Interning in China? Important Visa Advisory for Foreign Students
As we are a non-profit organization in Shanghai, also focusing on students-to-business exchanges, we feel compelled to issue a warning about recent information circulating regarding internship visas. Many articles and official accounts present the S2 visa (short-term private affairs visa with an “internship” annotation) as a viable option for foreign students. We found that such information often shared on various channels is usually incomplete and potentially misleading. In this advisory, we will clarify the official rules from China’s Exit-Entry Bureau and explain why our Chamber in Shanghai strongly advises a different, safer approach for Benelux students seeking internships in China.
Common Misconceptions Echoed in Articles
The S2 visa with internship remark is often being named, but writers often omit critical details:
The S2 internship visa is not open to all foreign students. Articles mention it’s “only on some universities listed. Not all foreign university students are eligible to apply”. In practice, Chinese authorities maintain an internal list of approved and recognized overseas universities whose students can be considered for this internship visa. If your university isn’t on that list, you cannot use the S2 internship visa route. Unfortunately, many articles don't explain how to verify if a university is on the list, leaving students in the dark.
The tone of certain articles may leave some readers with the impression that obtaining an S2 internship visa is straightforward if you meet the basic criteria. In reality, approval is never guaranteed. Each application is reviewed case-by-case by Chinese immigration officials, and many factors (university reputation, company credentials, company background check, etc.) come into play. We have confirmed through direct communication with the Shanghai Exit-Entry Bureau that this visa is not guaranteed and should not be advertised as such. By not emphasizing the uncertainty, artiles or visa agents may give false hope to students.
Crucially, many articles fail to highlight that an S2 internship visa cannot be obtained through Chinese embassies or consulates in your home country. You must be in China to get this visa. Some articles briefly note that foreign students should “enter China” first and then switch to S2, but it doesn’t spell out the risks. Students reading this piece might not realize this means traveling to China without an internship visa in hand, which can be risky. Writers often don't describe the special application that needs to happen within China, so uninformed readers could be left with an incomplete picture.
Official Exit-Entry Bureau Rules for the S2 Internship Visa!
According to official Chinese immigration policy, foreign students enrolled at overseas universities who are invited to intern in China can indeed utilize an S2 visa with an “internship” annotation, but only under strict conditions and procedures:
This S2 internship visa is part of a pilot policy limited to certain regions (e.g. Shanghai, Beijing’s Zhongguancun tech hub, and the Guangdong Free Trade Zone). Businesses in these areas are permitted to host foreign interns on S2 visas. Outside of these regions, such arrangements are generally not available. Students and companies elsewhere should not assume an internship S2 visa is possible for them without explicit confirmation from local authorities.
You cannot apply for an S2 “internship” visa at a Chinese embassy/consulate before departure, the process must be handled inside China by the local Exit-Entry Administration. In Shanghai’s case, the inviting company has to apply on the student’s behalf to the Shanghai Port Visa Authority (immigration office at the port of entry). Only if that application is approved will the student be issued the S2 visa upon arrival in Shanghai. This was illustrated by an example where a student tried to get an S2 internship visa at a Chinese consulate (in Manila) and was flatly rejected – the consular staff had “no knowledge of this policy” because it’s handled within China, not through embassies. In short, you must either enter China visa-free or on a different visa and then apply to convert to the S2 internship visa after arrival. This inherently carries risk. We have also checked this information ourselves with the Chinese Embassies in Belgium and the Netherlands, who have confirmed this.
Even within approved regions, the S2 internship visa requires multiple supporting documents and is subject to official scrutiny. The host company in China must provide an internship invitation, an internship agreement or contract, a letter of financial guarantee, copies of its business license, and proof of the student’s enrollment at their overseas university. The immigration authorities then decide whether to issue the visa. There is no 100% guarantee, some applications can be denied if any requirement isn’t met to the authorities’ satisfaction. The visa’s validity is short-term (maximum 180 days, single-entry, tied to the internship’s duration) and it cannot be extended beyond that project end date in most cases. Furthermore, policy details have evolved over the years and can be inconsistent; Chinese visa rules are known to change frequently, so what worked for one person may not work later. The official advice is to always consult the local Exit-Entry Bureau for the latest requirements.
Because you cannot get this visa in advance, a student must travel to China essentially on faith – either using a short-term visa-free entry/transit or on a tourist visa – and then hope to secure the internship S2 visa in-country. If the application is rejected, the student could find themselves in China unable to legally intern (and possibly required to depart when their initial entry permit expires). This uncertainty and risk are significant. We have encountered cases where students arrived expecting to get the internship visa, only to be told they were ineligible due to their university not being recognized, or other bureaucratic issues. This is why we are urging extreme caution while opting for the S2 visa.
