Visas · Family
Q1 and Q2 visas: joining family in China
The Q visas exist for family. Q1 is for relatives coming to live in China for more than 180 days, and Q2 is for shorter visits to see relatives. Both depend on one thing more than any other: proving the family relationship to the satisfaction of the visa officer. Q1 then converts into a reunion residence permit after you arrive.
Checked against official sources on 13 October 2026. Rules change — confirm with the issuing authority before you apply. Sources at the bottom.
First, the good news
Do you even need a visa?
At a glance
Q1 or Q2 — which one is yours?
The deciding factor is how long you intend to stay, not the closeness of the relationship.
| Item | Q1 visa | Q2 visa |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Family reunion — coming to reside in China for more than 180 days Verified · official source | Visiting relatives in China for no more than 180 days Verified · official source |
| Whose family | A family member of a Chinese citizen, or of a foreigner holding Chinese permanent residence. Also covers cases such as children coming for foster care. Verified · official source | A relative of a Chinese citizen, or of a foreigner with Chinese permanent residence Verified · official source |
| Relationship proof | Original and copy of the relationship certification — marriage certificate, birth certificate, kinship notarization or a kinship certificate from a public security bureau Verified · official source | Invitation letter and a photocopy of the inviter’s Chinese ID — a photocopy of the relationship certification is added if you ask for a multi-entry visa |
| After you arrive | Apply for a reunion residence permit within 30 days of entry | No conversion needed — stay inside the visa’s duration of stay |
| Typical duration of stay | Set by the visa officer, then replaced by the residence permit Summary — decided case by case | Up to 180 days, set by the visa officer Verified · official source |
| Where to apply | The Chinese embassy or consulate-general for your area, or the China Visa Application Service Center that serves it. Summary — the center for your region handles it | |
| Official channel | China Visa Application Service Center (visaforchina.cn) · China Online Visa Application System | |
Who can apply
The relatives who qualify
The official definition lists the family members who count. If your relationship is not on this list, a Q visa is the wrong route. Verified · official source
Within the direct family
Spouses, parents, sons and daughters, and the spouses of sons and daughters.
Around the family
Brothers and sisters, grandparents, grandchildren, and parents-in-law.
Who you are joining
The person you are joining must be a Chinese citizen, or a foreigner who holds Chinese permanent residence.
Foster care and other cases
Q1 also covers people coming to reside in China for reasons such as foster care, which brings its own document set. Summary — extra documents apply; confirm with the visa center
What you need
Documents for a Q visa application
Two documents do the heavy lifting: the invitation letter from your relative, and the certification that proves how you are related to them. Everything else is standard.
| Document | What to prepare | Varies? |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Valid for at least 6 months with blank visa pages, plus a copy of the information page. It must stay valid at least as long as the visa validity plus the duration of stay. Verified · official source | Confirm with your center |
| Visa application form and photo | The completed online form, printed and signed, with a recent, front-facing color photo on a white background. | Photo format follows the center’s instructions |
| Invitation letter from the relative in China | It must carry your personal details, the purpose of the visit, arrival and departure dates, the inviter’s contact phone number and address, and the inviter’s signature. Verified · official source | Wording varies by center |
| Proof of the inviter’s status | A photocopy of the inviter’s Chinese ID card, or the inviter’s foreign passport plus their Chinese permanent residence permit. Verified · official source | Depends on the inviter’s nationality |
| Relationship certification | Q1: original and photocopy of the marriage certificate, birth certificate, kinship notarization, or kinship certificate issued by a public security bureau. Q2: a photocopy where you are requesting a multi-entry visa. Verified · official source | Which paper counts varies by country |
| Authentication of foreign-issued certificates | Marriage, birth, kinship or notarization documents issued abroad must carry an Apostille issued by the competent authority of the country where they were issued (China joined the Apostille Convention on 7 November 2023); for countries not party to the Convention, consular authentication by the Chinese embassy or consulate-general still applies. Allow time for this — it is the step that delays most applications. Verified · official source | Procedure differs by country |
| Proof of legal stay, if you apply outside your own country | Your valid residence, work or study permit — or a valid visa — for the country where the center is located. | Depends on where you apply |
| Previous Chinese passports or visas | Required if you were formerly a Chinese citizen, or if you have held a Chinese visa before and are applying with a new passport. | Only for some applicants |
| Documents for applicants under 18 | Birth or guardianship documents, the parents’ or guardians’ passports or IDs, and a signed parental consent letter where the parents are not traveling with you. | Varies by center |
The number one confusion
Validity vs duration of stay
Validity period
The window in which you may enter China. You can enter on any day inside that window. With a Q2 multi-entry visa, the validity is often longer than the stay allowed on each trip.
