Short courses in China: the 180-day definition and the X2 visa
A short course in China is study at a Chinese school for no more than 180 days, the 180th day included. Article 45 of the Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (Order No. 42) gives this definition, and Article 6(11) of the Regulations on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (State Council Decree No. 637) ties the X2 visa to short-term study. The routes that fall on either side of this line are set out on the Routes page.
The English wording of Article 45 below is this site's translation of the Chinese text. The Chinese text is the official version.
The 180-day line
Article 45 of Order No. 42 states that short-term study means study at a Chinese school for no more than 180 days, the 180th day included. It states that long-term study means study at a Chinese school for more than 180 days.
The Regulations use the same 180-day boundary for the duration of a visit, under Article 36 of the Regulations. The table sets out each term and the provision it comes from.
| Term | Provision | Rule as stated |
|---|---|---|
| Short-term study | Order No. 42, Article 45 | Study at a Chinese school for no more than 180 days, including 180 days |
| Long-term study | Order No. 42, Article 45 | Study at a Chinese school for more than 180 days |
| Short-term stay | Regulations, Article 36(4) | Staying in China for a period not exceeding 180 days (including 180 days) |
| Long-term or resident | Regulations, Article 36(5) | Residing in China for a period exceeding 180 days |
Article 36(3) of the Regulations says the duration of stay specified in a visa "begins from the next day of entry."
Which visa applies
Article 6(11) of the Regulations reads: "The X1 visa is issued to persons who apply for long-term study in China; the X2 visa is for persons who apply for short-term study in China."
The Embassy of the PRC in the United Kingdom publishes a category table on its own visa page. For X2, that table says: "Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of no more than 180 days." For X1, it says: "Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period exceeding 180 days." These are the UK embassy's statements. They are not rules for every Chinese mission, and other missions publish their own pages.
The visa categories and their timing are covered on the visa page, and the X1 and X2 comparison is in X1 or X2 visa for Chinese language course.
Staying within the duration of stay
Article 29 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China reads: "Where the duration of stay specified in a visa held by a foreigner does not exceed 180 days, the holder may stay in China within the duration specified therein."
For an extension, the same article says the visa holder "shall file an application with the exit/entry administration of public security organ under the local people's government at or above the county level in the place of his stay seven days prior to the expiry of the duration specified in the visa." It also says: "The accumulated length of extension shall not exceed the original duration of stay specified in the visa."
The Law and the Regulations are separate texts. The rule on staying within the duration is in Article 29 of the Law. The visa categories are in Article 6(11) of the Regulations.
Questions
Does the 180th day count as short-term study?
Yes, under Article 45 of Order No. 42. The article states that short-term study means study at a Chinese school for no more than 180 days, including 180 days. Article 36(4) of the Regulations states the same limit for short-term stay, with 180 days included.
Which visa is for short-term study?
Article 6(11) of the Regulations says the X2 visa is for persons who apply for short-term study in China. The UK embassy's category table describes X2 in the same terms, with "no more than 180 days." That table is the UK embassy's statement only.
Sources
- Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (Order No. 42), Ministry of Education of the PRC
- Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (State Council Decree No. 637), National Immigration Administration
- Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China, National Immigration Administration
- Part One: Visa for China (Mainland only), Embassy of the PRC in the United Kingdom
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. The official text and the instructions of the body handling your case prevail if they differ.