Nationality and identity checks at admission: what schools review
An international student, as Article 2 of Order No. 42 defines the term, is a foreign student who does not hold Chinese nationality under the Nationality Law of the PRC and who receives education at a school. Under section 2.5 of the Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial), a university shall examine the nationality and other identity qualifications of applicants. Under Article 12 of Order No. 42, the school decides admission.
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The two documents named here are written in Chinese. The English wording on this page is this site's own translation of the Chinese text. It is not an official English version.
Who counts as an international student
Article 2 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) defines "international students" as foreign students who, under the Nationality Law of the PRC, do not hold Chinese nationality and who receive education at a school.
The same Article 2 says that Chapters 2 to 5 of Order No. 42 apply to higher education institutions. For schools that provide pre-school, primary and secondary education, the article says that admission, teaching and campus management of international students follow the provisions of the province, autonomous region or municipality.
What a school checks
Article 12 of Order No. 42 says that a school shall examine the admission qualifications and the economic guarantee proof of foreign citizens who apply, and shall test them or assess them. The admission of international students is decided by the school. A school may not admit applicants who do not meet the admission conditions.
Section 2.5 of the Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial) (notice 教外〔2018〕50号 of the Ministry of Education) is addressed to higher education institutions. It says that a university shall, in accordance with national provisions, state the identity qualifications for international students applying for admission in its admission standards. It also says that a university shall set up an effective review procedure to examine the nationality and other identity qualifications of applicants.
Former Chinese citizens who emigrated
Section 2.5 sets separate conditions for one group: Chinese citizens who have emigrated and who apply to enter undergraduate or junior-college study as foreign students. The periods in section 2.5 are these:
| Point in section 2.5 | Period or threshold |
|---|---|
| Valid foreign passport or proof of foreign nationality | 4 years or more |
| Actual residence abroad | 2 years or more |
| Window for the residence | The most recent four years, before 30 April of the admission year |
| Year counted as one year | A year with 9 months of actual residence abroad may be counted as one year |
Section 2.5 says that the entry and exit stamps are the reference for these periods. It also says that a university shall require applicants in this group to provide the corresponding proof, and shall examine it. A university may set stricter rules on top of these provisions.
For applicants who are Chinese citizens who have emigrated, or who are in other situations in which the applicant may hold Chinese nationality, section 2.5 says that the university shall verify the nationality with the local immigration and exit-entry administration authority. The university shall also publish the situation of the prospective admitted persons in an appropriate way and accept supervision.
Questions
Does section 2.5 apply to Chinese language programmes?
Section 2.5 refers to study at undergraduate and junior-college level (本专科阶段). It names no language programme.
Who decides whether an international student is admitted?
Article 12 of Order No. 42 says that the school decides the admission of international students. It also says that a school may not admit applicants who do not meet the admission conditions.
Sources
- Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (学校招收和培养国际学生管理办法), Ministry of Education of the PRC (moe.gov.cn)
- Quality Standards for the Higher Education of International Students in China (Trial) (来华留学生高等教育质量规范（试行）), Ministry of Education of the PRC (moe.gov.cn)
Checked 11 October 2026.
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