Visa and Residence Permit
Visa
International students need to apply for a visa in order to stay and study in China legally. You may apply for a Chinese visa at any Chinese embassy or consulate in your country with the following documents:
Valid passport;
Original copy of the admission notice;
Visa Application Form for international students studying in China (also known as the JW201/JW202 form).
Do remember to keep your admission notice and your JW202/201 form, with which you will need to apply for Residence Permit upon your arrival in Beijing.
X1 Visa
Students who will stay in China for more than 180 days (year-based students) should apply for an X1 visa.
Notes:
The X1 visa only allows you to enter China and it’s only valid for 30 days after your arrival. You must apply for a Residence Permit at the Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau (BMPSB) within 30 days after your arrival in order to obtain a legal status. Otherwise, your stay might be considered illegal and you might be fined.
We advise you to arrive on campus only 2-3 days before the official registration day, because in order to apply for Residence Permit, you must be formally registered with the university. The residence permit gives you multiple entries within the valid period.
X2 Visa
Students who will study for less than 180 days (semester-based students) should apply for an X2 visa.
Notes:
X2 visa is a single entry visa. X2 visa holders may apply for one more entry from the ISO if necessary. X2 visa holders do not need to apply for Residence Permit.
Temporary Accommodation Registration Card
You need to get Registration Form for Temporary Residence and keep it with you.
Students who live on campus: get the form from the front desk of your dormitory
Students who live in a hotel off-campus: ask the front desk for the form
Students who stay in an apartment off campus: go to the police station in the neighborhood and ask for the form.
Residence Permit
If you need to apply for or extend your residence permit, please bring your passport, temporary accommodation registration card, and one ID photo to the ISO. After their pre-approval, you can submit all the documents to Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau or through Shanglian Visa Agency.
You can apply for extension of your residence permit without taking the physical examination.
If you change your name, passport or address, please update the ISO on relevant information within ten days.
Other Visa-Related Matters
Key Contacts for Visa Affairs
| Visa Requests Handled By |
Days | Working Hours | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| The university’s central International Students Office (ISO) | Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays | 14:00 - 17:00 (Tel: 86 10 62511588) |
Room 108, International Cultural Exchange Center, Renmin University of China |
| Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau | Monday to Saturday | 9:00 - 16:30 | You can take Metro Line 2 and get off at YongHeGong Lama Temple Station, walk out the station from |
| Shanglian Visa Agency | Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays | 13:00 to 16:00 | In the lobby of International Cultural Exchange Center, Renmin University of China |