Duration of stay
The number of days you may remain per entry. Days are counted from the day after you arrive. A Q2 asking for more than 36 months of validity is only granted when the relationship documents are supplied. Summary — the officer decides
| Item | Typical position | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 duration of stay | No more than 180 days. The visa is not converted — you leave, or apply to extend, before it runs out. | Verified · official source |
| Q1 duration of stay | Set by the visa officer; it only needs to cover your arrival, because the residence permit takes over. | Verified · official source |
| Residence permit needed? | Q1: yes. Apply within 30 days of entry at the exit-entry administration of the public security bureau at or above county level where you will live. Verified · official source | Verified · official source |
| How long the reunion permit lasts | Up to 3 years if you are under 18 or aged 60 or above (and, for a child, not beyond your 18th birthday); up to 2 years for everyone else. Verified · official source | Verified · official source |
| Fees | Visa fees vary by nationality and number of entries — read the official fee schedule. Residence-permit fees are fixed (see below). | Summary — check the official fee table |
Step by step
From paperwork to residence permit
Confirm the relationship and find the certificate
Marriage certificate, birth certificate, kinship notarization or a kinship certificate from a public security bureau. If it was issued outside China, arrange the Apostille at the competent authority of that country — for countries not party to the convention, consular authentication by the Chinese embassy or consulate-general still applies. Verified · official source
Your relative in China prepares the invitation
The letter needs your details, the purpose of the visit, your dates, and the inviter’s phone number, address and signature — plus a copy of their Chinese ID, or their foreign passport and Chinese permanent residence permit. Verified · official source
Choose Q1 or Q2 and apply
More than 180 days → Q1. Up to 180 days → Q2. Submit the online form and documents at the Chinese embassy, consulate-general or visa center for your area.
Enter China inside the validity window
Check every date on the visa sticker as soon as you collect your passport. If a date looks wrong, fix it before you travel.
Register your address within 24 hours
A hotel registers your stay for you. If you are staying with family, you or your host must register at the local police station within 24 hours of arrival. Living in China guide · pre-departure checklist.
Q1 only: apply for the reunion residence permit within 30 days
Take your passport, the identity certificate of the relative you are joining, and a letter explaining the family relationship to the local exit-entry administration. Verified · official source
After you arrive
The reunion-type residence permit
For Q1 holders this is the document that lets you actually live in China with your family, rather than just visit.
| Item | What the official guide says |
|---|---|
| When to apply | Within 30 days of entering China. Verified · official source |
| What you submit | Your valid passport, a completed application form with a compliant photo, the identity certificate of the relative you are joining, and a letter setting out the family relationship and the reason for the residence period requested. Verified · official source |
| Relationship proof again | Where the relationship certificate was issued by a foreign authority, it must carry an Apostille from the competent authority of that country; documents from countries not party to the Convention still need consular authentication by the Chinese embassy or consulate-general there. Verified · official source |
| How long it can last | Up to 3 years for applicants under 18 or aged 60 or above — and for a child, not beyond the 18th birthday — and up to 2 years for other applicants. Verified · official source |
| Health certificate | Required if you apply for a permit valid for more than 1 year, issued by a local health and quarantine authority or a health institution at or above county level. Verified · official source |
| Decision time and fee | A residence-permit decision is made within 15 working days. The fee is CNY 400 for a permit valid up to 1 year; CNY 800 for 1–3 years; CNY 1,000 for 3–5 years. Verified · official source |
| Extending it | Apply 30 days before the permit expires, with updated relationship and inviter documents. Verified · official source |
Before you pay or fly
Four things people get wrong
Visa fees are not one price
Fees depend on your nationality and the number of entries, and some nationalities pay under a bilateral agreement. We deliberately do not quote a number — read the official fee schedule at the visa center that serves you. Summary — see the official fee table
Your passport must have room and time
At least 6 months of remaining validity and blank visa pages, and it must stay valid for the whole visa validity plus duration of stay. Verified · official source
Register your address within 24 hours
Staying with family is not a hotel stay. You or your host must register with the local public security authority within 24 hours of arrival. Since 21 September 2026 this can be filed online nationwide, and the offline counter remains available. Verified · official source Living in China guide.