In summary, the S2 internship visa route is real but restricted. It is not a straightforward, guaranteed pathway for everyone. Official accounts publishing this information, by not detailing these constraints, could mislead students into precarious situations.
Recommended Safe Route: X1 Student Visa + Internship Endorsement
For students from the Benelux (or anywhere) who wish to intern in China, our Chamber strongly recommends pursuing a legal internship via an X1 student visa, rather than gambling on the S2 internship visa. This approach involves a partnership with a legitimate educational institution in China and offers far more certainty:
Work with a local Chinese university or educational partner that is licensed to host foreign students. The student can enroll in a study program (for example, language courses or exchange programs) which qualifies them for an X1 visa (the long-term student visa). The Benelux Chamber has longstanding relationships with such accredited institutions in Shanghai and can guide students to reliable partners.
With an official admission notice from the Chinese institution, the student can apply for an X1 visa at the Chinese embassy/consulate in their home country before traveling. This means you arrive in China with a proper visa in hand, avoiding the uncertainty of the S2 route. Upon arrival, X1 visa holders convert their visa into a residence permit for the duration of their studies (usually valid for 6-12 months or more, depending on the program).
Chinese regulations allow foreign students on an X1 visa to participate in off-campus internships, but only with official permission noted on their residence permit. The process is straightforward: the student obtains an internship approval letter from their Chinese university (the host institution must approve the internship, ensuring it is related to the student’s field of study) and then applies at the local Exit-Entry Bureau to have an “off-campus internship” remark added to their residence permit. Once the residence permit is endorsed with the internship details (company name, internship role, and duration), the student is legally allowed to intern at the specified company during the permit’s validity.
This method allows students to secure all necessary visa permissions before starting the internship. It eliminates the need to gamble on a post-arrival visa application. The student can legally stay in China long-term, intern part-time or full-time as permitted, and even exit and re-enter China freely if their residence permit allows multiple entry. From our experience assisting Benelux students, this pathway is far more reliable. It leverages existing student visa frameworks that immigration officials are familiar with, thus avoiding surprises. In fact, the X1 + internship endorsement route is the “most well-known method” for hiring foreign interns in China, and it’s the one we have used successfully for many internship placements over the years.
Implementing this approach might seem complex, but that’s where organizations like the Benelux Chamber and our educational partners come in. We help coordinate with the university, ensure all paperwork (enrollment, visa documents, internship agreements) is in order, and guide the student through the application steps. The goal is to make sure the student arrives in China fully authorized to both study and intern, with minimal risk of any visa issues.
Conclusion and Further Advice
To all students from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg (and our partner universities) considering internships in China: be very cautious about information that sounds too good to be true. Some online articles, while well-intentioned, do not fully reflect the realities of China’s visa rules for interns. There is no “magic” internship visa that you can simply obtain by showing an invitation letter at the embassy – the S2 internship visa is a special case, processed inside China with strict limitations. Attempting to use that route without thorough preparation can lead to wasted money, time, and a great deal of stress if things go wrong.
Instead, we urge students and academic partners to follow the established, legal route via an X1 student visa and internship permit. This may involve more upfront coordination, but it ensures that you have your visa status sorted out before you land in China, and it provides a legal framework for your internship from day one. It’s simply not worth the risk to “fly in visa-free” hoping for an on-the-spot internship visa approval , the rules do not guarantee it, and you could be left stranded or forced to leave China if denied.
At the Benelux Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, we have extensive experience helping young professionals and students find internships and navigate these visa procedures. We are happy to advise any prospective intern or university on the proper steps. Our priority is the safety, legality, and success of your China experience.
Bottom line: Don’t rely on incomplete information. Always cross-check with official sources or consult with experienced organizations when it comes to China visas. We want your internship in China to be a rewarding experience, not a cautionary tale. Stay informed, choose the safe path, and you’ll set yourself up for a successful internship without immigration troubles.
Sources:
Official Shanghai Exit-Entry Bureau & National Immigration Administration guidelines; China Briefing legal analysis on hiring interns.
How to Hire a Foreign Intern in China - China Briefing News
https://www.china-briefing.com/news/how-to-hire-foreign-intern-china/
咨询建议
https://www.nia.gov.cn/Enquiry/publish/showQuestion.jsp?MZ=tXhSnYWGvP6Iok8kVzENAA%3D%3D
留学交大
https://isc.sjtu.edu.cn/cn/show.aspx?info_lb=68&info_id=802&flag=68
Emails with the Embassy of the PRC in Belgium and The Netherlands
123567 Exit Entry Bureau Hotline