(S1) Family member of foreigner(s) staying or residing in China or person who needs to come to China for personal matters (more than 180 days)

(1) Passport

Original passport with at least six months of remaining validity and with more than 2 blank visa pages, a photocopy of the passport's data page and the photo page if it is separate. (If you apply multiple entry visa, validity of your passport should cover the validity plus duration of stay on your visa)

(2) Visa Application Form and Photo

Please complete the Visa Application Form online “application form”, upload your electronic photo (click to check the rules for photos), then print and sign the Visa Application Form. One actual photo (size 33x48mm in color with white background as the rules required above) is also needed when walking in to submit your application.

(3) Proof of legal status (applicable for those not applying for the visa in their country of citizenship)

If you are not applying for a visa in the country of your citizenship, you must provide the original and photocopy of your valid certificates of residence, employment or student status, or other valid certificates of legal stay provided by the relevant authorities of the country where the Visa Centre is located.

(4) Photocopy of previous Chinese passports or previous Chinese visas (applicable for those who were Chinese citizens and have obtained foreign citizenship).

If you are applying for a Chinese visa for the first time, you should provide the last Chinese passport held and a photocopy of its data page.

If you have obtained Chinese visas before and apply for a Chinese visa with a renewed foreign passport that does not contain any Chinese visa, you should present the photocopy of the previous passport's data page and the photo page if it is separate, as well as the previous Chinese visa page (If your name on the current passport differs from that on the previous one, you must provide an official document of name change).

Applicants who are going to visit their relatives residing in China and intend to stay for more than 180 days need to provide: 

(1) A photocopy of the inviting party’s passport and his/her Chinese residence permit.

(2) An invitation letter that contains

a) Information of the applicant (incl. full name, gender, date of birth, etc.)

b) Information regarding the visit (incl. purpose of visit, intended arrival date, intended place(s) to stay, intended duration of stay, relationship between the applicant and the inviting party, and details of any financial support to be provided during the stay in China)

c) Information of the inviting party (incl. name, contact telephone number, address, signature of individual).

(3) Original and photocopy of relationship certification (marriage certificate, birth certificate or notarized certification of kinship) showing the relationship of family members between the applicants and the inviting parties. (Relationship certification should be attested by Chinese Embassy in advance)."Relatives" refers to spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18, parents in law.

Accompanying family members applying together with applicants of Z-Visa or X1-Visa need to provide: 

(1) A photocopy of the application documents of Z-Visa or X1-Visa.

(2) Original and photocopy of notarized and authenticated certification (marriage certificate, birth certificate or notarized certification of kinship) showing the relationship of family members between applicants and inviting parties."Relatives" refers to spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18, parents in law. 

We kindly remind you that: Holders of S1-Visa must apply for a residence permit from the immigration department of the local public security authority in the place intended to stay within 30 days of entry to China.

(1) The applicant should guarantee that all information provided in the application is true and correct. Any false, misleading or incomplete information may result in denial of the visa or refusal of entry into China.

(2) The invitation letter may be in the form of fax, photocopy or computer printout. If necesssary, the consular officer may require the applicant to provide other documents or supplementary materials, or require an interview with the applicant.

(3) The consular officer will decide on whether or not to issue the visa and on its validity, duration of stay and number of entries in light of specific conditions of the applicant.