studyinchina.helpIndependent reference
The paperwork of studying in China, checked against the official text
Which channel to apply through, which visa to ask for, and what you must do in the first 24 hours and 30 days after landing — each answer taken from the official rule and linked to it.
Scholarships
How the Chinese Government Scholarship is organised, which body you apply through, and what the official guide says it covers.
- Chinese Government Scholarship: Which Channel to Apply Through, What It Covers, and the Age LimitsThe CSC application guide sorts the Chinese Government Scholarship into four programme types, each with its own place to apply. Here is where each one is filed, what the scholarship pays, the age and language limits, and the documents the guide lists.
Student visas
X1 or X2, the documents each one needs, and the residence permit that follows an X1.
- X1 or X2 Student Visa? The 180-Day Line, the Documents, and the 30-Day Residence Permit DeadlineChina issues the X1 visa for study longer than 180 days and the X2 for 180 days or less. X1 holders then have 30 days after entry to apply for a residence permit. Here is what the law, the regulations and the Chinese Embassy's visa guidance actually require.
After arrival
What has to be done once you land: accommodation registration within 24 hours and, for X1 holders, the residence permit within 30 days.
- Accommodation Registration in China: The 24-Hour Rule, and How to Register OnlineIf you stay anywhere other than a hotel in China, you or your host must register with the local police within 24 hours of arrival. The National Immigration Administration has now rolled out online registration nationwide. Here is who registers, through which channels, and when you do not need to register again.