The S visa is for visiting a family member who is a foreign national living in China for work or study — not a Chinese citizen. That single distinction is the entire reason this category exists, and getting it wrong is one of the more expensive mistakes in the whole system, because it isn't a judgment call the consulate can work around. It's the wrong form.
S or Q? Your relative decides, not you
These two categories cover the same human situation — going to see family in China — and they are not interchangeable. Which one you need depends entirely on your relative's status in China:
S visa — your family member is a foreign national living in China on a work, study or similar residence permit. Someone there on a Z work visa or an X student visa, for example.
Q visa — your family member is a Chinese citizen, or a foreign national holding Chinese permanent residence. Read the Q visa guide.
An American visiting her husband who was transferred to Shanghai by his employer needs an S visa. An American visiting his wife's parents, who are Chinese citizens in Chengdu, needs a Q. Same trip length, same relationship closeness, different form.
S1 vs S2 — which one
S2 — visits of 180 days or less. This covers most family visits, and it also covers other private affairs in China.
S1 — stays of more than 180 days. After you arrive you convert it to a residence permit.
The S1 family-definition trap
Here's the part that catches people, and it isn't obvious from the names: S1 and S2 do not accept the same relatives. S1 — the longer one — has the narrower list.
S1 is generally limited to the spouse, parents, parents-in-law, and children under 18 of the foreigner working or studying in China.
S2 reaches much further — typically also covering adult children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and children-in-law.
The practical consequence: an adult child or a sibling can visit on an S2 for up to 180 days, but cannot get an S1 for a longer stay. If you're planning a stay longer than six months, check that your relationship is on the S1 list before you book anything — the answer changes the trip, not just the paperwork.
What you need for a China S visa
An invitation letter from your family member in China, stating your relationship, the purpose, and the dates
A copy of their passport bio page and their Chinese residence permit — this is what proves they are the foreign resident the S visa is built around
Proof of the family relationship — a marriage certificate, birth certificate, or notarized kinship certificate
A passport valid for at least six more months, with a blank visa page
A recent white-background photo and your completed COVA application
After you arrive (S1 only)
S1 holders apply for a residence permit at the local Exit-Entry Administration, generally within 30 days of arrival. S2 visitors don't need one — the visa itself covers the stay.
How to apply
Complete the COVA application, then your passport is submitted in person at the Chinese consulate that serves your state — that's the part we handle. Start your application or compare all visa types.
Get My Passports is a private company that provides China visa application assistance. We're not affiliated with or endorsed by any government agency, and all visa decisions — type, validity, entries, and approval — are made solely by the Chinese consulate. Requirements can vary by consulate and change over time; confirm the current rules before you apply.