China S2 visa: short visits to family members who are foreigners in China

2026-10-11

The S2 visa covers short family visits to foreigners staying or residing in China, with a stay of no more than 180 days. The documents are set out in the Visa Application Instructions and the Regulations.

The S2 visa is for people who want to visit family members who are foreigners staying or residing in China for work, study or other purposes. It is also for people who need to stay in China for other private matters. The visa category table gives the intended stay as "no more than 180 days", and the documents for a family visit are listed in the S2 Visa section of the Visa Application Instructions.

Who the S2 visa is for

Regulations, Article 6 item (10): "The S2 visa is for family members of foreigners staying or residing in China for work, study or other purposes who apply for a short-term visit to China, as well as for persons who need to stay in China for other personal matters."

The S2 row in the visa category table of the Visa Application Instructions lists these family members: spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law.

The S1 row in the same table lists a shorter group: "spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18 or parents-in-law". The S1 row covers a stay that "exceeds 180 days". The S2 row covers a stay that is "no more than 180 days".

Documents for a short family visit

The Basic Documents section of the Visa Application Instructions says that you need the applicant's passport and photo, proof of legal stay or residence, and the previous Chinese passport or previous Chinese visa. It also says the requirements are "as required by the Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General in your locality". The online application form is filled in as the same section describes.

The S2 Visa section of the Visa Application Instructions says: "For short-term family visits, the following documents are required:"

Photocopies of the passport and residence permit of the inviting individual (specifically, a foreigner staying or residing in China for work or studies).
An invitation letter issued by the inviting individual. 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, dates of arrival and departure, place of visit, 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.
A photocopy of certification (marriage certificate, birth certificate, kinship certification issued by the public security police station, notarized kinship certificate, etc.) showing the relationship of family members (spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law) between the applicant and the inviting individual.

Other personal affairs

For other personal affairs, the S2 Visa section of the Visa Application Instructions says: "In case of other personal affairs, relevant supporting materials shall be provided as required by the consular officers."

Regulations, Article 7 item (10) says: "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;"

What the Regulations say about the application

Regulations, Article 7 first paragraph: "A foreigner applying for a visa shall fill out the application form, and submit his or her passport or other international travel documents, qualified photos, and material relating to the purpose of application."

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

The invitation letter and original documents

The Important Tips section of the Visa Application Instructions says: "The invitation letter may be a fax, a photocopy or a printout, but the consular officers may require the applicant to provide the original one."

The same section says: "When necessary, the consular officers may require the applicant to provide other supporting documents or supplementary materials, or require the applicant to attend an interview."

It also says: "The consular officials will decide whether to issue a visa and determine its validity, duration of stay and number of entries according to the applicant's specific circumstances."

Suggestion, not a rule: collect the invitation letter and the family relationship certificate before you book travel, so that you can show them if the consular officers ask for originals.

Before travelling, confirm the current text on the official page. For the rules on entry routes and after-arrival steps, see the visa classes and after arrival pages of this site.

Sources

Checked 10 and 11 October 2026

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