Your CSC acceptance came with a JW201 or JW202 form. You used it to get your X1 student visa at the Chinese embassy. But landing in China with that X1 visa is not the end of the process. It is actually the beginning.
An X1 visa is a single-entry visa that is valid for 30 days. Within those 30 days, you must convert it into a residence permit (居留许可). If you miss that window, you face fines, complications, and potentially being asked to leave the country.
This guide covers the full sequence: what happens at immigration, police registration, the residence permit application, and everything that can go wrong (plus how to avoid it).
Understanding Your Visa Type
| Visa | Who Gets It | Duration | Key Requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| X1 | Students staying more than 180 days | Valid 30 days from entry | Must convert to residence permit within 30 days |
| X2 | Short-term students (under 180 days) | Valid for the study period | No conversion needed |
Most CSC scholarship students receive the X1 visa. If you are on a one-year Chinese language program or a full degree (Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD), you have an X1. If you are on a short-term exchange or summer program, you may have an X2.
This guide focuses on X1 visa holders since that is the majority of CSC scholars.
Step 1: Passing Through Immigration (Day 0)
When your plane lands, you go through immigration at the airport. Have these ready:
- Passport with X1 visa
- Completed arrival card (sometimes handed out on the plane, sometimes available at immigration counters)
The immigration officer stamps your passport with an entry date. This stamp starts your 30-day clock. Keep track of this date.
There is nothing else to do at immigration. Collect your luggage and proceed to the arrivals hall.
Step 2: Police Registration (Within 24 Hours)
Chinese law requires every foreigner to register their address with the local police within 24 hours of arriving at their accommodation. This rule applies whether you live on campus, in an apartment, or in a hotel.
If you live in a university dormitory: The dormitory management office usually handles police registration for you. They collect your passport, make copies, and submit the registration on your behalf. You receive a Registration Form of Temporary Residence (临时住宿登记表). This is a small slip of paper. Keep it safe. You need it for the residence permit application.
Ask the dormitory office within your first day whether they will handle this or if you need to go to the police station yourself.
If you live off campus: You must go to the local police station (派出所) with your landlord. Bring:
- Your passport
- Your lease agreement (rental contract)
- Your landlord’s ID card
- Your landlord’s property ownership certificate
The landlord needs to be present or provide a signed authorization letter. The police station issues the registration slip, usually within 30 minutes.
Important: If you travel to another city (even for a weekend trip) and stay at a hotel, the hotel automatically registers you. If you stay at a friend’s place, you technically need to register at the local police station in that area. In practice, hotels handle it seamlessly and short trips to friends rarely cause issues. But the law is the law.
Step 3: Medical Verification (Week 1 to 2)
Even if you completed the physical examination form in your home country (which you should have, as described in our medical examination guide), China requires verification of certain health checks.
Your university will tell you where to go for this. Usually it is the local Health and Quarantine Bureau (出入境检验检疫局) or a designated hospital.
Bring:
- Original Foreigner Physical Examination Form (completed and stamped by your home doctor)
- Blood test results, chest X-ray, and other test results from your home examination
- Passport
- Passport photos (2 to 3, same size as your visa photo)
- Fee payment (usually 400 to 700 CNY, depending on the city and what tests they redo)
They may redo some tests (blood work, ECG) regardless of your home results. This is standard procedure. The verification takes about 2 to 3 hours on the day, and results are typically ready within 3 to 7 business days.
You need the verified medical report to apply for the residence permit.
Step 4: Residence Permit Application (Within 30 Days of Entry)
This is the big one. The residence permit converts your 30-day X1 visa into a multi-year residence authorization that matches the length of your study program.
Where to apply: The local Entry-Exit Administration Bureau (出入境管理局), which is part of the Public Security Bureau (PSB). Your university’s international student office can tell you the exact address and may organize a group trip.
Documents needed:
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Passport (original) | Must be valid for the duration of your program |
| JW201 or JW202 form (original) | The one issued by CSC |
| Admission letter (original) | From your university |
| Registration Form of Temporary Residence | The police registration slip from Step 2 |
| Verified Physical Examination Report | From Step 3 (or your university may submit this directly) |
| Passport photos | Usually 2, white background, 33mm x 48mm |
| Application form | Provided at the Entry-Exit Administration office |
| University enrollment certificate | Some offices require a letter from the international student office confirming your enrollment |
The process:
- Arrive at the Entry-Exit Administration Bureau. Take a queue number.
