Study in China from Nepal and India

China student visa at a glance

Visa fee

NPR 4,644

INR 2,900

Source: in.china-embassy.gov.cn (opens the official website in a new tab)

Money to show a year

No fixed amount

Work in term

See guide

Work-study

Source: english.beijing.gov.cn (opens the official website in a new tab)

Stay after study

See guide

Working after graduation

Source: en.nia.gov.cn (opens the official website in a new tab)

Short answer: To study in China you apply for the X1 study visa (study over 180 days), converted to a residence permit for study after arrival. The main visa fee is INR 2,900 (about NPR 4,644). No fixed funds amount is published; you show enough to cover your study and living costs.

How much does it cost to study in China?

Two different kinds of money: fees you pay (gone once paid) and funds you show as evidence (they stay in your account). Never add them together.

What do I need for the China student visa?

Visa type

X1 for study of more than 180 days; X2 for study of 180 days or less. Source: en.nia.gov.cn (opens the official website in a new tab)

X1 documents

Admission letter from the Chinese institution, the 'Visa Application for Study in China' form (JW201 or JW202), and a Physical Examination Record for Foreigners, plus passport (6+ months valid, 2 blank pages) and 48×33 mm photos. Source: in.china-embassy.gov.cn (opens the official website in a new tab)

How to apply (India)India

Fill in the form online at consular.mfa.gov.cn/VISA/, then within 30 days of the approval email submit the passport and documents in person at the Embassy (New Delhi) or Consulate General (Mumbai) and pay on collection. Source: in.china-embassy.gov.cn (opens the official website in a new tab)

Jurisdiction (India)India

Maharashtra and Karnataka apply in Mumbai; all other states, including the Kolkata consular district for now, apply at the Embassy in New Delhi. Source: in.china-embassy.gov.cn (opens the official website in a new tab)

Fingerprints

X1 applicants who must get a residence permit after entry give fingerprints in person, unless under 14, over 70 or fingerprinted at the same mission within 5 years. Source: in.china-embassy.gov.cn (opens the official website in a new tab)

Visa processing

Regular 7 working days, express 4 working days, counted from the day after passport submission. Source: in.china-embassy.gov.cn (opens the official website in a new tab)

Residence permit

Apply at the local public-security exit-entry office within 30 days of entry with the school's letter on the study period and the admission letter; decision within 15 working days. Source: en.nia.gov.cn (opens the official website in a new tab)

Health certificate

A residence permit valid over 1 year requires a health certificate from the local health and quarantine authority or a county-level hospital. Source: en.nia.gov.cn (opens the official website in a new tab)

Insurance

International students must buy insurance within the school's deadline or they will not be enrolled. Source: english.beijing.gov.cn (opens the official website in a new tab)

Teaching language

Chinese is the basic teaching language in higher education; Chinese language and 'General Introduction of China' are compulsory courses, though approved programmes may be taught in a foreign language. Source: english.beijing.gov.cn (opens the official website in a new tab)

Can I work while studying in China?

Work-study

International students may take part in work-study programmes but may not take up employment or run a business. Source: english.beijing.gov.cn (opens the official website in a new tab)

Off-campus work or internship

Allowed only with university approval and an annotation of the location and duration on the student residence permit by the exit-entry authority. Source: en.nia.gov.cn (opens the official website in a new tab)

Penalty risk

Working outside the permitted scope or time limit counts as illegal employment under the Exit and Entry Administration Law. Source: en.nia.gov.cn (opens the official website in a new tab)

Can I stay and work after graduating?

Working after graduation

There is no general post-study work permit; working requires a work permit and a work-type residence permit. Source: en.nia.gov.cn (opens the official website in a new tab)

Start-up route

Graduates with a bachelor's degree or above from key Chinese universities engaged in innovation or start-ups may get a residence permit of 2–5 years. Source: en.nia.gov.cn (opens the official website in a new tab)

What is different for Nepali and Indian students?

What are the top universities in China?

Compare universities across countries

What do Nepali and Indian students study in China?

