JW201 vs JW202: which form you will receive

JW201 is the form for students on the Chinese Government Scholarship and for students who come through intergovernmental exchange channels. JW202 is the form for self-funded students, and the university that admits them handles it. This split comes from the Ministry of Education's reply of 15 February 2008, which answers a question dated 13 December 2007.

The English in this article is this site's translation of the Chinese text of that reply.

The split in the 2008 reply

Form	Used for (reply)	Who handles it (reply)
JW201	Chinese Government Scholarship students, and students who come through intergovernmental exchange channels	The secretariat of the China Scholarship Council, with the universities concerned
JW202	Self-funded students	Each university, for the students it has admitted

The reply's first paragraph says that JW201 is for Chinese Government Scholarship students or students who come through intergovernmental exchange channels. It says the secretariat of the China Scholarship Council handles the procedures with the universities concerned.

The reply's second paragraph says that JW202 is for self-funded students. It says each university handles JW202 for the students it has admitted. The same paragraph says that JW201 and JW202 are important documents for the visa, entry, reporting to school and residence procedures.

The reply's first paragraph names no level of institution for JW201.

Which institutions may provide JW202

The reply's third paragraph says that any institution that admits foreign students may provide the JW202 form. The paragraph names no level or type of institution beyond that.

The reply's fourth paragraph covers private universities. It says a private university may apply to its local provincial-level education administrative department. After that department gives its consent, the university may admit foreign students. The same paragraph says the university may obtain JW202 forms as needed.

The fourth paragraph names JW202 only. It names no JW201 for private universities.

As a suggestion, if you are applying to a private university, read its own admissions brochure for its conditions and procedures. The reply does not set those.

How three visa pages name the form

Three official visa pages list the form among the X1 documents. Each one uses its own wording.

Page	Publisher	Form name as printed	X1 documents listed
Visa Application Instructions of the People's Republic of China	Ministry of Foreign Affairs (China Consular Services)	Confirmation Form for Study in China (Form JW201 or Form JW202)	Two items, the Admission Letter and the form, listed without numbers
Part Two: How to Apply for a Visa for China (Mainland only)	Embassy of the PRC in the United Kingdom	Visa Application for Study in China (Form JW201 or Form JW202)	Three numbered items: (1) the Admission Letter; (2) the form; (3) the elementary stage confirmation form
Requirements and Procedures for Chinese Visa Application (Updated September, 2025)	Embassy of the PRC in the United States	Confirmation Form for Study in China (Form JW201 or Form JW202)	Under item 1 for foreign higher education institution students: 1.A the form, 1.B a photocopy of the Admission Letter

Consular page. The X1 entry lists the Admission Letter issued by a school or other admitting entity in China. It also lists the Confirmation Form for Study in China (Form JW201 or Form JW202). A note below the list says the holder must, within 30 days of entering China, apply for a residence permit at the exit-entry administration of the public security bureau at or above the county level of the intended place of residence.

UK page. Item (2) names the form "Visa Application for Study in China (Form JW201 or Form JW202)". This title differs from the consular page's title. Item (3) is headed for elementary stage students. The page says holders of an X1 visa must, within 30 days from the date of their entry, apply to the exit/entry administration of the local public security bureau in the proposed place of residence for a residence permit. The page carries a 2020 timestamp.

US page. The X1 row says the visa is "Issued to those who intend to study in China for a period of more than 180 days." Item 1.A lists the form for foreign higher education institution students. Item 2 lists a different form, the Confirmation Form for Elementary Stage Students Study in China, for foreign elementary, junior and senior high school students.

As a suggestion, compare the page of the Chinese mission that will handle your application with the three pages above. Each page is a separate document, and the title of the form may be worded differently on each one.

Questions people ask

Which form do I get if I study at my own expense?

The reply's second paragraph names JW202 for self-funded students. It says each university handles JW202 for the students it has admitted.

Can a private university provide JW202?

The reply's fourth paragraph says a private university may apply to its local provincial-level education administrative department. After consent, the university may admit foreign students and may obtain JW202 forms as needed.

Why do the visa pages name the form differently?

The UK page calls the form "Visa Application for Study in China". The consular page and the US page call it "Confirmation Form for Study in China". Each page prints its own name, so match the name on the page that applies to your application.

Sources

Checked 11 October 2026

This page is an unofficial summary. It is not published by or affiliated with the Ministry of Education, the China Scholarship Council or any university, and it is not legal advice. If the official text differs from this summary, the official text and the current notice of the university or authority handling your case prevail.