Admission notice: the school document a study visa application rests on
Unofficial entry · Sources checked
An admission notice (录取通知书) is the document a school in China issues to an international student. Article 7(11) of the Regulations on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (State Council Decree No. 637) requires it for X1 and X2 visa applications, and Article 35 of the Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (Order No. 42) names it among the materials a visa applicant submits. For the other documents in a school application, see Admission and documents.
Definition
The official texts use two English forms. The Regulations (Decree No. 637, Article 7(11)) use "admission notice". The UK and US embassy lists use "Admission Letter" for X1 and "Admission Notice" for X2. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs instruction uses "Admission Letter" for both X1 and X2. Item 2 (study) of the residence permit service guide uses the Chinese words 录取或者入学证明, which this entry renders as "admission or enrolment certificate".
What the official text says
The Chinese texts of Order No. 42 and of the residence permit guide are rendered in English by this site. The Chinese wording is the official text.
Decree No. 637, Article 7(11). For an X1 visa, the applicant submits "the admission notice issued by the admission institution" and the certification documents provided by the competent authority. For an X2 visa, the applicant submits "such certification documents as the admission notice issued by the admission institution".
Order No. 42, Article 35. A foreigner who applies to study at a school covered by Article 2 applies for an X1 or X2 visa according to the length of study. The application is made at a Chinese embassy or consulate in the applicant's country of nationality or country of residence, or at another institution the Ministry of Foreign Affairs entrusts. The applicant submits, in accordance with the provisions, a certificate filed for the record with the education administration department and the admission notice (录取通知书) issued by the school, together with other relevant materials.
Order No. 42, Article 12. Admission of international students is decided by the school. A school may not admit applicants who do not meet the admission requirements.
Visa lists by mission and ministry. Each list below is the statement of the body named. None of them is a rule for every mission.
| Document | Visa | Admission document named |
|---|---|---|
| Embassy of the PRC in the United Kingdom, Part Two: How to Apply for a Visa for China (Mainland only) | X1 | "The Admission Letter issued by a college, university or other educational institutions in China." |
| Embassy of the PRC in the United Kingdom, Part Two: How to Apply for a Visa for China (Mainland only) | X2 | "Original or photocopy of Admission Notice issued by a college, university or other educational institution in China." |
| Embassy of the PRC in the United States, Requirements and Procedures for Chinese Visa Application (Updated September, 2025) | X1 (foreign higher education institution students) | "Photocopy of the Admission Letter issued by a school or other entities in China" |
| Embassy of the PRC in the United States, Requirements and Procedures for Chinese Visa Application (Updated September, 2025) | X2 | "Admission Notice issued by a school or other entities in China." |
| Visa Application Instructions of the People's Republic of China, Ministry of Foreign Affairs | X1 | "The Admission Letter issued by a school or other admitting entity in China" |
| Visa Application Instructions of the People's Republic of China, Ministry of Foreign Affairs | X2 | "The Admission Letter issued by a school or other admitting entity in China." |
Residence permit service guide, item 2 (study). A holder of an X1 visa submits a letter from the school stating the study period, and an admission or enrolment certificate (录取或者入学证明). If the materials are already registered in the national information system for international students, the applicant may be exempted from submitting paper copies. A residence permit may be issued with a study period that matches the period the school states.
Related terms
- X1 visa
- X2 visa
- JW201 and JW202 forms
- Residence permit for study
- Visas and residence
- Certification document filed with the education administration department
- Confirmation Form for Elementary Stage Students Study in China
Sources
- Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners, National Immigration Administration
- Part Two: How to Apply for a Visa for China (Mainland only), Embassy of the PRC in the United Kingdom
- Visa Application Instructions of the People's Republic of China, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC
- Requirements and Procedures for Chinese Visa Application (Updated September, 2025), Embassy of the PRC in the United States
- Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (Order No. 42), Ministry of Education of the PRC
- Service guide for issuing, extending, replacing and reissuing foreigners' residence permits, National Immigration Administration
Checked 11 October 2026.
This entry is an unofficial summary of the documents cited above. 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.