China Student Visa Fees for Indians (2026, in Rupees)

China has two student visas: X1 for study of more than 180 days and X2 for study of up to 180 days. Neither carries its own fee. This page lists every rupee charge an Indian student meets, as published on the official sources, checked on 15 October 2026. For tourist, business and work visas, see our China visa guide for Indians.

What does an X1 or X2 visa cost in total?

Your bill has up to three parts: the visa fee set by the Embassy, an optional express or urgent fee, and the Visa Center service fee.

A student on regular service with a single-entry visa therefore pays two items: Rs 2,900 to the Embassy and Rs 2,152 to the Visa Center. Express service costs Rs 3,172 at the Visa Center, and the Embassy lists its own express fee of Rs 1,800 per application. The Embassy also says VIP service is a third-party service of the Visa Center and is not related to visa issuance or processing time.

Does an X1 visa cost more than an X2?

No. The Embassy's fee notice has one table for Indian passport holders, set by the number of entries rather than the visa type. No separate student fee is published, and the Embassy's FAQ gives the same rupee fees for Indian citizens in general.

What changes the price is the number of entries, and that is the visa officer's decision. First-time applicants are generally issued a single-entry visa. A student who already holds a Chinese visa from the past five years can ask for more entries. X1 holders whose visa requires it then apply for a study residence permit within 30 days of arrival, and that permit, not the visa, governs a long course.

When and how do you pay each charge?

1. Service fee first, online. Since the online system began in December 2025, you pay the service fee through VFS Global's 'China Logistic Fee' pages before you submit the online form. VFS lists INR 1823.73 for normal and INR 2688.14 for express, with taxes added on top, which gives the Rs 2,152 and Rs 3,172 totals. The service type cannot be changed later.
2. Visa fee later, in person. After the status shows 'online review completed', you take your passport to the Visa Center and pay the visa fee there: cash or demand draft in New Delhi, cash only in Mumbai and Kolkata. Online payment of the visa fee is not available.

The service fee is adjusted every quarter with the USD-INR exchange rate, so recheck it on the centre's fee page just before you pay.

What happens to your money if the visa is refused?

The Embassy's FAQ (May 2025) says that if an application is rejected, no visa fee or express fee is charged, and both are refunded through the Visa Center. The centre's service fees are non-refundable. If you need your passport back urgently during processing, you can submit a withdrawal letter with the reason through the Visa Center; once the Embassy approves it, the passport and Embassy fees are returned.

Which documents and steps sit behind the fee?

• Original and photocopy of the Admission Letter from your school or university in China.
• Photocopy of the 'Visa Application for Study in China' form, JW201 or JW202.
• Passport valid for at least 6 months with 2 or more blank visa pages, plus two colour photos of 48mm x 33mm.
• An interview at the Embassy for New Delhi-jurisdiction applicants, or at the Consulate General in Mumbai or Kolkata if you are informed.
• Fingerprints for X1 visas. Short-term visas of up to 180 days are exempt from fingerprinting until 31 December 2026.

The Embassy's checklist sets no bank-balance figure for X1 or X2 visas. The INR 1 lakh savings rule applies only to tourist (L) visas.

How long before you can collect the visa?

No separate student processing period is published. For qualified applications the Embassy's usual period is 4 working days regular or 3 working days express, but the interview can add time. Apply through the centre for your state: Mumbai covers Maharashtra and Karnataka; Kolkata covers Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal; New Delhi covers every other state and union territory.

When your admission letter arrives and you need a flight reservation or itinerary for travel planning, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, itineraries and cover letters. Packages run from INR 1,000 for a flight reservation to INR 3,000 for all four. WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or use our contact page.

Frequently asked questions

Will the reduced China visa fees still apply in 2027?

The Embassy's notice of 4 January 2026 extends the reduced fees until 31 December 2026. Check the Embassy's visa notices for any announcement covering applications after that date.

Do I need to show a bank balance for a China student visa?

No figure is set for X1 or X2 visas in the Embassy's checklist. The requirement of a consistent INR 1 lakh monthly balance applies only to tourist (L) visa applicants.

Is the Visa Center service fee the same in Mumbai and Kolkata?

Yes for the main service: Rs 2,152 regular and Rs 3,172 express on the New Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata fee pages. Optional postal service differs: Rs 1,020 in New Delhi and Kolkata, Rs 3,172 on the Mumbai page.

Can I work part-time on a Chinese student visa?

Only after the school and the host organisation approve it and the approval is recorded on your residence permit as an 'Internship' annotation. Off-campus work without it is not allowed.