September's Ordinance 443 distinguishes adult study/research and specified international-programme D3 from qualifying minor-study D6. A school offer does not by itself establish entry or residence permission.
Route overview
Adult study D3 / qualifying minor-study D6; separate residence stage
Typical timeline / duration: D3 visa: 90 days; D6 visa: one year, subject to the study/family basis and continuation rules. Residence permission is separate.
Important notes
D3 covers adult study/research at authorised institutions and specified international study programmes. D6 covers qualifying minors in authorised higher/vocational or general education; confirm the age and programme basis.
D6 family applications can accompany or follow the minor's application; the minor must hold or concurrently receive D6 and normally remain a minor at the decision. School-continuation and family rules have specific exceptions, not a general visa for every student's relatives.
For adult study residence, SDA requires passport, lawful-stay proof, school certificate with anticipated study duration, legal income or bank resources covering at least twice the current subsistence minimum per permit month, photo and fee receipt.
The visa's current document list is separate from the residence checklist. Ordinance 443 requires long-stay travel insurance throughout visa validity except D5; apply the actual D3/D6 instructions.
Ordinance 443 is dated 8 September 2026, takes effect on publication and applies to relations arising from 1 September. D6 has one-year visa validity; D3 has 90-day long-stay visa validity. These are visa periods, not guaranteed residence-card duration.
Higher/vocational minor study and accompanying-family grounds generally end with majority; general-school continuation has its stated completion exception. Suspension, termination or completion of study may end D6 and linked family visas; do not assume unconditional renewal.
SDA normally requires ordinary work/study residence filings at least 40 calendar days before lawful stay expires, with specific exceptions. China's ordinary-passport short visit is not a one-year stay and should not be used as an assumed in-country conversion plan.
Study admission or D6 accompanying-family status does not by itself authorise local employment.
Preparation checklist
Confirm the institution's authorisation and whether age/programme fits D3 or D6.
Obtain the current consular visa list, passport and study/admission evidence.
Arrange travel insurance for the requested visa's full validity.
For eligible D6 family, gather kinship/guardianship and the minor's visa/age evidence.
For adult residence, obtain the school-duration certificate and calculate resources for the requested months.
Plan application timing before travel and review renewal/age/study-status changes with the authority.