Family visiting a language student: S1 and S2 in brief
Under Article 6(10) of the Regulations on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (State Council Decree No. 637), the S1 visa is for long-term visits by the spouses, parents, children under 18 and parents-in-law of a foreigner who is in China for work, study or other purposes. The S2 visa is for short-term visits by the family members of such a foreigner. Article 36(4) and (5) define short-term as up to 180 days and long-term as more than 180 days.
See also X1 or X2 on this site.
Who each visa covers
Article 6(10) gives the S1 visa for a long-term visit to China by:
- spouses
- parents
- children under the age of 18
- parents-in-law
It also gives the S1 visa to persons who need to reside in China for other personal matters.
For the S2 visa, Article 6(10) refers to "family members" of a foreigner who is staying or residing in China for work, study or other purposes. It does not list the family members by name. It also gives the S2 visa to persons who need to stay in China for other personal matters.
| S1 (Article 6(10)) | S2 (Article 6(10)) | |
|---|---|---|
| Length of visit | Long-term visit (more than 180 days, Article 36(5)) | Short-term visit (180 days or less, Article 36(4)) |
| Family members named | Spouses, parents, children under the age of 18, parents-in-law | "Family members" of the foreigner; Article 6(10) does not list them |
| Other personal matters | Persons who need to reside in China | Persons who need to stay in China |
Documents under Article 7(10)
Article 7(10) sets the same documents for the S1 and the S2 visa. The applicant shall, as required, submit:
- the invitation letter from the foreigner who is staying or residing in China for work, study or other purposes
- proof of family relationship, or
- the certification documents required for dealing with personal matters in China
What the Embassy in the United Kingdom lists
The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United Kingdom publishes its own document lists for each visa. The lists below are that embassy's statement. The page says the requirements of other missions may differ.
For the S1 visa, the embassy lists:
- An invitation letter from a foreigner who stays or resides in China for work or studies.
- A photocopy of the inviter's passport and residence permit.
- 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.
The embassy 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 an S1 visa shall, within 30 days from the date of entry, apply to the exit/entry administration of the local public security bureau in the proposed place of residence for a residence permit.
For the S2 visa, the embassy lists:
- An invitation letter from a foreigner who stays or resides in China for work or studies.
- A photocopy of the inviter's passport and residence permit.
- A photocopy of certification (marriage certificate, birth certificate or notarized certification of kinship) showing the relationship of family members.
The embassy defines "family members" for the S2 visa as spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law. This list is wider than the S1 list. Article 6(10) does not contain it.
For personal matters, the embassy page lists further documents for medical treatment, estate inheritance, litigation and property ownership.
Length of stay
Article 36(3) defines the duration of stay as the period the visa holder is allowed to stay in China after each entry. It begins from the next day of entry. Article 36(2) states that, unless the issuing authority specifies otherwise, a visa is valid from the date of issuance until Beijing time 24:00 on the expiring day.
Sources
- Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (National Immigration Administration)
- Embassy of the PRC in the United Kingdom: Part Two, How to Apply for a Visa for China (Mainland only) (Ministry of Foreign Affairs mission)
Checked 11 October 2026.
This page is an unofficial summary. It is not legal or immigration advice, it is not published by the bodies named, and the official text and the instructions of the body handling your case prevail if they differ.