Foreigner Family Visa (S visa), Foreigner family visit visa (Q Visa) Application Service

Important notice – The services provided by Tianchen Commercial Consulting include, but are not limited to: translation of documents, employment policy advice for foreigners, visa itinerary arrangements for foreigners, preparation and submission of visa materials, accompanying foreigners to interviews, document delivery services and other legitimate services. If you prefer, you can also obtain similar information or services from the websites of government agencies. If you choose to submit your application to a government agency on your own, you are only required to pay the government fees directly to the government agencies after success. Tianchen Commercial Consulting is not affiliated with the government, nor is it a branch of a government agency. If you choose our professional services (Tianchen Commercial Consulting was legally registered in 2015 with a "Human Resources Service License" and is the first legal intermediary approved by the Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Foreign Experts for handling foreigners’ work permits), we charge services/consultation fees based on government fees to ensure the normal business operation of Tianchen Commercial Consulting and the timely update of the Tianchen Commercial Consulting website.

Residence permit for family members of foreigners (S visa), family reunion visa for Foreigners (Q visa): issued to the accompanying family members of persons serving or employed in China or to foreigners married to Chinese citizens as well as foreign passport holders who come to China to visit Chinese relatives.

According to the newly implemented Immigration Control Law in July 1, 2013, family visitation visas for Chinese families mainly include the following types:

Q1 Visa	Family members of Chinese citizens applying for residence in China for purpose of family reunion (spouses, parents, children, spouses of children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and parents of spouses) and family members of foreigners with permanent residence in China (spouses, parents, children, spouses of children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and parents of spouses) who apply for residence in China for family reunification, as well as persons applying for residence for reasons such as foster care.           (Visa duration is generally 1-3 years, medical examination is required)
Q2 Visa	Relatives of Chinese citizens residing in China and relatives of foreigners with permanent residence in China who are in China for a short period of time (Visa duration generally does not exceed 180 days and no medical examination is required)
S1 Visa	Spouses, parents, children under 18 years of age, parents of spouses of foreigners residing in China for long periods of time (visa duration generally exceeds 180 days, medical examination is required) for work, study, etc., and persons who are required to stay in China for other personal reasons
S2 Visa	Family members (spouses, parents, children, spouses of children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and parents of spouses) of a foreigner who stay in China for a short period of time (visa duration generally does not exceed 180 days and does not require a medical examination) and persons who need to stay in China for other personal reasons

For Chinese family visas (family visitation visas), Tianchen Commercial Consulting provides the following related services:

Q1, My relatives are Chinese, I want to apply for: multiple 1-3 years of foreign family visitation residence permits (Q1 visa)

Q2, My relatives are Chinese, I want to apply for: 3-6 months short-term family stay (Q2 visa)

S1, Family member of foreigners who come to Shanghai to work (parents, in-laws, spouses, children), application for residence permits for foreign family member of the employed personnel

S2, Short-term visits by family members of foreign personnel who come to Shanghai, application for short-term family visits for 3-6 months (S2 visa)

B1, In the situation of unmarried cohabitation, the de facto spouse of foreign personnel who came to Shanghai to work, application for a short-term stay of 3-6 months (S2 visa)

B2, Newborns born in China, application for a temporary stay visa (for outbound use)

If you would like to see Tianchen Commercial Consulting’s other visa services, please check the submenu in the upper right corner of the page.

List of materials for family visas, family reunification visas, and application services for visitation visas for foreigners:

Q1, My relatives are Chinese, I want to apply for: multiple 1-3 years of foreign family visitation residence permits (Q1 visa)

1. A valid original passport (visa must be within the validity period)

2. The original temporary residency registration form for overseas visitor (click to view sample form – issued by the city's hotel or local police station)

3. Two recent 2-inch half-body front-view photos without headgear (4.5CM*3.5CM)

4. The original health certificate issued by the Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Department (schedule a medical examination online, free for those under 18 years of age and 70 years old and above)

5. Proof of kinship (such as marriage certificate, birth certificate and other legal proof of kinship)

6. Original commitment document with statements clarifying the relationship (download sample, needs to be signed by relatives)

7. It is also necessary to submit supporting documents consistent with the identity and subject matter of the applicant:

A-If the relative has a Shanghai hukou (household registration), it is necessary to provide that relative's Shanghai hukou book (must note the name of the foreigner whom the relative has kinship with) and the relative’s identification card;

B-If the relative has a non-Shanghai hukou (but resides or works in Shanghai), it is necessary to provide the Chinese resident's hukou book, ID card and valid temporary residence permit/residency permit and the original certificate of their employment unit in Shanghai or property ownership in the Shanghai municipality;

C-If the relative(s) are overseas Chinese and/or Hong Kong and Macao residents, it is necessary to provide the identification card of the relative(s) and the original temporary residence permit (small green book) for stay of more than 6 months in Shanghai;

D-If a relative is a resident of Taiwan, it is necessary to provide that relative's Taiwanese Compatriot Certificate and the original residence endorsement for stay of more than 6 months in Shanghai;

E – If the relative is a foreigner holding a permanent residence permit in China, the original "Permanent Residence Permit for Foreigners" document will be required.

