studyinchina.helpChina Residence Permit for Students: What to File in Your First 30 Days and How to Get the Card
Short answer: If your visa says you must apply for a residence permit after entry, apply within 30 days counted from your entry date. File in person with the exit/entry administration of the public security organ at county level or above in your intended place of residence. For study, submit the general residence permit documents, a school letter stating the study period, and admission or enrolment proof; paper documents may be exempt if the information is already registered in the national study management system.
This page uses the National Immigration Administration law and regulation, the current NIA service guide, and the Embassy of the PRC in the United Kingdom FAQ.
Who must apply, and when
Article 30 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the PRC applies when your visa states that you must apply for a residence permit after entering China.
The deadline is within 30 days from the date of entry. It is not calculated from the start of classes or from the date of admission.
The Embassy of the PRC in the UK lists X1 visa holders among those who must apply to the local public security authorities within 30 days. The national rule remains tied to the wording on the visa.
The same embassy FAQ states that failure to apply counts as illegal overstay.
Where to file
Apply in person to the exit/entry administration of the public security organ under the local people’s government at county level or above in your proposed place of residence.
The current NIA service guide explains that NIA delegates acceptance to public security exit/entry administrations at prefecture level and above. A county-level administration can also accept applications where it has received the required delegation and approval.
Operational practice can vary by province, city and university. The national rules do not name a particular city office, appointment system or campus filing counter. Check the current instructions published by your local exit/entry administration and your university. A university process does not replace the public security application.
General residence permit documents
Article 16 of the Regulations of the PRC on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners and section 六（一） of the NIA service guide set out the general filing list.
| Document | Official requirement |
|---|---|
| Travel document | A valid passport or other international travel document |
| Application form | A completed foreigner visa and document application form |
| Photo | One photo that meets the Exit-Entry Document Photo Guidelines |
| Purpose evidence | Material relating to the reason for the application |
| Other evidence | Any other formalities and supporting documents required for the application |
You must attend in person and provide biometric identification information, such as fingerprints.
Documents for a study residence permit
Article 16(2) of the Regulations and section 六（二） of the service guide add the study-category documents.
| Situation | Study-category documents |
|---|---|
| Entering on an X1 visa | A letter from the school stating the study period, and an admission or enrolment proof |
| Entering on another visa type | The study evidence above, plus proof issued by the competent department or authority |
| Information already registered | If the relevant materials have been registered in the National Study Management Information System, paper submission may be exempted |
Do not assume that an “other visa” category removes the filing duty. The 30-day rule still depends on what the visa says about applying for a residence permit after entry.
Health certificate rule
If you apply for a residence permit with a validity of one year or more, you must submit a health certificate.
The certificate must come from either:
- the local health quarantine department; or
- a medical or health department at county level or above.
It must confirm that the applicant does not have:
- a serious mental disorder;
- infectious pulmonary tuberculosis; or
- another infectious disease that could cause a major public health risk.
This requirement comes from section 六（二） of the current NIA service guide.
Acceptance, receipt and decision
The public security exit/entry administration first checks whether the application meets the acceptance conditions.
If the procedures or materials are incomplete, the authority must tell you once about all procedures to be completed and materials to be corrected or added.
If the application is accepted, the authority must issue an acceptance receipt. Under the current service guide:
- the receipt is valid for no more than 15 working days from acceptance;
- the authority must decide whether to issue the residence permit during that period; and
- acceptance does not mean that issuance has already been decided.
Article 30 of the Law separately states that the exit/entry administration must examine the application and make a decision within 15 days upon receipt. The Law and the current service guide therefore use different time units: 15 days and 15 working days.
Validity and fees
Article 30 sets the validity range for a non-work residence permit at:
- 180 days minimum; and
- five years maximum.
The current service guide prints the residence permit fee scale as follows:
| Validity band in the service guide | Fee |
|---|---|
| Within one year | RMB 400 |
| One year, inclusive, to within three years | RMB 800 |
| Three years, inclusive, to five years, inclusive | RMB 1,000 |
These validity and fee rules do not decide the outcome of an individual application.
Collection
A residence permit that has been approved for issuance must be collected by the applicant in person.
Take the acceptance receipt and go to the public security exit/entry administration for on-site collection, as required by section 十 of the service guide.
After you receive the permit
Two separate deadlines apply under the NIA law.
| Action | Deadline | Where to file |
|---|---|---|
| Change a registered item | Within 10 days from the date of the change | With the public security exit/entry administration at county level or above in your place of residence |
| Apply to extend the permit’s validity | Within the 30 days before the permit expires | With the public security exit/entry administration at county level or above in your place of residence |
Article 33 governs changes to registered items. Article 32 governs extensions. Follow the current official filing instructions for the specific change or extension.
Frequently asked questions
Does the acceptance receipt let me stay legally while my passport is being processed?
Article 18 says that if your passport or other international travel document is retained while the application is being processed, you may reside legally on the strength of the acceptance receipt. This rule applies during the processing period. The administration still has to decide whether to issue the residence permit.
Can someone else file for me?
The general rule is personal attendance, but the current service guide allows a representative for specified applicants. These include high-level talent, urgently needed specialists, people under 16 or aged 60 or over, and people who have difficulty moving because of illness or other causes. The representative may be the inviting entity or person, an applicant relative, or a relevant specialist service.
Must I take the original of every supporting document?
The service guide says relevant supporting evidence may be submitted for inspection of the original, with a copy retained. Check the local exit/entry administration’s current published instructions for its filing arrangements.
Will the residence permit always cover my whole course?
The current guide says a study residence permit can be issued for a period consistent with the study period stated in the school’s letter. It does not promise every applicant the full length of a degree. The school statement and the administration’s decision establish the official validity period.
What must I do for off-campus work-study or internship?
Off-campus work-study or internship requires a separate annotation, or endorsement, on the residence permit. The applicant needs school approval and must apply to add the work-study or internship location and duration. The current service guide also requires consent letters from the school and the internship unit.
Sources
- Exit and Entry Administration Law of the PRC — https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147458/c155978/content.html (all accessed 4 October 2026)
- Regulations of the PRC on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners — https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147458/c155970/content.html (all accessed 4 October 2026)
- 外国人居留证件签发、延期、换发、补发服务指南 — https://s.nia.gov.cn/mps/bszy/wgrcrj/sqwgrjlzj/201903/t20190313_1007.html (all accessed 4 October 2026)
- Part Seven: FAQs and Answers — https://gb.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/visa/qzxz/201303/t20130315_3383961.htm (all accessed 4 October 2026)
This page summarises published rules and is not immigration advice. Diplomatic missions decide visa matters, while public security exit/entry administrations decide residence permit applications. Follow current official instructions where local practice differs.