Reviewed by Yasir Khan, Founder, LAMTANS Group of Companies, and British Council registered consultant
To study in China from Pakistan for more than 180 days you need an X1 visa, which your Chinese university supports with an admission letter and a JW201 or JW202 form. You show US$2,500 per academic year unless you hold a scholarship. This guide covers the steps, residence permit, work rules and scholarships.
China X1 student visa process from Pakistan
- Get admitted by a Chinese university. It gives you an admission letter and the Confirmation Form for Study in China, Form JW201 or JW202. The official pages do not explain the difference between the two.
- Complete the online application form (COVA) and print it.
- Submit documents with your passport and originals to Gerry’s Visa Application Service Center in Islamabad or Lahore. Fingerprints are taken in person.
- Collect your passport. Processing is generally about four working days after the passport is received, with no urgent service.
- Apply for a residence permit within 30 days of entering China.
An X2 visa is for study of 180 days or less and needs only the admission letter and the common documents. The Islamabad Embassy covers Punjab (except Rawalpindi), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit-Baltistan. The Karachi Consulate General covers Sindh and Balochistan. The Lahore Consulate General is not currently accepting applications. Ordinary Pakistani passport holders are exempt from Chinese visa fees, though Gerry’s service fee is separate and we did not find it.
Proof of funds and the residence permit
The embassy asks X1 applicants for evidence of a scholarship or proof of funds of US$2,500 per academic year, or the PKR equivalent, with a bank statement whose closing balance covers the whole study period.
| Study residence permit validity | Fee |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 year | CNY 400 |
| 1 to 3 years | CNY 800 |
| 3 to 5 years | CNY 1,000 |
You need your passport, application form, photo, a school letter stating the term of study, an admission or enrolment letter, and a health certificate if the permit is valid for over a year. Apply 30 days before expiry to extend.
Tuition and costs
| Tsinghua undergraduate (per year) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Engineering and sciences | RMB 30,000 |
| Economics, law and management | RMB 26,000 |
| Arts | RMB 40,000 |
| Insurance | RMB 800 |
Tsinghua’s application fee is RMB 800, and Peking University charges RMB 800 per programme, for up to two programmes. Tsinghua’s tuition page carries a 2020 footer, and Peking University’s tuition amounts are in a document we could not open, so we confirm current figures before you apply.
Working in China as a student
X1 students may not work or intern off campus unless the school approves it and the exit-entry administration adds a remark to the residence permit stating the job or internship location and duration. Without it, off-campus work is not allowed. Shanghai calls an unapproved off-campus internship “illegal employment.” We found no national weekly-hours limit.
We found no official post-study stay or graduate work visa. Work in China needs a Z visa and a Notice for Work Permit for Foreigners. Spouses, children under 18 and parents of foreigners living in China for study can use the S1 visa for stays over 180 days, but we have not confirmed that it works for students in practice.
English requirements and entry
| Programme | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Peking University graduate, English-taught | TOEFL iBT 100 or more, GRE 315 or more, or another accepted certificate |
| Peking University graduate, Chinese-taught | HSK 6 |
| Tsinghua SEM TCMiBA master’s | TOEFL 100 or more, or IELTS 7.0 or more |
| Chinese Government Scholarship, Chinese-taught | HSK 3 undergraduate, HSK 4 master’s and PhD |
Tsinghua undergraduate asks for a high school certificate with transcripts and international tests such as SAT, ACT, A-Level, AP or IB, but its page does not mention Pakistan. We found no HSSC-specific rule at any university we read, so we confirm it with each one. Master’s applicants need a bachelor’s from an accredited institution, and Tsinghua requires overseas degrees to be authenticated by CSCSE. We could not open the official list of universities approved to enrol international students, so we check each university for you.
Dates, scholarships and how we help
Peking University’s 2026 graduate window ran from 20 October to 23 December 2025, and we could not find 2027 dates. The Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) is for Pakistanis only by nomination: the embassy works with the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and takes no individual applications. You apply to HEC, then complete a pre-admission and online application. Age limits are under 25 for undergraduate, 35 for master’s and 40 for PhD. We could not confirm the 2026-27 call, deadline or stipend.
CSC does not authorise intermediaries. We help with course choice, applications and your visa file, and we cannot promise a visa or scholarship. Compare other countries on our student visa from Pakistan guide or see all study abroad destinations, including Japan, Singapore and Malaysia.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between X1 and X2?
X1 is for study of more than 180 days. X2 is for study of 180 days or less.
How much money must I show for a China student visa?
The embassy asks for scholarship evidence or US$2,500 per academic year, or the PKR equivalent, backed by a bank statement.
Do Pakistanis pay a Chinese visa fee?
Ordinary Pakistani passport holders are exempt from Chinese visa fees. Gerry’s service fee is separate.
Can I work while studying in China?
Only off campus with school approval and a residence-permit remark that states the job location and duration.
Can I apply directly for the Chinese Government Scholarship?
No. Pakistanis apply through HEC nomination, and the embassy takes no individual applications.
Book a Free Initial Consultation
Official sources: Chinese Embassy in Pakistan: X1 visa · Chinese Embassy: visa fees and processing · Chinese MFA: visa categories · National Immigration Administration: residence permit · Chinese Embassy: Government Scholarship · Peking University: graduate admission · Tsinghua: undergraduate fees. Figures checked on 11 October 2026. Reviewed by Yasir Khan, British Council registered consultant, LAMTANS Consultants. Last updated 11 October 2026. Rules change, so we confirm the latest position at your consultation.