Special Reminders:

1. Relatives can be spouses, parents, children, spouses of children, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren;

2. When submitting the proof of kinship, if it is issued by an overseas institution, it shall be certified by Chinese embassies and consulates abroad (valid for 6 months);

3. First-time applicants (16-60 years old) must be present in person, if the original residence permit was renewed within 3 months after the expiration, the applicant can be exempted from providing the health certificate;

Normal processing time: 8 working days

Cost: Service fee (2000 yuan/person) + government fee (Government fee receipt reimbursement, approx. 400-1000 yuan/person

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Q2, My relatives are Chinese, I want to apply for: 3-6 months short-term family visit (Q2 visa)

1. A valid original passport (visa must be within the validity period)

2. The original temporary residence registration form for overseas visitor (click to view sample form – issued by the city's hotels or local police station)

3. Two recent 2-inch half-body front-view photos without headgear (4.5CM*3.5CM)

4. Proof of kinship (such as marriage certificate, birth certificate and other legal proof of kinship)

5. Original commitment document with statements clarifying the relationship (download sample, needs to be signed by relatives)

6. It is also necessary to submit supporting documents consistent with the identity and subject matter of the applicant:

A-If the relative has a Shanghai hukou (household registration), it is necessary to provide that relative's Shanghai hukou book (must note the name of the foreigner whom the relative has kinship with) and the relative’s identification card;

B-If the relative has a non-Shanghai hukou (but resides or works in Shanghai), it is necessary to provide the Chinese resident's hukou book, ID card and valid temporary residence permit/residency permit and the original certificate of their employment unit in Shanghai or property ownership in the Shanghai municipality;

C-If the relative(s) are overseas Chinese and/or Hong Kong and Macao residents, it is necessary to provide the identification card of the relative(s) and the original temporary residence permit (small green book) for stay of more than 6 months in Shanghai;

D-If a relative is a resident of Taiwan, it is necessary to provide that relative's Taiwanese Compatriot Certificate and the original residence endorsement for stay of more than 6 months in Shanghai;

E – If the relative is a foreigner holding a permanent residence permit in China, the original "Permanent Residence Permit for Foreigners" document will be required.

Special Reminders:

1. Relatives can be spouses, parents, children, spouses of children, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren;

2. When submitting the proof of kinship, if it is issued by an overseas institution, it shall be certified by Chinese embassies and consulates abroad;

Normal processing time: 8 working days

Cost: Service fee (800 yuan/person) + government fee (Government fee receipt reimbursement, approx. 400-1000 yuan/person)

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S1, Family members of foreigners who come to Shanghai to work (parents, in-laws, spouses, children), application for residence permits for foreign family member of the employed person

1. Original valid passport of the family member (visa must be within the validity period)

2. The family member's temporary residence registration form for overseas visitor (click to view sample form – issued by the city's hotels or local police station)

3. Two of the family member's recent 2-inch half-body front-view photos without headgear (4.5CM*3.5CM)

4. Original health certificate issued by the Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Department for the family member (schedule an online appointment for medical examination, free for those under 18 years of age and 70 years old and above)

5. Copy of the passport and residence permit of the employed person

6. The employment application letter issued by the company of the employed person (we can provide a sample, the company needs to stamp it with an official seal)

7. Copy of the business license of the employed person’s company and copy of the Organization Code Certificate

8. Proof of kinship (such as marriage certificate, birth certificate and other legal proof of family relationship)

Special Reminders:

1. The family member refers to the spouses, parents, children and in-laws of the employed person

2. If the applicant enters the country on a S1 visa, the family relationship certificate does not require authentication and only the original document need to be provided, and if the applicant enters the country on a different visa, the proof of affiliation needs to be certified by Chinese embassies and consulates abroad (valid for 6 months) or be certified by the home nation’s consulate in Shanghai (valid for 6 months) if it is issued outside the department.

3. First-time applicant (16-60 years old) must be present in person, if the original residence permit is renewed within 3 months after expiration, the applicant can be exempted from providing the health certificate.

