relevant documents.
4. Filling incorrect or false information in the application form
5. Failure of the medical examination.
6. If the student has any criminal record or impending case in the court against him or her.

China is a great nation, an upcoming superpower wherein you can boost your academics as well as career successfully. Obtaining visas for this country, be it Chinese visa for Indians, Chinese Tourist Visa for Indians or the X Visa, is relatively easy if one simply follows each step carefully. The information provided in this article is for your perusal only, we do not provide any visa services.