Applying for a Chinese Family Visit Q Visa

Are you planning to visit relatives in China who are Chinese nationals? You'll need a Chinese Family Visit Visa (Q Visa). If your relatives are foreigners residing in China due to work or study, you would need an S Visa instead. The Q Visa is typically required for visits exceeding 60 days. For shorter stays, a Tourist Visa (L Visa) is appropriate.

Key Details

Purpose	To visit Chinese family members
Duration of Stay	Q2: up to 180 days · Q1: up to 2 years
Number of Entries	Single, double, or multiple (Q1: single, convertible to multiple via residence permit)
Validity Period	90 days from issuance; 6–12 months for multiple entries

Introduced in September 2013, the Q Visa facilitates visits by overseas Chinese and their relatives. Applicants must prove first-degree kinship (parents, children, siblings, and their spouses) through birth and/or marriage certificates. Former Chinese nationals are exempt but must present a naturalization certificate or previous Chinese visas.

Q1 vs Q2 Visa

Q2 Visa: Suitable for stays of up to 180 days.
Q1 Visa: After arrival in China, convertible into a residence permit allowing up to three years, enabling visa-free entry and exit.

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Application Information

The Q2 visa can be issued for single, double, or multiple entries within 180 days, with each stay lasting either 180 continuous days or increments of 30, 60, or 90 days.

Q1 visa holders must register with local police within 30 days of arrival and apply for a Residence Permit, which typically requires additional documentation such as authenticated birth and/or marriage certificates and occasionally a health certificate.

Required Documents

Completed Visa Application Form: Online submission only (since May 2019).
Colour Biometric Passport Photo: Light background, uploaded digitally or printed ~3.5 × 4.5 cm.
Passport: At least 6 months validity and one blank page (two pages for multiple entries).
Proof of Kinship: Copies of birth and/or marriage certificates. For residence permit conversion in China, originals or authenticated copies certified by Chinese consulates are required within 30 days of entry.
Formal Private Invitation: From your relative in China, including full address, contact number, name, intended period of stay, and birthdate. Signed by the host, with two copies of their ID or passport. Former Chinese nationals: provide previous China visa records or naturalization certificate instead.

Understanding the Private Invitation

A private invitation can be issued for a single visit of up to 180 days or for multiple visits of 30, 60, or 90 days each. The invitation is issued in China, scanned, and sent as an email attachment — an original copy is not required for the application.

We are happy to send you a template for a formally correct private invitation via email, available in English or Chinese upon request. order a template for an invitation

Validity: Q2 Visa (Short-term)

The Q2 Family Visit Visa is valid for entry into China for 90 days from the date of issue. Once entered, it allows a stay of 30, 60, 90, or up to 180 days. It is generally possible to extend your stay once through the Chinese police (e.g., 30-day visas can be extended 30 days) — but extensions are at the discretion of the Chinese police and cannot be guaranteed.

Validity: Q1 Visa (Long-term)

The Q1 Family Visit Visa allows entry into China within 90 days of issuance for an initial 30-day stay. By the 30th day, you must apply at the local registration office for a residence permit — valid for at least one year (up to three years), allowing multiple entries and stays for any length during its validity. When applying for the residence permit, birth and/or marriage certificates must be presented in original (if Chinese documents) or as authenticated copies.

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