Apply for a Chinese S Visa — Visiting Foreign Relatives in China

The Chinese S Visa is designed for individuals who wish to visit foreign relatives residing in China due to work or study (who hold a residence permit). If your relatives are Chinese nationals, apply for a Q Visa instead.

The S Visa is primarily for visits longer than 60 days. For shorter durations, a Tourist Visa (L Visa) is more appropriate. Proof of first-degree kinship (parents, children, siblings, and their spouses) via birth and/or marriage certificates is required.

Key Details

Purpose	Visit foreign family members residing in China
Duration of Stay	S2: 30–180 days · S1: up to 2 years
Number of Entries	Single, double, or multiple (S1: initially single, convertible via residence permit)
Validity Period	90 days from issuance; 6–12 months for multiple entries

S1 vs S2 Visa

S2 Visa: Suitable for stays up to 180 days.

S1 Visa: Convertible into a residence permit upon arrival, enabling visa-free re-entry and exit for up to three years.

Apply for Chinese Visa

Required Documents

Completed Visa Application Form: Online only (since May 2019).
Biometric Passport Photo: Colour, light background, ~3.5 × 4.5 cm.
Passport: At least 6 months validity, one blank page (two for multiple entries).
Proof of Kinship: Copies of birth and/or marriage certificates. For residence permit conversion in China, originals or Chinese-consulate-authenticated copies required within 30 days of entry.
Formal Private Invitation: From your relative in China — full address, contact number, name, intended period of stay, and birthdate. Signed by the host with two copies of their passport ID page and valid visa or residence permit.

About the Private Invitation

A private invitation can be issued for a single visit of up to 180 days or multiple visits of 30 or 60 days each. It is issued and scanned in China, then emailed to the applicant — no original required. We can provide a template for a formally correct private invitation upon request, available in English or Chinese. order a template for an invitation

Validity: S2 Visa (Short-term)

The S2 Visa permits entry into China for 90 days from issuance and is valid for stays of 90 or 180 days. A one-time extension is possible via the Chinese police, at their discretion — not guaranteed.

Validity: S1 Visa (Long-term)

The S1 Visa allows entry within 90 days of issuance for an initial 30-day stay. Applicants must apply for a residence permit at the local registration office by the 30th day — valid for at least one year (up to three years), allowing multiple entries and stays throughout its validity. Authenticated birth and/or marriage certificates must be presented when applying for the residence permit.

Apply for Chinese Visa