Moving to Beijing for Work? Here’s How to Get Visas for Your Accompanying Family

As a foreign investor or business owner setting up operations in Beijing, you’ve already taken one of the most exciting steps to grow your global business. But beyond securing your own work permit and residence visa, one question almost always comes next: how do I get visas for my spouse, children, or other family members coming to live with me?

Who Qualifies as an Accompanying Family Member?

China’s immigration authorities allow immediate family members of foreign workers in Beijing to apply for an accompanying dependent visa (officially called an S1 or S2 visa, depending on the length of your stay). Eligible family members include:

• Spouse
• Dependent children under the age of 18
• Parents of both the worker and spouse

S1 visas are for stays longer than 180 days, while S2 visas cover shorter visits of less than 180 days. After entering China with an S1 visa, you’ll need to convert it to a residence permit within 30 days to stay legally long-term.

Required Documents for Dependent Visa Applications

The application process is straightforward if you prepare the right documents in advance. For most applicants, you’ll need:

• A valid passport with at least 6 months of remaining validity and at least one blank visa page
• Completed visa application form and recent passport-sized photo
• Official invitation letter from your employer in Beijing (or proof of your own business registration if you are the primary visa holder)
• Proof of your legal residence status in China (copy of your work permit and residence permit, if you’re already in Beijing)
• Official documents proving your family relationship (marriage certificate for spouses, birth certificate for children, etc.) – these will need to be notarized and authenticated by the Chinese embassy or consulate in your home country
• Proof of sufficient financial support to cover your family’s stay in Beijing

Key Tips for a Smooth Application Process

Many foreign business owners run into avoidable delays because of small errors in document preparation. To keep your process on track:

1. Confirm all document authentication requirements with your local Chinese consulate before submitting – rules can vary slightly by country.
2. Apply for your dependent visa at the same time as your own work visa if possible, to avoid multiple processing rounds.
3. If you’re already resident in Beijing, you can apply for dependent visas from within the country rather than having your family apply from abroad – this can save significant travel time.
4. Always check the latest policy updates: China’s immigration rules are adjusted periodically to attract more foreign investment, so requirements may change from what you’ve read in older guides.

How Tannet Group Can Help

Navigating China’s visa and immigration requirements doesn’t have to take time away from growing your business. At Tannet Group, we specialize in supporting foreign investors and business owners with end-to-end visa and relocation support for you and your family, including:

• Full consultation on visa eligibility and required documentation for accompanying family members
• Document preparation, verification, and authentication assistance to avoid processing delays
• Application submission and follow-up with Beijing immigration authorities
• Conversion of entry visas to long-term residence permits after your family arrives in Beijing
• Support with related post-arrival services, including residence registration, bank account opening, and school enrollment assistance for dependent children
• Ongoing support for visa renewals, status adjustments, and any changes to your family’s residency needs

Whether you’re moving to Beijing for the first time, or expanding your team to bring family members to join you, our experienced team handles all the administrative details so you can focus on what matters most: building your business in one of the world’s most dynamic markets.

Contact Us

Tannet Group Limited was founded in Hong Kong in 1999, now is in its sixth five-year development plan stage, and setting the upcoming two five-year plans. Over the past 28 years, the Group has experienced significant growth and development, serves a diverse client base of over 100,000 customers from more than 130 countries. Tannet has been always devoted to providing with business solutions for investors all across the world. If you have any further inquiries, feel free to contact Beijing Tannet at 0086-13621159840, or email to wangjiao@tannet-group.com, or visit our website https://tannet-group.net/.