JW201 and JW202: The Form Behind an X1 Visa Application

In one line: the JW201 and JW202 are two versions of the same document, the Visa Application for Study in China. Which one you receive depends on how your study is funded, and you do not fill it in or apply for it yourself: it reaches you with your admission papers.

Two numbers, one purpose

The Ministry of Education explained the difference in a published reply to a student's question:

• JW201 is used for Chinese Government Scholarship students and for students who come through intergovernmental exchange channels. The secretariat of the China Scholarship Council handles it together with the university concerned.
• JW202 is used for self-funded students. Each university handles it for the students it has admitted.

The same reply says that any institution that enrols international students can provide the JW202, and that a private university may enrol international students with the consent of its provincial education department and then obtain JW202 forms as needed.

Where the form is used

The Ministry describes both forms as important documents for four things: applying for the study visa, entering China, registering at the school, and handling residence formalities. Keep the original safe after the visa is issued; you will be asked for it again in China.

At the visa stage, the entry-exit regulations require an X1 applicant to submit the school's admission notice together with "certification documents provided by the competent authority" (Article 7). Embassy lists name that document. The embassy in the United Kingdom asks for the "original or photocopy of Visa Application for Study in China (Form JW201 or Form JW202)". The embassy in the United States lists the "Confirmation Form for Study in China (Form JW201 or Form JW202)" along with a photocopy of the admission letter.

Is the form needed for an X2 visa?

The lists read for this page do not ask X2 applicants for a JW form. The UK list asks for the admission notice. The US list asks for the admission notice and, "if have", the Information Form for Foreign Students' Short-term Visit (Form DQ). A mission can ask for additional material in a particular case, so check the page of the mission where you apply.

What to check when the form arrives

The official texts read for this page do not publish a checklist for the form's contents. As a practical matter, compare the personal details and study dates on the form with your passport and your admission notice before you go to the visa office, and ask the school to correct any mismatch. The school or the China Scholarship Council issues the form, so only they can reissue it.

Frequently asked questions

Can I apply for a JW202 myself?

No. According to the Ministry of Education, the university handles the JW202 for the students it has admitted. You receive it from the school.

I have a scholarship from my university, not from the Chinese government. Which form?

The Ministry's reply ties the JW201 to Chinese Government Scholarship students and intergovernmental exchange channels, and the JW202 to self-funded students. It does not discuss university scholarships separately. Ask the admitting school which form it will issue.

Do primary and secondary school pupils use the JW202?

The embassy lists read for this page name a different document for them: the Confirmation Form for Elementary Stage Students Study in China.

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Sources (all read on 11 October 2026)

• Ministry of Education, reply dated 15 February 2008 on the difference between forms JW201 and JW202 (in Chinese): http://www.moe.gov.cn/moe_879/moe_1252/s8447/201412/t20141204_179684.html
• National Immigration Administration, Regulations of the PRC on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners, Article 7: https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147458/c155970/content.html
• Embassy of the PRC in the United Kingdom, Part Two: How to Apply for a Visa for China: https://gb.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/visa/qzxz/201303/t20130315_3383966.htm
• Embassy of the PRC in the United States, Requirements and Procedures for Chinese Visa Application (Updated September, 2025): https://us.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/lsfw/zj/notice/202509/t20250920_11712385.htm

This page is an unofficial summary of published rules, not immigration advice.