If you intend to go to China to study, you must obtain a Study Visa (X), unless your studies will last for less than 6 months, in which case, you can apply for a Business Visa (F).
X Type Visa
X1 visa is issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of no more than 180 days.
X2 visa is issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of no more than 180 days.
Documentation required:
1. Original passport with at least six months of remaining validity and blank visa pages, and a photocopy of the passport's data page and the photo page if it is separate.
2. One completed Visa Application Form with a recently-taken color passport photo (bare-head, full face) against a light background attached.
3. Proof of legal stay or residence status (applicable to those not applying for the visa in their country of citizenship)
4. Original and photocopy of the Admission Letter issued by a school or other entities in China.
5. Original and photocopy of "Visa Application for Study in China" (Form JW201 or Form JW202).
Besides the documentation mentioned above, other documents might be required by visa officers in order to decide whether to issue the visa on a case by case basis.
Students from other countries please contact or check the website of the China Visa Application Service Center or your nearest Chinese Embassy or Chinese Consulate for details.
Applicant for Residence Permit
The "Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China" came into force as of July 1, 2013.
Foreign students should pay attention to the following changes:
1. Applicant for Residence Permit must make application IN PERSON at the police station EVERY TIME when applying for the Residence Permit.
2. Calculation of the Residence Permit: Applicant must make application 30 days before the expiry date (i.e. make application about 40 days with your university before the expiry date). Even if you apply much earlier than the expiry date, the police office will only calculate the new expiry date according to the current expiry date. (This is beneficial to international students.)
3. The Visa/Residence Permit of Study Type: the minimum duration for application is 180 days (half a year). You may apply for a short time visa (S Type Visa; less than 180 days) when you finish your study here and go back to your home country.
4. Only the students who hold X1 Visa are eligible to apply for a student's Residence Permit. Other types of visa are not applicable in this case. An X2 Visa is used for leaving China only; cannot be converted into any other type of visa.
5. You should report to the Police Station if any of your relatives comes to visit you; if there is no significant/serious reason of leaving China, no report is required when your relative leaves China. Dropping-out or quitting-school students must report to the Police Station when leaving China.
6. Part-time Work: foreign students are permitted to do part-time work in China now. The university should issue a Consent Letter; the hiring unit/company should issue a Certification; the police station will then mark on your visa "Part-time-work; Part-time-study". The hiring unit/company cannot be changed; expect high amount of fine if you violate this law.
7. Illegal Residence: you will be charged 500 yuan ($75.68) per day, and the maximum charge is 10,000 yuan, or, more than 5 days but less than 15 days of detention.
8. The Visa & Residence Permit processing time is longer now. You will probably get your passport 20 days after you applied for the visa.
Overview
Haikou 
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