Visa

Guide for Visa and Residence Permit Applications for International Students of Beijing University of Chemical Technology

I. Study Visa and Residence Permit

International students must apply for an X1 Visa (for study periods of 180 days or longer) or X2 Visa (for study periods under 180 days) at the Chinese embassy or consulate in their home country or country of residence before entering China. The relevant materials required to be submitted to the Chinese embassy or consulate include a valid passport (with at least 6 months of validity remaining), admission letter, Confirmation Form for Foreign Students to Study in China (JW201/JW202 Form, for X1 Visa), or Information Form for Short-term International Students to Study in China (DQ Form, for X2 Visa). Upon securing your visa and retrieving your passport, please also retrieve the above-mentioned documents to facilitate post-entry procedures.

1. X1 Visa: Valid for 30 days upon entry. International students must convert the X1 Visa to a Study Residence Permit within 30 days of entry.

2. X2 Visa: Valid for up to 6 months. No Residence Permit conversion is required. International students can apply for extensions and additional entries. Regardless of extensions or additional entries, the total cumulative stay in China, including the original X2 Visa, extensions, and additional entries, must not exceed 365 days. Internship endorsements are not permitted for X2 Visa.

3. Study Residence Permit: International students holding an X1 Visa must apply to convert it to a Study Residence Permit within 30 days of entry. Study Residence Permits allow multiple entries and exits during validity. First-time applicants within two years must also submit a Certificate of Verification of Physical Examination Record for Foreigners issued by the Beijing International Travel Healthcare Center. For continued study beyond the permit’s expiration, extensions must be applied for one month in advance. Students whose permits expire during academic breaks must complete extension procedures prior to the start of the break.

II. Visa Application Process

1. Basic Steps

(1) Refer to the form below to prepare all required documents and complete all prerequisite procedures

(2) Bring the relevant documents and certifications to the International Student Office (Room 503, Library) to complete the procedures

2. Required Materials

3. Temporary Accommodation Registration

Foreign nationals residing in China must comply with legal requirements to complete accommodation registration. Registration must be submitted to the local public security bureau within 24 hours of arrival by the individual or their host.

1. For students living in BUCT’s International Student Dormitories,

(1) Visit the dormitory front desk with your passport for assistance.

(2) Alternatively, register at the local police station.

2. For students living off-campus, complete online registration via:

(1) Beijing Municipal Government International Portal 

(https://english.beijing.gov.cn/livinginbeijing/)

(2) Subscribe to WeChat Official account “Beijing Public Security Exit-Entry Administration” and click Online Registration Portal for registration

(3) Log in https://zwfw.gaj.beijing.gov.cn/zsdj/zsdj-q/ for registration

(4) Scan the below QR code for registration

Ⅲ. Key Reminders

1. International students must hold a Study Residence Permit or X2 Short-Term Study Visa to enroll in courses. Processing times are as follows:

(1) Study Residence Permit applications: 8-15 business days;

(2) The procedures related to the X2 visa: 8-13 business days.

Applications must be submitted 30 days before expiration of the current visa/residence permit. Students should allow sufficient time for processing, prepare all required documents in advance, verify the accuracy of Temporary Accommodation Registration, and complete procedures before deadlines.

2. For returning international students entering China:

(1) Ensure your passport is valid for at least 180 days beyond your intended stay.

(2) Confirm your passport has sufficient blank pages for entry/exit stamps.

(3) If you hold an X1 Visa:

a. The visa is valid for 30 days from entry. i.e., the lawful stay period under the X1 Visa is restricted to 30 days starting from the date of entry;

b. You must convert the X1 Visa to a Study Residence Permit within 30 days of arrival;

c. Strict penalties will be enforced for visa overstays. Please treat this with utmost urgency.

3. Both international students holding non-study residence permits and newly enrolled international students must apply for visa conversion procedures within 10 days of arriving on campus.

4. International students must re-register/update their Temporary Accommodation Registration within 24 hours of any changes to their passport, visa, or personal information (including mobile phone number, email address, name, etc.). For name changes due to marriage, a name change certificate issued by the embassy/consulate of the student’s home country in China is required.

5. Regarding passport renewal:

(1) For new passports obtained within China, students must apply for a change of Residence Permit within 10 days.

(2) For new passports obtained overseas:

a. Enter China with both the old and new passports.

b. Ensure the entry stamp is placed on the new passport.

c. Complete Residence Permit change procedures as soon as possible after arriving on campus

6. When international students experience academic status changes such as retention of student status, suspension of studies, suspension of enrollment, transfer to another school, or withdrawal from school, they must cancel their study Residence Permit and apply for a stay visa

IV. Penalties for Illegal Stay

Every foreign national residing in China must possess a valid passport and visa/residence permit. Expired passport, visa/residence permit, as well as the use of forged documents, will be deemed illegal residence. The competent authority for foreign entry-exit affairs is the Exit-Entry Administration Bureau of the Public Security Bureau.

Penalties for illegal residence: Expired visa or residence permit, lack of accommodation registration, or expired accommodation registration are all considered violations of Chinese law and will be deemed illegal residence. The public security bureau will impose penalties such as warnings, fines ranging from 500 to 10,000 RMB, detention, or even deportation, depending on the severity of the violation. Students are strongly advised to closely monitor their visa and accommodation registration status to avoid unnecessary complications. Please carefully read and understand the above information to prevent legal issues arising from non-compliance.