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What Is the JW202 Form and Why Do You Need It for a Chinese Student Visa?

Visa & JW202📅 2 October 2026⏱ 3 min read

Got your admission to a Chinese university? Before you can apply for your student visa you need the JW202 form. Here is what it is, how you get it and what to do next.

After a Chinese university accepts you, two documents arrive together: your admission letter and the JW202 form. Without both originals you cannot apply for a long-term student visa. This guide explains what the JW202 form is and how to use it.

What is the JW202 form?

The JW202 is the official Visa Application for Study in China form for self-funded students and students on university or provincial scholarships. Students on the Chinese Government (CSC) Scholarship usually receive the very similar JW201 form instead. It is issued through the university and registered with China's education authorities. It confirms that you are an approved international student of that university.

Why do you need it?

To apply for an X1 student visa (for study longer than 180 days) at the Chinese visa application centre or embassy
To complete registration at your university after you arrive
To apply for your residence permit in China within 30 days of arrival

How do you get it?

You do not apply for the JW202 yourself. After admission, the university prepares it and posts the original to you together with your admission letter — usually by courier. Some universities also send an electronic copy first. Check every detail (name, passport number, date of birth, program and dates) as soon as you receive it; mistakes must be corrected by the university before you apply for your visa.

Applying for the X1 visa from Bangladesh

Typical documents include:

Passport (valid for at least six months, with blank pages) and a copy of the photo page
Completed online visa application form with a recent photo
Original admission letter and original JW202 form, plus copies
The Foreigner Physical Examination Form, if your program is longer than six months

Visa rules and fees change, so check the latest requirements of the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Dhaka before you go.

After you arrive in China

Your X1 visa is usually valid for entry and a short stay. Within 30 days you register at your university and apply for a residence permit at the local Public Security Bureau — the university's international office normally helps. Keep your JW202 safe: you will need it for the residence permit.