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JW202 for a language student: who issues it and what it is used for

JW202 is the form the Ministry of Education ties to self-funded foreign students. In its reply of 15 February 2008, the Ministry says each institution that admits such a student handles the form for that student. The UK and US embassies also list JW202 among the documents for an X1 visa, which is explained on the X1 or X2 page.

Who issues JW202

The reply is written in Chinese. The English below is this site's translation of it.

The reply, dated 15 February 2008, says the following:

  • JW202 is used for self-funded foreign students (自费来华留学生), and each institution handles it for the students it has admitted.
  • Any institution that admits foreign students may provide JW202.
  • A private university may apply to the provincial education administration where it is located. After that authority agrees, the university may admit foreign students, and it may obtain JW202 as needed.

What JW202 is used for

The reply says JW201 and JW202 are important documents for students coming to study in China. It lists four uses:

  1. Applying for the study visa.
  2. Entry into China.
  3. Reporting to the school on arrival (入学报道).
  4. Applying for residence formalities.

JW201 in one sentence

The reply says JW201 is for students on the Chinese Government Scholarship or coming through government exchange channels, and that the Secretariat of the China Scholarship Council (中国国家留学基金管理委员会秘书处) handles it in consultation with the relevant universities.

Where the form appears in embassy lists

The Embassy of the PRC in the United Kingdom lists the following under X1 in its page "Part Two: How to Apply for a Visa for China (Mainland only)": "Original or photocopy of 'Visa Application for Study in China' (Form JW201 or Form JW202)."

The Embassy of the PRC in the United States lists X1 in its "Requirements and Procedures for Chinese Visa Application (Updated September, 2025)". The X1 row covers those who intend to study in China for more than 180 days. Under the heading "Foreign higher education institution students", item A names the "Confirmation Form for Study in China (Form JW201 or Form JW202)".

This article does not decide which of these categories a language student falls under.

Article 35 of Order No. 42

Article 35 of the Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (Order No. 42 of the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Public Security) says a foreigner who applies to study at a school referred to in Article 2 shall apply for an X1 or X2 visa before entry. The application goes to a Chinese embassy or consulate in the applicant's country of nationality or residence, or to another mission entrusted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, according to the length of study. The applicant submits the certificate filed with the education authority and the admission letter issued by the school, together with other materials as required.

Questions

Does a self-funded language student get a JW202?

The reply ties JW202 to self-funded foreign students and to the institution that admits them. Whether a particular language applicant is self-funded is not decided in this article.

Which institutions may provide JW202?

The reply says any institution that admits foreign students may provide JW202. A private university may also obtain it after the provincial education administration agrees to its admitting foreign students.

Sources

Checked 11 October 2026.

This page is an unofficial summary. It is not legal or immigration advice and is not published by the bodies named. If the official text or the instructions of the body handling your case differ from this page, the official text and those instructions prevail.

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