After Divorcing a Chinese Spouse, be Aware of This Matter

One very important thing that foreigners should pay attention to after getting divorced from their Chinese spouses is to handle the change of their Chinese visas. 

Usually, when a foreigner marries a Chinese citizen, the type of visa they apply for is: 

This is applicable to foreigners who plan to come to China to marry their fiancé(e). 

S2 Visa

Valid for 90 days, stay for 30 days, single entry. 

It is applicable to foreigners who have married Chinese citizens and plan to stay in China for a long time. 

The validity period is up to 180 days, allowing multiple entries and stays. 

Once divorced, it means that such a visa will no longer be valid for a long time and cannot be renewed. Therefore, after divorce, if a foreigner wants to continue to stay in China, they should choose the appropriate visa type based on their own situation and go through the change procedures. 

Common types of visas include: 

If you have the opportunity to work in China, you can apply for a work visa. You need to provide proof of employment from your new employer, a work permit notice and other materials, and apply for a work-related residence permit at the local exit and entry administration department. The validity period of a work visa usually ranges from 6 months to 5 years, depending on the term of the work contract. 

If you plan to study in China, you can apply for a study visa. You need to provide the admission notice from the school, study plan and other materials, and apply for a study residence permit. The validity period of the study visa is consistent with the study period, usually ranging from 6 months to 5 years. 

If you have other legitimate personal affairs that require you to stay in China, you can apply for a private affairs visa. You need to provide relevant supporting documents, such as proof of kinship and invitation letters, to apply for a short-term or long-term private affairs residence permit. 

No matter which type of visa is chosen, the change procedures should be completed before the expiration of the original visa to avoid illegal overstay.