Can my family come with me while I study in China?
Unofficial answer · Sources checked
Yes. Your family can apply for a private-affairs visa: an S1 visa for a stay longer than 180 days, and an S2 visa for a stay of no more than 180 days. The Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners provide for both at Article 6(10) for family members of foreigners staying or residing in China for study, among other purposes, and Article 36(4) and (5) define "short-term" as a stay of no more than 180 days and "long-term or resident" as a stay exceeding 180 days.
What the rules say
Article 6(10) of the Regulations states that the S1 visa is issued to the spouses, parents, children under the age of 18 or parents-in-law of foreigners residing in China for work, study or other purposes who apply for a long-term visit to China, as well as to persons who need to reside in China for other personal matters. The same item states that the S2 visa is issued to 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 to persons who need to stay in China for other personal matters.
Article 36(4) states that short-term means staying in China for a period not exceeding 180 days, including 180 days, and Article 36(5) states that long-term or resident means residing in China for a period exceeding 180 days. Article 36(3) also states that the duration of stay specified in a visa begins from the day after entry.
On documents, Article 7(10) states that, 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.
Who each visa covers
| S1 | S2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Length of stay | Exceeding 180 days (Regulations, Article 36(5)) | No more than 180 days (Regulations, Article 36(4)) |
| Relatives named | Spouses, parents, children under 18, parents-in-law (Regulations, Article 6(10); MFA visa instructions) | "Family members" in the Regulations, Article 6(10); the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' visa instructions list spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law |
| Documents at application | Invitation letter from the person in China and proof of family relationship, as required (Regulations, Article 7(10)) | Same basis (Regulations, Article 7(10)) |
| After entry | Applies for a residence permit (National Immigration Administration service guide, private-affairs item 5) | The articles read for this page do not state a residence-permit step |
The wider S2 list — brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandchildren and the spouses of sons or daughters — comes from the Visa Application Instructions of the People's Republic of China published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the China Consular Services website, not from Article 6(10) of the Regulations. Those instructions also state that requirements are as required by the Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General in your locality, so the mission handling the application decides the documents it asks for.
After arrival: the residence permit
The National Immigration Administration's service guide for issuing, extending, replacing and reissuing foreigners' residence permits covers a private-affairs category at item 5. The English wording here is this site's translation of that Chinese text. It states that a person entering on an S1 visa who is visiting family submits a letter from the person visited stating the family relationship (spouse, parents, parents of the spouse, children under 18) together with that person's residence permit, and that a residence permit may be issued for a period matching the residence period of the person visited. It states that other persons submit proof materials related to the private affairs, and that a residence permit of no more than one year may be issued. The guide prints fee amounts set under a pricing notice of the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Finance; the notice a local office currently applies governs the amount.
This page is an overview. Where and how to file the residence-permit application, and the full document list, are matters to raise with the exit-entry office or with your university's international student office.
What the official pages do not say
The articles of the Regulations read for this page do not list which relatives count as "family members" for the S2 visa; they use the term without defining it. They also do not state whether a student's family members may remain in China for the whole of the study period. The Ministry's visa instructions give no fees and no processing times.
Related questions
Does my spouse qualify for an S1 visa?
Yes. Both Article 6(10) of the Regulations and the Ministry's visa instructions name spouses among the relatives covered by the S1 visa, for an intended stay in China exceeding 180 days.
Can my parents visit me on an S2 visa?
Yes. The Ministry's visa instructions list parents among the family members covered by the S2 visa, for an intended stay of no more than 180 days.
What does my family member need to show when applying?
Under Article 7(10) of the Regulations, an applicant for an S1 or S2 visa submits, as required, the invitation letter from the foreigner staying or residing in China for work, study or other purposes and proof of the family relationship, or the certification documents for the personal matter in China.
How long can my family stay?
For an S2 visa, no more than 180 days; for an S1 visa, more than 180 days, which means the holder also applies for a residence permit after entry under the National Immigration Administration's service guide.
Sources
- Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners — National Immigration Administration
- Visa Application Instructions of the People's Republic of China (申请办理中华人民共和国签证须知) — Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC (China Consular Services)
- Service guide on issuing, extending, replacing and reissuing foreigners' residence permits — National Immigration Administration
Checked 11 October 2026
This page is an unofficial summary, is not legal or immigration advice, and is not published by or affiliated with the bodies named above; the official text and the instructions of the university, embassy or exit-entry office handling your case prevail if they differ.