X2 Student Visa (Semester)

Chinese Visa Application Guide

A step-by-step guide from the Chinese Language Institute to help you navigate the X2 visa application process.

Before You Begin

  • Chinese descent, former Chinese nationality, or children born abroad: If you were ever a Chinese citizen, were born abroad to one or more Chinese-citizen parents, or are applying for a minor with Chinese-citizen or China-born parent(s), confirm whether a visa or Chinese travel document is required before starting the online application.
  • Apply within 45–90 days of your departure to China. The online system only accepts entry dates within 90 days, and we strongly recommend applying at least 45 days out to allow for processing and document shipping.
  • Follow the online form prompts carefully. Complete all required fields marked by the system. Use "Not Applicable" or "N/A" only where the system permits or asks for it, and add an explanation when the form requires one.
  • Review carefully before submitting. Once submitted, the form generally cannot be modified until reviewed. If incorrect or incomplete information is discovered, you may need to cancel and resubmit, and cancellation may be limited.
  • Incomplete or inaccurate answers can result in rejection and delayed processing.
  • For US citizens, consider using a third-party service such as Swift Passport Services or FlyChina. These are optional private services, not a formal requirement.
  • For non-US citizens, use the VisaForChina website to find your local consulate and fill out the online application. You may also wish to consider a local visa agency.
1

Fill out your Chinese visa application here

Click "Start my application" and select your region and the city where you wish to apply. Each Consulate General of China only accepts applications from foreign nationals who reside within its consular district — click here to check which Consulate you should apply to based on where you reside.

Create an account and log in to start your application. You may save your draft at any point via the "Personal Centre" button in the dropdown menu under your email (top right corner). Drafts are kept in the system for 30 days.

Review your application carefully before submitting. Once submitted, the form generally cannot be modified until reviewed; if you discover incorrect or incomplete information, you may need to cancel and resubmit, and cancellation may be limited.

In addition to completing all other relevant sections of the application form, please take special note of the following fields:

Upload Your Photo
Must comply with displayed guidelines when clicking "Upload Photo." Photo size must be between 40KB – 120KB.
Former Nationality(ies)
Answer based on your actual former nationality or citizenship, not family background alone. If you were previously a Chinese citizen, select "China" and provide the required former-citizen documentation. If you have Chinese, Taiwanese, Hong Kong, or Macao family background but were never a Chinese citizen, do not select "China" solely on that basis. Otherwise, enter any fully renounced former nationalities or "N/A".
Type of Passport
Generally select "Ordinary"
Type of Visa
Select "(X2) Short-term study (for no more than 180 days)"
Service
Select "Normal" (unless a special circumstance requires rush delivery)
Validity of Visa (months)
Visa validity refers to the period during which you may enter China; it is separate from your permitted duration of stay after entry. Request enough validity to cover your intended China entry date. Use the Max Duration of Stay field below for the number of days you plan to remain in China.
Max Duration of Stay
Enter the maximum number of days you plan to stay in China. For X2 applications, this cannot exceed 180 days.
Entries
For most X2 applications, request single entry unless your itinerary requires leaving and re-entering Mainland China. Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan count as leaving Mainland China for this purpose. The consular officer makes the final decision on visa type, number of entries, validity, and duration of stay.
Employer / School
Enter your current employer or school, if applicable.
Inviting Organization
Guilin Xiai Chinese School
Relationship with You
Write "Not Applicable"
Phone No.
Country code: +86
Phone number: 07737599367
Address
English: Guilin Xiai Chinese School, Qixing District, Guilin, Guangxi, China
中文: 桂林市七星区桂林希艾中文学校
Province / State
Select "Guangxi"
City
Select "Guilin"
District / County
Qixing Qu
Who Will Pay for Travel?
Enter the truthful payer shown by your actual situation: self, parent/guardian, sponsor, school, employer, or other, as applicable.
Previous Chinese Visa?
If yes, fill in the required details from each visa in your passport. If you renewed your passport and still have a valid Chinese visa in your old passport, check whether you can travel with both passports instead of applying again; if your personal information or travel purpose has changed, apply for a new visa.
Recent International Travel
Complete the travel-history field exactly as prompted in the online application. For U.S. applicants, current guidance focuses on travel records within the past 12 months. If your application asks for a different time period, follow the prompt shown in the system.
2