The most-studied fields, from official enrolment statistics.

What has changed recently?

1. 26 Dec 2025

   Chinese Embassy in Nepal extended its reduced visa fees (NPR 0 regular for Nepali passports) to 31 Dec 2026. Source: np.china-embassy.gov.cn (opens the official website in a new tab)

2. 24 Jun 2026

   MOE approved 43 universities for English-taught MBBS in 2026–27 (44 in 2023–24; Shanghai Jiao Tong added, China Three Gorges and North Sichuan Medical College not listed). Source: eoibeijing.gov.in (opens the official website in a new tab)

3. 21 Oct 2026

   New consular fee schedule in India: single-entry visa Rs 2,900 for Indian passports. Source: in.china-embassy.gov.cn (opens the official website in a new tab)

4. 26 Oct 2026

   Chinese Embassy New Delhi and Consulate General Mumbai start accepting visa applications directly (online pre-review, then in-person submission). Source: in.china-embassy.gov.cn (opens the official website in a new tab)

Check these yourself

We could not confirm these on an official page when we last checked, so we do not state them as facts.

• Weekly hour limits for on-campus/off-campus work-study.
• Minimum funds to show for an X1 visa.
• Chinese Government Scholarship amounts and 2027 deadlines.
• The X1 document list for applicants in Nepal — check with the Chinese Embassy in Kathmandu.
• Nepal Medical Council eligibility/licensing-exam rules for China MBBS graduates.
• Nepal Medical Education Commission eligibility certificate for studying medicine abroad.
• Whether the HSK-4 and Chinese-licence guidance in the 2022 Indian Embassy advisory is still current.
• MOE-approved MBBS intake quota per university for 2026–27.
• Tuition and living costs — set by each university.

Official sources for China

Government and official pages we use for this guide, checked 22 Oct 2026.

1. 1National Immigration Administration – residence permit service guideimmigration_authority · 30-day rule, study permit docs, fees CNY 400/800/1,000, off-campus work annotation
2. 2NIA – Exit and Entry Administration Lawlaw · Art. 30 (30 days), Art. 41–43 (work)
3. 3NIA – Regulations on Administration of Entry and Exit of Foreignerslaw · X1/X2 definitions; Art. 22 off-campus work-study
4. 4Chinese Embassy in India – Notice on Chinese Visa Applicationstudent_visa · Online form + in-person; X1 documents (image table); processing
5. 5Chinese Embassy in India – direct acceptance of visa applicationschange · Direct acceptance from 26 Oct 2026
6. 6Chinese Embassy in India – schedule of feesfee · Rs 2,900 single entry (Indian passports); Rs 2,000 third-country
7. 7Chinese Consulate General Mumbai – visastudent_visa · Mumbai jurisdiction (Maharashtra, Karnataka)
8. 8Chinese Embassy in Nepal – visa fee noticeembassy_nepal · NPR 0 regular fee for Nepali passports to 31 Dec 2026
9. 9Chinese Embassy in Nepal – Kathmandu visa centre visitembassy_nepal · Existence of Kathmandu Chinese Visa Application Service Center
10. 10Order No. 42 – Administrative Measures for Enrollment and Cultivation of International Students (Beijing Gov English)work · Work-study (Art. 30), insurance (Art. 40), X1 (Art. 35), residence (Art. 36)
11. 11MOE note (2026) No. 65 – 43 universities for English-taught MBBS 2026–27 (via Embassy of India Beijing)recognition · Approved MBBS list
12. 12MOE notice 教外厅函〔2023〕10号 – 44 universities 2023–24 (Beijing Education Commission copy)recognition · Rule: non-listed universities cannot enrol English MBBS
13. 13Embassy of India Beijing – advisories indexadvisory · Student/MBBS advisories
14. 14Embassy of India Beijing – advisory for Indian students (MBBS)advisory · HSK-4, Chinese licence, NEET
15. 15NMC – FAQs on FMGL Regulations 2021regulator_india · 54 months, 12-month internship same institution, English, licence