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

  • Visa requirements vary by nationality. Some passport holders may not need a visa at all for short stays. Contact CLI at mira@studycli.org if you are unsure whether you need a visa for your program.
  • 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.
  • All sections that don't apply to you must be completed with "N/A". Do not leave any field blank.
  • Incomplete or inaccurate answers will 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.

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)
Applicants of Chinese, Taiwanese, Hong Kong or Macao descent MUST select "China". 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)
Enter the number of months from your visa application date to your CLI program end date.
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
Select single entry. Note: once you leave Mainland China, you cannot re-enter until you re-apply. Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan are not considered Mainland China.
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?
Always enter "Self"
Previous Chinese Visa?
If yes, fill in the required details from each visa in your passport.
Countries Visited (past 5 years)
Starting with the most recent, enter all countries you have visited.
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. 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 the minor is unable to provide these items, please submit the parents' documents.
  3. Your admissions notice and JW202 form. Guangxi Normal University will mail you these documents for your visa application process.
Additional Materials (Case-by-Case)
Applicants who have previously held a Chinese visa or residence permit must provide it. If still valid, submit the original when delivering physical materials at the Consulate. 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 following physical documents in person (no appointment needed), through a visa agency, by entrusting someone to submit on your behalf, or by post.

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. If submitting by post, check with your Consulate regarding any in-person requirements.

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).
Program Documents
  • GXNU's signed and stamped invitation letter (original copy).
  • Admissions notice from Guangxi Normal University (original copy).
  • Proof of payment — your deposit or tuition payment receipt or confirmation.
If Applicable
  • Old passport containing a previous Chinese visa or residence permit still within validity.
  • 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