X1 or X2 — How to Tell What You Need

The choice between X1 and X2 depends on the duration of study. Key differences:

• X2 (short-term): study up to 180 days, no biometrics, no conversion in China.
• X1 (long-term): study 90+ days, biometrics required (1 day in Chișinău), mandatory conversion to Residence Permit.
• What's included in X2: summer language courses (1–3 months), short exchange programs, summer schools at universities, short professional development courses.
• What's included in X1: bachelor's at a Chinese university (4 years), master's (1.5–3 years), PhD/doctoral programs, year-long language programs (intensive Chinese study, HSK preparation), scholarships from the Chinese government (CSC and similar).

Main Documents from the Client

Basic package — three things:

• Passport (original) — valid 6+ months, 2 blank pages
• Photo in digital format — white background, no glasses, colored top (make it free online: /tools/visa-photo or via ChatGPT/Gemini at /tools/ai-photo-studio)
• Completed questionnaire (our brief, 10–15 minutes)

Documents from the University in China

Two key documents from the educational institution:

• Admission Notice — the university's acceptance letter. It's an official document on letterhead with seal and signature.
• JW201 or JW202 form — a special study permission form from the Chinese authorities.
• IMPORTANT: as of today, only scanned copies of these documents are needed for visa submission. Originals aren't required — you'll need them in China when getting the Residence Permit and other procedures.

Financial Guarantees — Are They Needed

Many template articles demand bank statements from parents, sponsor letters, and proof of tuition payment. As of today, this is NOT needed for visa submission in Chișinău:

• Bank statements are NOT required for X visa submission in Chișinău
• Financial issues are resolved at the university admission stage — if the university accepted you and issued the Admission Notice + JW form, the financial side is already settled
• Many template articles are outdated and reflect requirements from past years or other submission countries

Who Typically Gets an X Visa

Based on our practice in recent years, the most common categories:

• Language course students — going to study Chinese (often from scratch or to prepare for HSK)
• Scholarship recipients — got a scholarship from the Chinese government (CSC) or university programs
• Bachelor's and master's students — less often, but they exist
• Teenagers under 18 with X visas don't come to us. A visa for a child in a Chinese school is a separate case requiring individual review.

Biometrics for X1 — '1 Day in Chișinău' Scheme

Long-term X1 requires in-person biometrics. One route is to submit biometrics in a single day at the PRC consulate in Chișinău via the '1 Day + 2 Passports' scheme, instead of 6–7 days in Warsaw with ~€540 in costs:

• You come to Chișinău for one day
• Submit biometrics at the PRC consulate in 15 minutes
• Return with your second passport
• The passport with the visa is returned by mail 4 business days after submission
• All students over 14 submit biometrics. An unaccompanied minor is a non-standard case that is reviewed individually.

Conversion to Residence Permit (X1 only)

After arriving in China on a long-term X1, you must convert it to a Residence Permit at the local Exit-Entry Administration office (PSB). This is done within 30 days of arrival. Usually the university helps students with this procedure — it's standard.

Conclusion

The X student visa is simpler than it might seem at first. The main thing is to get the Admission Notice and JW201/JW202 form from the university. The rest — document package, COVA application, submission preparation, and biometrics (for X1). Overall review cycle — 7–10 business days, plus 1 day in Chișinău for biometrics on X1.