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S1 visa: the long-term private-visit visa for family of people studying or working in China

Unofficial entry · Sources checked

The S1 visa (S1字签证) is the visa that Article 6(10) of the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners provides for family members of foreigners who apply for a long-term visit to China. The same provision also covers persons who need to reside in China for other personal matters. This entry is part of the Visas and residence section.

Definition

Under Article 6(10) of the Regulations, the S1 visa is issued to:

  • spouses of foreigners residing in China for work, study or other purposes who apply for a long-term visit to China;
  • parents of such foreigners;
  • children under the age of 18 of such foreigners;
  • parents-in-law of such foreigners; and
  • persons who need to reside in China for other personal matters.

Article 36(5) of the same Regulations defines "long-term or resident" as residing in China for a period exceeding 180 days.

The S2 visa under the same Article 6(10) is for family members of foreigners staying or residing in China for work, study or other purposes who apply for a short-term visit, and for persons who need to stay in China for other personal matters.

What the official text says

Regulations, Article 7(10)

Article 7(10) states that an applicant for the S1 or S2 visa shall, as required, submit either:

  • the invitation letter provided by the foreigner staying or residing in China for work, study or other purposes, together with proof of family relationship; or
  • the certification documents required for dealing with personal matters in China.

Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United Kingdom

The Embassy's page "Part Two: How to Apply for a Visa for China (Mainland only)" is the Embassy's own statement and covers its own visa process. Its S1 list has three items:

  1. an invitation letter from a foreigner who stays or resides in China for work or studies;
  2. a photocopy of the inviter's passport and residence permit;
  3. original certification (marriage certificate, birth certificate, certification of kinship issued by the Public Security Bureau, or notarized certification of kinship) showing the relationship of immediate family members between the inviter and the invitee.

The page defines "immediate family members" as spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18, and parents-in-law.

The page also states that holders of the S1 visa shall, within 30 days from the date of their entry, apply to the exit/entry administration of the local public security bureau in the proposed place of residence for a residence permit.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Visa Application Instructions

The Ministry's instructions, published on China Consular Services, list the following for the S1 visa:

  1. An invitation letter from the inviting individual, a foreigner who stays or resides in China for work or studies. The letter must contain: - the invited person's personal information: name, gender, date of birth, etc.; - information about the visit: reason for coming to China, intended date of arrival, intended place of residence, intended duration of residence, relationship with the inviting individual, who will pay for the travel, etc.; - information about the inviting individual: name, phone number, address, signature, etc.
  2. Photocopies of the inviting individual's passport bio-page and residence permit.
  3. The original and a photocopy of certification showing the kinship between the applicant and the inviting individual (spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18, parents-in-law). Examples given are a marriage certificate, a birth certificate, a kinship certification issued by the public security police station, and a notarized kinship certificate, etc.

The instructions state, under "Please note," that the holder must, within 30 days of entering China, apply for a residence permit at the exit-entry administration of the public security bureau of the people's government at or above the county level of the intended place of residence.

The Embassy page names "Public Security Bureau" as the issuer of kinship certification. The Ministry's instructions name the "public security police station." These are the wordings of the two bodies, and the handling mission sets its own requirements for an application.

National Immigration Administration, residence permit service guide

The guide's item 5, under the personal-matters category, is printed in Chinese. The English below is this site's translation of that Chinese text.

  • A holder of an S1 visa who enters for private affairs and visits relatives shall submit a letter from the person being visited that states the relationship (spouses, parents, parents of the spouse, children under the age of 18) and the residence documents of that person.
  • A residence permit with a stay matching the stay of the visited person in China may be issued.
  • Other persons shall submit proof documents for dealing with personal matters.
  • A residence permit with a stay not exceeding one year may be issued.

Exit and Entry Administration Law, Article 30

This is a provision of the Exit and Entry Administration Law, not of the Regulations. Article 30 states that where a foreigner's visa specifies that the foreigner needs to apply for a residence permit after entry, the foreigner shall, within 30 days from the date of entry, apply to the exit/entry administration of the public security organ under the local people's government at or above the county level in the proposed place of residence.

Article 30 also states that applicants shall submit their passports or other international travel documents and provide biometric identification information such as fingerprints. The administration shall, within 15 days upon the date of receipt, conduct the examination and make a decision.

Related terms

Sources

Checked 11 October 2026.

This entry is an unofficial summary. It is not legal or immigration advice, and it is not published by the bodies named above. If the official text, or the instructions of the body handling your case, differ from this entry, the official text and those instructions prevail.

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