Visas, permits, and documents
Work and study visas, police registration, health checks, and residence compliance.
Countries · Student guide
China: guide to moving and studying
Complete guide for international students in China: bureaucracy, housing, budget, healthcare, work, and finance.
Updated on 24 May 2026
Cost of living
Medium
Typical spending band for a student
Language
Chinese
Main language to handle day to day
Currency
CNY
Local currency for banking and payments
Entry
Visa for all
Required with an EU passport too; check exemptions for short courses
The 6 guides
Everything about China, in 6 guides
One guide for each concrete need, from visas to housing: start with the one you need now.
How to find housing and sign a lease
Platforms, leases, deposits, and how tenancy ties to police registration.
Cost of living and monthly budget
Banking and UnionPay, Alipay/WeChat Pay, FX compliance, IIT basics, and cautious use of money-market balances.
Healthcare and health insurance
Public vs international hospitals, insurance, and emergency numbers.
First days: phone, banking, and transport
Alipay, groceries, transport, and apps you will use every day.
Student work and local employment rules
Work permits, typical contracts, IIT tax, and expat-friendly sectors.
Start here
What to do first for China
Resolve the decisions that can block your move before comparing cities or reading every detail.
Check entry, visa, and document rules Start with eligibility, deadlines, and official procedures for your situation. Check the lease and upfront housing costs Understand deposits, guarantees, contracts, and student housing before paying. Arrange healthcare before arrival Confirm insurance, enrollment rules, and where to get help once you arrive.
Your checklist
Before departure and after arrival in China
Use this as an order of work, then open the linked guide before acting on a legal or financial requirement.
Plan your money
China: cost of living, rent, and monthly budget
Start with housing, food, transport, healthcare, and setup costs. Treat estimates as planning ranges and verify local prices before committing.
Cities and neighborhoods
Where to live in China: student cities and costs
Neighborhoods, rent, universities, transport and safety: everything you need to choose where to move.
Shanghai
- from 2,800 CNYroom/month
- 5universities
Shanghai, the economic capital and the most international of Chinese cities, combines the futuristic skyline of Pudong with the Art Deco charm of the French Concession. It is home to leading universities (Fudan, Jiao Tong, Tongji, NYU Shanghai) and the largest subway network in the world. It is cosmopolitan, lively and relatively open to foreigners, but it is also the most expensive city in China.
Open city guidePechino- from 2,500 CNYroom/month
- 5universities
Beijing, the capital of China, is the political, cultural and academic heart of the country: it is home to Tsinghua and Peking University, the two best Chinese universities, as well as a huge tech ecosystem and a thousand-year history (Forbidden City, hutong). It's safe, with a giant, cheap subway; the challenges for those arriving are language, visa bureaucracy and some digital restrictions.
Open city guideShenzhen- from 2,000 CNYroom/month
- 5universities
Shenzhen, China's tech megacity that has grown in forty years from a fishing village to a metropolis of innovation, is the youngest and most dynamic in the country. Alongside Hong Kong, it is the capital of start-ups and hardware (Tencent, Huawei, DJI, BYD), with rapidly rising universities (SUSTech, CUHK-Shenzhen). Extremely modern and full of opportunities, it however has some of the highest real estate prices in China.
Open city guideHangzhou- from 1,800 CNYroom/month
- 5universities
Hangzhou, the capital of Chinese e-commerce (headquarters of Alibaba) and the city of the famous West Lake, a UNESCO heritage site, is among the most livable and green in China. It is home to Zhejiang University, among the best in the country, and a thriving tech ecosystem. It combines scenic beauty, quality of life and a lower cost of living than Beijing or Shanghai.
Open city guideChengdu- from 1,100 CNYroom/month
- 5universities
Chengdu, capital of Sichuan and city of pandas, is one of the most livable and relaxed in China: famous for spicy cuisine, teahouses and a "slow" pace of life, it combines one of the lowest costs of living in large cities with a growing tech industry (gaming, aerospace). It is home to Sichuan University and attracts more and more young people and digital nomads.
Open city guideLocal context
China: what really changes
Use the destination-specific notes to understand trade-offs, common mistakes, and local differences.
Overview
In China, digital life is the system: WeChat, Alipay, local apps and police registration count as much as a visa. Shanghai and Beijing are expensive; secondary university cities more accessible, but the language barrier and implicit rules weigh on them.
What really changes here
Ideal if…
- Students of Chinese, business, engineering with a structured program
- Those who have campus housing or university assistance for permits
- Strong cultural curiosity and openness to learning Mandarin
- Budget for deposit and upfront insurance
Harder if…
- Zero Mandarin and aspects of life only in English off campus
- You don't want to use WeChat/Alipay for everything
- Looking for last-minute rental without local guarantor
- You expect free internet like in the EU
Mistakes to avoid
- Stay on a tourist visa while you study
- Not registering address within deadlines
- Sign contract in Chinese without translation
- Ignore campus policies on VPN and data
Verification
Official sources and last update
Legal and administrative details are kept in the relevant guide so they are not copied out of context.
Where to verify the information
Each topic guide links to the competent official authorities. Always check the rule that applies to your citizenship, residence, purpose, and length of stay.
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