China S1 visa: joining a family member who works or studies in China

2026-10-11

The S1 visa is for spouses, parents, children under 18 and parents-in-law of a foreigner who lives in China for work, study or other purposes, with an intended stay over 180 days. It requires an invitation letter, copies of the inviting person's passport and residence permit, and proof of kinship.

An S1 visa is for a spouse, parent, son or daughter under the age of 18, or parent-in-law of a foreigner who resides in China for work, study or other purposes. It is also for a person who needs to reside in China for other private affairs. The category table in the Visa Application Instructions describes the S1 class as one whose intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days. The application rests on an invitation letter from the foreigner in China, copies of that foreigner's passport bio-page and residence permit, and the original and a copy of a document proving the family relationship.

Who the S1 class covers

The Regulations set out the class in Article 6, item (10):

"The S1 visa is issued to the spouses, parents, children under the age of 18 or parents-in-law of foreigners residing in China for work, study or other purposes who apply for a long-term visit to China, as well as for persons who need to reside in China for other personal matters"

The S1 row of the category table in the Visa Application Instructions reads: "Issued to those who intend to go to China to visit the foreigners residing in China for work, study or other purposes, to whom they are spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18 or parents-in-law, and to those who need to reside in China for other private affairs. The intended duration of stay in China exceeds 180 days."

Article 6, item (10) uses the phrase "long-term visit". The category table uses "exceeds 180 days". Each text is quoted separately here.

Documents in the S1 Visa section

The S1 Visa section of the Visa Application Instructions begins: "The following documents are required:"

An invitation letter from the inviting individual (a foreigner who stays or resides in China for work or studies). The invitation letter must contain the following information:
Personal information of the invited: name, gender, date of birth, etc.;
Information about the invited person's visit to China: 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 of the inviting individual: name, phone number, address, signature of the inviting individual, etc.
Photocopies of the inviting individual's passport bio-page and residence permit.
The original and a photocopy of certification (marriage certificate, birth certificate, kinship certification issued by the public security police station, notarized kinship certificate, etc.) showing the kinship (spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18, parents-in-law) between the applicant and the inviting individual.

The Visa Application Instructions also set out basic documents before the class section. Under "I. Basic Documents", they say that, as required by the Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General in your locality, the applicant fills in the visa application form online and submits the applicant's passport and photo, proof of legal stay or residence, and the previous Chinese passport or previous Chinese visa. The same section refers readers to the "Guidance on Visa Application" section of the China Online Visa Application System for specific requirements.

Regulations, Article 7, item (10) states the S1 application requirement this way:

"To apply for the S1 or S2 visa, the applicant shall, as required, submit the invitation letter provided by the foreigner staying or residing in China for work, study or other purposes and proof of family relationship, or the certification documents required for dealing with personal matters in China"

Article 7 also states: "The visa authority may, in light of specific cases, require a foreigner to submit additional application material."

Suggestion, not a rule: keep the original kinship certificate and its photocopy together in one folder, because the S1 Visa section asks for both.

The residence permit within 30 days

The S1 Visa section ends with a note, quoted here exactly:

"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."

Regulations, Article 15, item (5) describes the residence permit for personal matters:

"The residence permit for personal matters is issued to spouses, parents, children under the age of 18 or parents-in-law of foreigners residing in China for work, study or other purposes, who apply for long-term visit to China, as well as for persons who need to reside in China for other personal matters."

Questions people ask

Can an S1 visa be used for a stay of 180 days or less?

The category table describes the S1 class with an intended duration of stay that exceeds 180 days. For family visits with an intended stay of no more than 180 days, the category table describes the S2 class instead: "Issued to those who intend to visit their family members (spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law) who are foreigners staying or residing in China for work, study or other purposes, and to those who need to stay in China for other private matters. The intended duration of stay in China is no more than 180 days."

Who decides whether an S1 visa is issued?

Whether a visa is issued is a decision for the consular officer who handles the application. This guide cannot predict that decision.

What must an S1 visa holder do after entering China?

The S1 Visa section says the holder must, within 30 days of entering China, apply for a residence permit at the exit-entry administration of the public security bureau named in that section. The step is taken inside China, not at an embassy or consulate.

Sources

Checked 11 October 2026

This page is an unofficial summary, is not published by or affiliated with the National Immigration Administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, any embassy, consulate or visa application service centre, and is not legal or immigration advice; if the official text and the current notice of the office handling your case differ, the official text and that notice prevail.