Private visa service, not the Chinese Embassy. British passport? You can visit China visa-free for up to 30 days until 31 December 2026. Check if you need a visaMon–Fri 9am–4pm · Manchester 0161 956 2003 · London 020 7205 2282
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China student visa from the UK(X1 and X2 visas).

The China student visa is for studying in China: the X1 visa for courses over 180 days and the X2 visa for shorter courses. We check your admission documents and prepare your China student visa application.

Start China student visa application Call 0161 956 2003
  • X1 or X2Long or short courses
  • Admission letterFrom your university or school
  • £301Standard, all in
  • £357Express, all in

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What a China student visa covers

Degree courses

Undergraduate and postgraduate study.

Language courses

Mandarin courses of any length.

Exchange semesters

Study abroad and exchange programmes.

Short courses

Courses up to 180 days on an X2 visa.

Not covered by a China student visa

  • Paid work
  • Business activity
  • Tourism as the main purpose

Documents you’ll need

DocumentDetailsNeeded
PassportYour original passport, valid for at least 6 months after you arrive, with at least 2 blank visa pages, plus a copy of the photo page.Required
PhotoOne recent colour photo, 33 × 48 mm, on a plain white background, no glasses, face and ears clearly visible. We check it before your appointment.Required
Online application formThe official Chinese visa application form, completed and printed with its confirmation page.We prepare
Admission letterThe original admission letter from your Chinese school or university.Required
JW201 or JW202 formThe Visa Application for Study in China form, for X1 courses over 180 days.If applicable
Previous Chinese visasA copy of your last Chinese visa, if you’ve had one. Former Chinese citizens need extra documents, which we’ll explain.If applicable
UK residence statusIf you’re not a British citizen: your UK visa, BRP or eVisa share code page showing you live here legally.If applicable

Upload them from your phone. We check every document and resize it to the official limits before we submit.

All documents must be in English or Chinese. Upload them from your phone and we check every one before your appointment.

  1. 1

    Apply online

    Answer a few questions and upload your passport, photo and documents.

  2. 2

    We check and book

    We complete the official form, check every document and book your appointment.

  3. 3

    We submit your application

    We hand in your passport at the visa centre. No fingerprints needed for short-term visas until 31 December 2026.

  4. 4

    Collect your visa

    Your passport comes back with the visa inside, usually within 3 to 4 working days.

Rules to know before you travel

Fingerprints depend on how long you’ll stay

Short-stay X2 visas (up to 180 days) don’t need fingerprints until 31 December 2026, so we can submit your application at the visa centre for you. Long-stay X1 visas lead to a residence permit in China, so you still attend the visa centre once to give fingerprints. We book that appointment and prepare everything you take with you.

Passport rules

Your passport must be valid for at least six months after you enter China and have at least two blank visa pages. If yours is close to expiry, renew it first.

Residence permit after you arrive

This visa lets you enter China. To stay longer, you apply for a residence permit at the local public security bureau, usually within 30 days of arriving.

When to apply

You can usually apply up to three months before you travel. Allow at least two weeks to prepare, book an appointment and have the visa processed, or choose express service if you’re short of time.

Need a visa for your team?

We handle China visas for companies of every size, from one-off trips to regular travellers.

Corporate accounts

Fees

The embassy fee and our service fee, shown separately, so you always know where your money goes.

VisaProcessing timeEntriesEmbassy feeOur feeTotal you pay
Standard serviceStudent (X1 or X2) visaUsually 4 working daysSingle entry£151£150£301
Express serviceStudent (X1 or X2) visaUsually 3 working daysSingle entry£182£175£357

Embassy fees shown are those charged by the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre to British passport holders, and may differ for other nationalities. They aren’t refundable, even if the visa is refused. Our fee is per person and includes checking your documents, completing the online form and booking your appointment.

Need it quickly? Choose express service when you apply. Tell us your travel date and we’ll tell you the latest day to submit.

X1 or X2: which China student visa do I need?

  • X1 visa: for study of more than 180 days. You need the admission letter and the JW201 or JW202 form, and you apply for a residence permit after you arrive.
  • X2 visa: for study of 180 days or less, such as a summer language course. You need the admission letter.

China student visa requirements

You need your passport, a recent photo, the completed form and your admission documents. Some universities also ask for a health check before or after arrival. Your school will tell you; we check your documents match before your appointment.

Related pages

Family of foreigners (S1, S2)Photo requirements

Questions people ask

Can I work part-time on a China student visa?

Only with permission from your school and the immigration authorities. Don’t work without it.

When should I apply for a China student visa?

As soon as you have your admission letter and, for X1, your JW form. You can apply up to three months before you travel.

How long does a China visa take?

The visa centre usually processes standard applications in 4 working days and express applications in 3 working days, after your appointment. Allow extra time to prepare and book the appointment.

Do I need to go to the visa centre?

For a short-stay X2 visa, not usually: fingerprints aren’t needed until 31 December 2026, so we submit your application for you. For a long-stay X1 visa, yes. You attend once to give fingerprints, and we book the appointment.

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