S2 short private-affairs visa

Who it is for

Family visiting a foreigner who works or studies in China, or people handling short private matters such as litigation, inheritance, property, or medical treatment.

Where it is filed

Chinese embassy, consulate, or Chinese Visa Application Service Center outside mainland China. The office that covers your place of residence decides the case.

What we do not promise

The visa office decides the category, entries, validity, and stay. A complete file does not mean a visa will be issued.

Documents the agent will ask for

• Passport with at least six months of validity beyond the intended stay, blank visa pages, and a copy of the bio page.
• Completed online visa application form for the People’s Republic of China.
• One recent front-facing photo on a white background.
• If you apply outside your country of citizenship: proof of legal stay in the country where you apply.
• Former Chinese citizens: previous Chinese passport and prior Chinese visa copies, plus a name-change document if the name differs.
• Invitation and a copy of the inviter’s passport and residence permit when the visit is to a foreign resident, plus relationship evidence.
• For other private matters: documents that show what the matter is, as the visa officer requires.

Official source (2026-05-25): https://se.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/lsfw_0/swe123/202303/t20230314_11041349.htm. We last reviewed this page on 2026-09-23. Rules on the official page win if they differ.