Upload photos of materials

Required Materials
  1. Your passport with a validity period of more than 6 months and two blank visa pages.
  2. Signed Visa Application Statement from the online application system. After completing the form, print, sign, and upload the statement if the system requires it.
  3. Proof of residence within the consular jurisdiction. You may submit a driver's license, state ID, utility bill (water, electricity, gas, internet), or bank statement. If a minor is unable to provide these items, submit the parents' documents.
  4. Official X2 study documents. Upload your admission notice from Guangxi Normal University, plus Form DQ if available, issued, or requested. If GXNU, the consulate, or the online application system specifically issues or requests another student visa form, such as a JW202 form, upload that as instructed.
CLI-Recommended Supporting Documents
  1. CLI or GXNU invitation/admission materials if issued to you or requested by the consulate, visa center, or online system.
  2. Proof of payment, such as your deposit or tuition payment receipt, if requested or useful for your local post.
  3. Original copies of program documents if your local consulate, visa center, or agency asks you to submit originals.
Additional Materials (Case-by-Case)
Applicants who have previously held a Chinese visa or residence permit must provide it if requested. If you renewed your passport and still have a valid Chinese visa in the old passport, check whether you can travel with both passports instead of applying again; if your personal information or travel purpose has changed, apply for a new visa. If unable to provide a previous visa, submit a signed statement indicating when and from which embassy/consulate you applied, and why you cannot provide it.
Required for applicants whose parents were or are Chinese citizens, but the applicant was born in the US. Upload the nationality and residence certificates held by both parents at the time of your birth, your birth certificate (with parents' names), and the passport of both parents.
Required for former Chinese citizens applying for the first time after naturalization. Provide a naturalization certificate and the information page of your last Chinese passport. The physical Chinese passport must also be submitted on-site. If your Chinese passport expired or was lost, fill out the relevant declaration form and upload it.
Required if the name on your current foreign passport differs from your last Chinese passport or prior Chinese visa. Submit an official name change document (e.g., court order or marriage certificate).
Required for applicants holding non-U.S. passports. Provide a legal stay/residency document such as a Green Card, U.S. visa, Employment Authorization Card, I-20 form, or I-94 form.
The child's birth certificate is required. If either parent on the birth certificate was born in China, you must also provide: the passport(s) and proof of permanent residency abroad (such as a U.S. Green Card, Canadian PR Card, etc.) held by the parent(s) at the time of the child's birth; and if either parent has since acquired foreign nationality, the naturalization certificate must be provided.
3

Check your status online

Log into your Consulate website account to check your status. If supplementary documents or corrections are required, the system will notify you with messages such as "Supplementary Materials to be provided" or "Rejected and to be modified."

Log in periodically and check "Track the status of my application" to upload additional documents or amend information as required.

4

Submit physical documents to the Chinese Consulate

When the status changes to "Passport to be Submitted," submit the required physical documents according to the rules of the Chinese embassy, consulate, or visa center serving your jurisdiction.

U.S. applicants: submit your documents in person, through a visa agency, or by entrusting someone to submit on your behalf. Do not assume postal submission is available for U.S. applications unless your specific consulate clearly authorizes it.

Applicants outside the U.S.: local visa centers and consular posts may follow different procedures. Some jurisdictions may allow or require postal submission, appointments, or visa-center delivery. Confirm the current process locally before sending original documents.

Many short-term visa applicants are currently exempt from fingerprint collection through December 31, 2026, but applicants should confirm the current process with the Chinese embassy, consulate, or visa center serving their jurisdiction.

Basic Documents
  • Printed barcode page from the application system.
  • Your actual passport (expiration date must not be within six months of the final day in China).
Official X2 Study Documents
  • Admission notice issued by a school or other entity in China.
  • Form DQ, if available, issued, or requested by your consulate, visa center, or online application system.
CLI-Recommended / Local-Post or Case-by-Case Supplements
  • CLI or GXNU invitation/admission materials if issued to you or requested by the consulate, visa center, or visa agency.
  • Proof of payment — your deposit or tuition payment receipt or confirmation, if requested or helpful for your local post.
  • Original copies of program documents if your local consulate, visa center, or agency asks for originals.
If Applicable
  • Old passport containing a previous Chinese visa or residence permit, especially if the visa is still valid. If your personal information and travel purpose have not changed, check whether you can travel with both passports instead of applying again.
  • If you were of Chinese nationality, the latest Chinese passport is required.
5

Collect your visa or returned passport

When the status changes to "Passport to be Collected," bring the Pick-up Receipt (issued when submitting documents) to pay the fee and retrieve your passport. No appointment is needed.

Questions about the visa process? We're here to help.

Call us at +1 (888) 781-8383 or email mira@studycli.org

谢谢,

The CLI Team