Residence permit for master's and PhD students: 30 days to apply, validity tied to your term of study

If your visa says you must apply for a residence permit after entry, you must apply within 30 days of your entry date. You apply to the exit-entry administration of the public security organ in the place where you plan to live. The permit may run for the study period your university states in its letter.

This page is an unofficial summary. The Chinese texts of Order No. 42 and the National Immigration Administration service guide are rendered into English here by this site, so the English wording is this site's own translation.

The 30-day rule

Article 30 of the Exit and Entry Administration Law states that a foreigner whose visa specifies a residence permit application after entry must apply within 30 days from the date of entry. The application goes to the exit-entry administration of the public security organ under the local people's government at or above the county level in the proposed place of residence.

Order No. 42, Article 36 says the same for international students whose study visa states that a residence permit is needed after entry. It must be applied for within 30 days of entry, to the exit-entry administration in the proposed place of residence, for a study-type residence permit.

Neither Article 30 of the Law nor Article 36 of Order No. 42 states a consequence for applying after day 30.

What to submit

Article 16 of the Regulations on the Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners lists the core items. You submit your passport or other international travel document, qualified photos, and material relating to the purpose of your application. You go through the formalities in person and provide biometric information, such as fingerprints.

For a study permit, item (2) of Article 16 requires a letter stating the duration of study, issued by the admission institution. Section 6.2, item 2 of the National Immigration Administration service guide adds that a student entering on an X1 visa submits a letter from the school stating the study period, plus proof of admission or enrolment. If those materials are already registered in the national system for international student management, paper copies may be waived.

Section 6.2, item 2 of the guide also says the permit may be issued for a period consistent with the study period the university states.

Health certificate

Article 16 of the Regulations says a foreigner applying for a residence permit valid for more than one year must submit a health certificate. The guide, section 6.2 part (2), uses the wording 有效期1年以上, which means one year or more. The English text of Article 16 reads "more than 1 year". Check the current notice of the authority handling your case if you are unsure which applies to your permit.

Under Article 16 of the Regulations, a health certificate is valid for six months from its date of issue.

The guide says the certificate comes from the local health quarantine department or a county-level or higher health medical department. It must confirm that the applicant has no serious mental disorder, no infectious pulmonary tuberculosis, and no other infectious disease that could seriously harm public health.

How long the permit lasts

Article 30 of the Law says the exit-entry administration issues the appropriate type of permit with a duration based on the purpose of residence. It sets the range for work-type permits at 90 days minimum and five years maximum. It sets the range for non-work-type permits at 180 days minimum and five years maximum.

Article 30 does not name the study-type permit within those ranges. Article 15(2) of the Regulations says the study-type permit is issued to persons who pursue long-term studies in China. Section 6.2, item 2 of the guide links the permit period to the university's stated study period.

Working part-time or during an internship

The section headed "b. Student-type Residence Permit" in the English service guide says that a student permit holder who wants to work part-time or do an internship outside the university needs the university's approval. The holder then applies to the exit-entry departments for a remark on the permit that states the location and duration of the job or internship. Without that remark, the holder may not work or do an internship outside the university.

Steps after landing

1. Check that your visa states that a residence permit is needed after entry.
2. Count 30 days from your entry date.
3. Get the letter from your university stating your study period.
4. Get your admission or enrolment proof, unless it is already registered in the national system.
5. Prepare your passport, photos and purpose-of-stay materials.
6. If your permit will be valid for one year or more, get a health certificate.
7. Go in person to the exit-entry administration of the public security organ at county level or above where you will live.
8. Provide your fingerprints.
9. Expect a decision within 15 days of receipt (Article 30 of the Law).

Article 16 of the Regulations does not state a time limit for the decision. None of the provisions quoted here names a fee for this application.

Questions people ask

Does the 30-day deadline apply to PhD students as well as master's students?

Order No. 42, Article 36 refers to international students whose study visa states that a residence permit is needed after entry. Article 30 of the Law applies to foreigners in general. Both provisions as quoted here apply to degree students who enter on a study visa that requires a permit after entry.

Can the permit run for the whole length of my programme?

Section 6.2, item 2 of the guide says a residence permit may be issued for a period consistent with the study period the university states. Article 30 of the Law gives the duration ranges. Your permit period depends on the university's stated study period and the authority's decision.

Is a health certificate always needed?

Article 16 of the Regulations requires one for a permit valid for more than one year. The guide describes it as required for a permit valid for one year or more. Check the current notice of your handling authority.

Sources

• Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (Order No. 42), Ministry of Education of the PRC
• Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China, National Immigration Administration
• Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners, National Immigration Administration
• Service guide for issuing, extending, replacing and reissuing foreigners' residence permits (Chinese), National Immigration Administration
• Service Guide on residence permits for foreigners (English), National Immigration Administration

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, CHSI or any university, and it is not legal advice. The official text and the current notice of the university or authority handling your case prevail if they differ.