Keep your status honest
Never present a document you cannot stand behind, and never overstay the duration of stay. Overstaying can mean fines, detention and trouble with future applications. If your plans change inside China, go to the exit-entry administration and ask about an extension.
Keep reading
Related pages
Live in China
Address registration, banking, medical care and everyday life as a resident.
Living guides →S1 & S2 visas
Joining a foreign relative who is in China for work or study instead of a Chinese citizen.
Compare S visas →All Chinese visa types
Compare L, M, Z, X, Q, S and R visas side by side.
Back to the visa hub →Enjoyed this guide?
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Sources & disclaimer
Facts on this page are linked to the official sources below, checked on 13 October 2026. Requirements, fees and timelines change — always confirm with the issuing authority. This page is for reference only — official sources prevail; always check the latest version with the relevant Chinese authority. General information, not legal advice.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China Consular Service Network — Visa Application Instructions of the People’s Republic of China: Q1 is for relatives coming to reside for more than 180 days and Q2 for visits of no more than 180 days; the list of qualifying family members; the invitation letter and relationship certification documents; and the 30-day residence-permit note for Q1.
- Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sweden — Instructions for Applying for a Visa (2026): the Q1 relationship certification options (marriage certificate, birth certificate, kinship notarization, public security bureau kinship certificate) in original and copy, the Q2 invitation letter and inviter ID requirements, and the multi-entry rule tied to relationship documents.
- National Immigration Administration — Service Guide on Issuance of Residence Permit for Foreigners: what a reunion-type permit requires, the identity certificate of the person visited plus a letter explaining the family relationship, validities of up to 3 years (under 18 or aged 60 or above) and up to 2 years (others), the document rules for family relationship certificates, the 15-working-day decision and the fee schedule.
- National Immigration Administration — Guidelines for foreigners’ visa, stay permit and residence permit applications: reunion-type residence permit documents for Q1 visa holders and the application rules.
- National Immigration Administration — Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China (English): foreigners who need to stay beyond the visa’s duration of stay must apply for a residence permit within 30 days of entry.
- National Immigration Administration — Regulations on Filing Accommodation Registration for Foreigners: the 24-hour registration duty for anyone not staying in a hotel, including family homes, and the penalties for missing it.
- National Immigration Administration — List of Countries Covered by Unilateral Visa Exemption Policies (as of 17 February 2026): 30-day visa-free entry covers business, tourism, family visits, exchange visits and transit.
- National Immigration Administration — Visa-Free Transit Policies (2026): 24-hour visa-free transit for all nationalities and 240-hour transit for nationals of the listed countries.
- China Visa Application Service Center — notice that reduced Chinese visa fees continue to 31 December 2026, with a national-flag table showing why fees differ by nationality and number of entries.
- China Visa Application Service Center (visaforchina.cn) — the official application portal, the online visa form and the fee schedule for the center serving your region.
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China — the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents (Apostille Convention) took effect in China on 7 November 2023: public documents exchanged between China and other contracting states need only an Apostille, not consular legalisation.
- China Consular Service Network — consular authentication guidance: how the Apostille route works for documents from contracting states since 7 November 2023, and the consular-authentication route that still applies to documents from countries not party to the Convention.
- National Immigration Administration — Announcement No. 7 of 2026 (21 September 2026): nationwide online filing of accommodation registration for foreigners staying outside hotels, with the offline counter retained and equal legal effect.