China Private Affairs Visa (S1 / S2)
Professional assistance for eligible private-affairs and family-related cases involving foreign nationals residing in China, as well as other qualifying private matters requiring individual review.
Who is this service for?
This service is intended for eligible foreign nationals traveling to China for qualifying private-affairs or family-related purposes involving foreign nationals residing in China.
Family members of foreign nationals working or studying in China
Applicants visiting qualifying foreign family members residing in China
Applicants with eligible private-affairs purposes requiring individual review
Applicants who need coordination between invitation, relationship and visa materials
Understanding S1 and S2 visas
Generally associated with eligible longer-term private-affairs or family-related circumstances involving foreign nationals residing in China and may involve post-entry procedures.
Generally associated with eligible shorter-term visits or other qualifying private-affairs circumstances.
Typical application journey
Initial case review
Private-affairs purpose / relationship review
Document preparation
Invitation and supporting-material coordination
Visa application stage
Entry and post-arrival procedures where applicable
The exact sequence may vary depending on the applicant’s circumstances, purpose, inviting person, application location and current requirements.
How Easy China Visa can help
Initial case assessment
Purpose, relationship and document review
Application preparation support
Applicant guidance
Process follow-up
Complex-case review
Support for applicant and inviting-person documentation
Where appropriate, Easy China Visa can help coordinate applicant-side and inviting-person information and supporting materials for private-affairs cases.
Complex private-affairs visa cases
Non-standard private-affairs cases may require additional review and case-specific coordination.
Timing depends on the specific private-affairs visa case
Processing time may vary based on nationality, purpose, relationship or invitation information, application location, document completeness and current consular processing.
Contact us for a case-specific timing estimate.Information and documents we may review
Valid passport
Private-affairs purpose
Relationship information where relevant
Inviting person’s identity / China status information
Invitation or supporting information where applicable
Travel and application information
Previous China visa information where relevant
Additional case-specific materials
Required documents vary based on the applicant’s circumstances, purpose, relationship or inviting person, application location and current immigration or consular requirements. Please do not send passports, identity documents or other sensitive files through unsecured channels unless specifically instructed by our team.
Important considerations
Private-affairs purpose should be clearly documented
Inviting-person or relationship information may be required
S1 and S2 are not interchangeable in every case
Non-standard private matters may require individual review
Frequently asked questions
What are China S1 and S2 visas?+
S1 and S2 generally relate to eligible private-affairs or family-related visits involving foreign nationals residing in China. The appropriate category depends on the circumstances and current requirements.
What is the difference between S1 and S2?+
S1 is generally associated with eligible longer-term private-affairs or family-related circumstances that may involve post-entry procedures, while S2 is generally associated with shorter-term visits or other qualifying private matters. Exact requirements vary by case.
Who may use an S visa to visit family in China?+
Whether the applicant and inviting person meet the applicable conditions depends on the relationship, status, purpose and current requirements. This requires case-specific review.
Can an S visa be used for private or entrepreneurship-related matters?+
Private-affairs purposes require individual review. Entrepreneurship or startup-related matters should not be assumed to qualify automatically and depend on current immigration requirements.
How long does an S visa application take?+
Timing varies by case, nationality, purpose, supporting information, application location and authority processing. No universal guaranteed timeline applies.
Your application location can also matter
China visa planning can depend on where you are applying from as well as the visa category and your individual circumstances. Explore our country-based service coverage to find the relevant application-location context.
Explore Country Visa SupportNeed help with your China Private Affairs Visa?
Tell us about your circumstances and purpose of travel, and our team can help review the appropriate next steps.