S1 vs S2 Visa for China: Which One for Your Family?
Both are family visas for relatives of foreigners in China — the difference is how long they stay. Here's how to choose, and the residence-permit step S1 holders can't skip.
S1 vs S2 at a glance
S1, S2 — and why it's not Q
Three quick distinctions settle most cases.
Over 180 days
For family joining a foreigner in China for the long term. Enter on the S1, then convert to a residence permit within 30 days.
Up to 180 days
For a short family visit. No residence permit — your relative stays for the period the visa allows, then leaves.
Foreigners' family only
S is for the family of foreigners; Q is for the family of Chinese citizens or permanent residents. Mixing them up causes refusals.
S1 vs S2 vs Q1 vs Q2
The four family categories — choose by who the relative in China is, and how long the visit is.
| Visa | Relative in China is | Length | Residence permit? |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 | A foreigner (work/study) | Long-term (180+ days) | Yes (within 30 days) |
| S2 | A foreigner (work/study) | Short (up to 180 days) | No |
| Q1 | A Chinese citizen / PR | Long-term (180+ days) | Yes |
| Q2 | A Chinese citizen / PR | Short (up to 180 days) | No |
How to choose and apply
A short path — HCSG can confirm the category and file it for you.
Confirm it's S, not Q
Check the relative in China is a foreigner (not a Chinese citizen/PR) — that puts your family in the S category.
Pick S1 or S2 by length
Staying long-term (over 180 days)? That's S1. A short visit? S2.
Prepare authenticated documents
Gather the invitation, the relative's China documents, and your notarised, authenticated marriage/birth certificates.
Apply, enter, and (S1) register
Apply at the consulate or visa centre; on an S1, apply for the residence permit within 30 days of arrival.
S1 holders: don't miss the 30-day residence permit
An S1 visa is only the entry document. The step that actually lets your family stay long-term is the dependent residence permit, applied for at the local Public Security Bureau within 30 days of arrival. Miss that window and you risk falling out of status. We diarise the deadline and handle the application so it never slips.
We get the category right the first time
Most family-visa delays come from one avoidable error — the wrong category — and from documents that aren't authenticated correctly. A China-based team removes both. HCSG confirms whether your family needs S1, S2 (or, for relatives of Chinese nationals, Q), prepares and checks the authenticated documents, files the application, and handles the residence permit after arrival. One correct application beats a refusal and a re-file.
How HCSG handles this for you
S-visa applications, confirmed and filed by a team on the ground in China.
Confirm the right category
We check S vs Q and S1 vs S2 so the application is right before it's filed.
Prepare authenticated documents
We make sure marriage/birth certificates are notarised and authenticated the way your consulate requires.
File the application
We assemble and submit the S-visa application with the correct supporting set.
Handle the residence permit
For S1, we lodge the dependent residence permit within the 30-day window after arrival.
The outcome: the correct family visa, filed once, with the residence permit handled on time — no refusals, no re-files.
Questions founders ask us
Specific, net-new answers — not a repeat of the guide above.
What is the difference between an S1 and S2 visa?+
Is the S visa the same as the Q visa?+
How long can my relative stay on an S1 visa?+
Do I need a residence permit on an S2 visa?+
What's the 30-day rule?+
What documents do we need for an S visa?+
Can my spouse work on an S1 visa?+
Which visa do I choose if I'm not sure how long we'll stay?+
Can HCSG confirm and file the right visa for my family?+
Not sure if it's S1, S2 or Q?
Tell us who's in China and how long your family will stay — we'll confirm the right visa and file it correctly the first time.