- Submit your documents at the counter. The officer reviews everything.
- Biometric collection: they take your photo and fingerprints.
- Pay the fee: 400 CNY for the first residence permit, 200 CNY for renewals.
- They keep your passport. You receive a receipt slip with a collection date (usually 7 to 15 working days later).
- Return on the collection date to pick up your passport with the residence permit page inside.
During the waiting period: You do not have your passport. The receipt slip serves as temporary identification. Carry it with you. You generally cannot fly domestically or book hotels without your passport during this period, so plan around it.
Step 5: Collecting Your Residence Permit
Go back to the Entry-Exit Administration Bureau on or after the date printed on your receipt. Bring the receipt slip. They return your passport with a full-page residence permit sticker inside.
Check the details carefully:
- Your name (matches your passport exactly)
- The validity period (should match your program duration, typically 1 to 4 years for CSC scholars)
- The permitted number of entries (usually “multiple”)
- Your registered address
If there is any error, point it out immediately.
Residence Permit Renewal
Your residence permit expires when your program ends (or annually for some universities). If you continue your studies, renew it before it expires. The renewal process is similar to the initial application but requires:
- Your current passport with the existing residence permit
- Updated enrollment certificate
- Updated police registration (if you moved)
- Payment (200 CNY for renewals)
Start the renewal process at least one month before expiration.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Missing the 30-day deadline. If you do not apply for the residence permit within 30 days of entry, you are technically overstaying your visa. Penalties range from 500 CNY per day (up to 10,000 CNY maximum fine) to more serious consequences. Do not risk it. If you realize you are close to the deadline and your medical verification is not ready yet, contact the Entry-Exit Administration Bureau proactively and explain the situation. They sometimes offer temporary extensions.
Losing the police registration slip. You need this slip for the residence permit application. If the dormitory office handles your registration, ask them for a copy. If you lose it, you have to go back to the police station and get a replacement, which takes extra time.
Incomplete medical examination. If your home country physical examination form is missing a required test (a common one: the ECG or the RPR/syphilis test), the Health and Quarantine Bureau will require you to redo those tests. This adds days to the process and can push you close to the 30-day deadline. Double-check the Foreigner Physical Examination Form requirements before leaving your home country.
Not having enough passport photos. You will use more passport photos in China than you expect: bank account, SIM card, residence permit, student ID, medical exam, and various forms. Bring at least 15 photos from home (white background, 33mm x 48mm, also called “2-inch photos” in Chinese). You can also take new photos at photo shops near campus for about 20 to 30 CNY per set.
Timeline Summary
| Task | When | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Airport immigration | Day 0 | Airport |
| Police registration | Within 24 hours of arrival | Police station or dorm office |
| Medical verification | Week 1 to 2 | Health bureau or hospital |
| Residence permit application | Within 30 days of entry | Entry-Exit Administration Bureau |
| Residence permit collection | 7 to 15 days after application | Same office |
FAQs
Q: Can I leave China while the residence permit is being processed? A: Generally no. Your passport is with the PSB. If you have an emergency that requires travel, contact the Entry-Exit Administration Bureau to discuss options. They may expedite the process or issue a temporary travel document.
Q: I have an X2 visa. Do I need a residence permit? A: No. X2 visas are for stays under 180 days and do not require conversion. You still need to complete police registration within 24 hours.
Q: What if my university handles everything? A: Some universities coordinate the entire process, collecting documents, arranging group trips to the PSB, and even collecting passports on your behalf. This is ideal. But you should still understand the requirements so you can provide the right documents on time and follow up if something goes wrong.
Q: How much cash do I need for all fees? A: Budget approximately 800 to 1,200 CNY for the residence permit fee (400 CNY), medical verification (400 to 700 CNY), and passport photos (if needed). This does not include the bank account you should have set up by this point. See our bank account guide and cost of living breakdown.
This article is part of our arrival guide series. Read the first week survival guide for the complete day-by-day plan, or check out our packing list if you have not left home yet.