An S2 visa is issued to those who intend to visit their family members who are foreigners working or studying in China, or to those who intend to go to China for other private issues. The intended duration of stay in China should not exceed 180 days.

I. Application materials

1. Valid passport or other international travel documents.

2. Completed Visa Application Form.

3. One recently taken two-inch half-length, full-faced and bareheaded photo of the applicant. For first-time residence permit applicants, photos should be taken on-site free of charge. Non-first-time applicants can either submit a printed photo or have one taken on-site free of charge.

4. Family members of foreigners who stay or reside in Tianjin for such reasons as work or study are required to provide a letter issued by the visited relative, along with the visited relative's passport, valid stay or residence permit, and proof of family relationship. If the person to be visited remains unchanged, blood relatives are exempted from submission in case of non-first-time application in Tianjin.

5. Chinese citizens holding foreign nationality aged 60 and above who have purchased real estate in Tianjin are required to provide proof of ownership, either in the form of a property deed in the applicant's name or a notarized property sales contract and a certificate of financial sources.

6. Individuals seeking medical treatment are required to provide a diagnosis certificate issued by a county-level, Grade A secondary or higher-level hospital in Tianjin.

7. Other personnel shall submit relevant certificates of handling personal issues or for humanitarian reasons.

8. Other application materials may be required by the visa authority, depending on specific circumstances.

II. Notes

1. For foreigners who reside or stay in domiciles other than hotels, they or the persons who accommodate them shall, within 24 hours after the foreigners’ arrival, go through the registration formalities with the public security organs in the places of residence.

2. During the period of time when the applicant's passport or other international travel documents are retained for visa processing, the applicant may stay in China legally on the strength of the receipt of acceptance. The validity period of the receipt of acceptance for visa and stay permit applications should not exceed seven working days from the date of acceptance, while for residence permit applications, it should not exceed 15 working days.

3. Where the registered item in a foreigner’s residence permit has changed, the holder shall, within 10 days from the date of change, apply to go through the formalities for alteration at the exit-entry administration. The registered items of a foreign residence permit include name, sex, date of birth, reason for residence and duration of residence of the holder, date and place of issuance, passport number or other international travel documents number.

4. For foreign infants born in China, their parents or agents shall, within 60 days of their birth, on the strength of the birth certificates, go through the formalities for stay or residence registration for them at the exit-entry administrations.

For foreigners who die in China, their relatives, guardians or agents shall, in accordance with relevant regulations, on the strength of the death certificates, report their death to the exit-entry administrations to cancel their stay or residence permits.

5. Among the above-mentioned required documents, marriage certificate, birth certificate, certificate of kinship, certificate of change in name or other personal information issued by competent overseas authorities or notary offices shall be accompanied by verified apostille issued by the competent authorities of contracting states. Relevant foreign-language documents should be translated into Chinese.

III. Processing time

The process will be completed within five working days from the date of acceptance.

IV. Reception hours and locations

1. Exit-Entry Administration Bureau, Tianjin Municipal Public Security Bureau

Address: Service windows No 5-7, 2/F, Hi-Tech Building, No 6 Meiyuan Road, Huayuan Industrial Park, Tianjin

Helpline: 12367

Working hours: 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays

2. Exit-Entry Administration Office, Tianjin Binhai New Area Public Security Bureau

Address: Service window No 2, Block B, auxiliary building of Glorious Oriental Plaza, intersection of Yingbin Avenue and Jihua Road, Binhai New Area, Tianjin

Helpline: 12367

Working hours: 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays

V. Fees

Zero-entry visa of non-reciprocal countries: 160 yuan ($22.48) per person;

Single-entry visa of non-reciprocal countries: 275 yuan per person;

Double-entry visa of non-reciprocal countries: 417 yuan per person;

Multiple-entry visa (valid for six months) of non-reciprocal countries: 550 yuan per person;

Multiple-entry visa (valid for six months and above to five years) of non-reciprocal countries: 825 yuan per person;

Adding or reducing accompanying persons: 160 yuan per person;

Reciprocal countries and fee schedules are available for reference on the notice board at the hall of the Exit-Entry Administration Bureau, Tianjin Municipal Public Security Bureau.

VI. Inquiry hotline: 12367

Supervision: +86-022-24459652 (Exit-Entry Administration Office, Tianjin Binhai New Area Public Security Bureau: +86-022-66977410)

The Exit-Entry Administration Bureau of Tianjin Municipal Public Security Bureau reserves the right of final interpretation of this notice.