Normal processing time: 8 working days

Cost: Service fee (1000 yuan/person) + government fee (government fee receipt reimbursement, approx. 400-1000 yuan/person)

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S2, Short-term visits by family members of foreign personnel in Shanghai, application for short-term family visits for 3-6 months (S2 visa)

1. Original valid passport of the family member (visa must be within the validity period)

2. The original temporary residency registration form for overseas visitor (click to view sample form – issued by the city's hotels or local police station)

3. The family member’s two recent 2-inch half-body front-view photos without headgear (4.5CM*3.5CM)

4. Original passport of the employed person

5. The employment application letter issued by the company of the employed person (we can provide a sample, the company needs to affix the official seal)

6. Copy of the business license of the employed person’s company and copy of the Organization Code Certificate

7. Proof of kinship (such as marriage certificate, birth certificate and other legal proof of family relations)

Special Reminders:

1. Family member refers to spouses, parents, children, spouses of the children, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren

2. If proof of family relations is issued outside the country, it needs to be certified by Chinese embassies abroad (valid for 6 months); or by the consulate in Shanghai (valid for 6 months).

Normal processing time: 8 working days

Cost: Service fee (1000 yuan/person) + government fee (government fee receipt reimbursement, approx. 400-1000 yuan/person)

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B1, In the situation of unmarried cohabitation, the de facto spouse of foreign personnel who come to Shanghai to work, application for a short-term stay of 3-6 months (S2 visa)

1. The original valid passport of the de facto spouse (visa must be within the validity period)

2.  The de facto spouse's original temporary residency registration form for overseas visitor (click to view the sample form – issued by the city's hotels or local police station)

3. The de facto spouse's two recent 2-inch half-body front-view photos without headgear (4.5CM*3.5CM)

4. The original health certificate issued by the Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Department for the de facto spouse (schedule an online appointment for medical examination, free of charge for those over age 70 and above)

5. Original passport of the employed person

6. The employment application letter issued by the company of the employed person (we can provide a sample, the company needs to affix the official seal)

7. Copy of the business license of the employed person’s company and copy of the Organization Code Certificate

8. Proof of the relationship with the de facto spouse (generally the following conditions can be recognized):

When two people have a common child but are not yet married, provide a notary of the child's birth certificate and a certificate or statement of unmarried cohabitation issued by the national embassy or consulate.

Special Reminders:

1. First-time applicant (over 60 years of age) must be present, if the original residence permit is renewed within 3 months after the expiration, applicant can be exempted from providing the health certificate.

Normal processing time: 8 working days

Cost: Service fee (1000 yuan/person) + government fee (government fee receipt reimbursement, approx. 160 yuan/person)

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B2, Newborns born in China, application for a temporary stay visa (for outbound use)

1. Original valid passport of the newborn

2. The newborn’s original overseas visitor registration form for temporary residency (click to view sample form – issued by the city's hotels or local police station)

3. Two of the newborn’s recent 2-inch half-body front-view photos without headgear (4.5CM*3.5CM)

4. Original birth certificate of the newborn

5. Original passport or proof of identity of both parents

Special Reminders:

1, B2 service are for newborns whom one parent is Chinese and one is a foreigner, the newborns cannot directly use Q1 services, they need to use B2 services to apply for a stay visa to return to their home country, and then apply for arbitrary re-entry visa in their home country’s embassies and consulates, they can use the Q1 service to apply for long-term residence.

2. If the parents of the newborn are both foreigners and one person is working in Shanghai with a residence permit, the newborn may use the S1 application service or family residence permit with the same duration as the employed person, please refer to the S1 service item

Normal processing time: 8 working days

Cost: Service fee (1000 yuan/person) + government fee (government fee receipt reimbursement, approx. 400-800 yuan/person)

If you are the head of a personnel department and is having difficulty with your workload, contact us now! Low cost and efficient service will make you feel like you got your money’s worth. Or if you have a foreign friend traveling to China, and you need to apply for a business visa or visa extension, additional visas or have any other visa-related matters, you can call us or send an e-mail, in addition to WeChat consultation! (WeChat: tianchen0201) We are always ready to serve you! (Telephone: 021-62510087)

Tianchen Business Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

Contact Us:

Address: Zhongqi Building, #2000 North Zhongshan Road, 6th Floor, Area B, Room 622, Putuo District, Shanghai, China
Work hours: Monday-Friday 9AM-5PM (12:00-1:00PM lunch break)
Telephone: 021-62510087
Cell Phone: 17321397918
WeChat: tianchen0201
E-mail: tianchen0201@126.com
Website: http://www.visasolution.cn/qz.asp

Emergency telephone: 13601756317

Contact person: Miss Zhang, Miss Ding