The Q visa is for visiting Chinese citizens or foreign permanent residents in China. Q1 is long-term (over 180 days), Q2 short-term (usually within 120-180 days).
Documents: passport, photo, form, copy of the inviter ID or permanent residence card, and an invitation letter stating the family relation and visit plan. Proof of direct kinship (birth or marriage certificate) may be requested.
Q1 holders must apply for a residence permit within 30 days of arrival; Q2 usually needs nothing more.
Who counts as family? Spouse, parents, children, siblings and other direct relatives. For distant relatives, an L visa or embassy advice is safer.
Tips: the letter needs the inviter signature and contact; photocopy everything; allow 4-7 working days for a first application.
The China family-visit visa (Q visa) is designed for "visiting family in China" - spouses, parents, children, siblings and other direct relatives.
Q visas come in Q1 and Q2. Q1 is long-term: stays over 180 days, requiring a residence permit within thirty days of entry; Q2 is short-term: generally under 180 days.
Who qualifies? Relatives of Chinese citizens (holding Chinese passport or ID): spouse, children, parents, in-laws, grandparents. Non-direct relatives generally do not.
Required documents: the inviter ID and hukou copies, an invitation letter (stating relationship and itinerary), the applicant passport and photo, kinship proof.
How to prove kinship? If married in China, provide the marriage certificate copy; for children, the birth certificate.
If you are foreign and your spouse is Chinese, your child can apply for Q visas together - convenient for travelling as a family.
The invitation letter should state clearly: relationship between inviter and applicant, purpose, intended stay, and the inviter address and phone.
Q1 to residence permit: after entry, go to the local exit-entry administration with passport, visa and inviter documents; takes a few working days.
Q2 stays cannot be freely extended except in special cases. Overstaying leaves a bad record and affects future entries.
For minors, documents are simpler: usually birth certificate and parent identity materials.
Fees are similar to other visa types but vary by country and centre - check local announcements.
Timing: Q applications are relatively simple; apply three to four weeks ahead; during holidays (Spring Festival, National Day), start earlier.
Family affection is the best "invitation letter". Get the Q visa, go home, and reunion is at hand.
Practical reminders: first, print the invitation letter; border officers may ask whom you are visiting and the itinerary - answer clearly and all is fine; second, if visiting a spouse, carry the marriage certificate original to avoid unnecessary questioning; third, travelling to other cities during the stay is perfectly fine - Q visas allow free domestic travel. Finally, do not overstay after expiry; exit in time or apply for extension. A clean entry-exit record matters greatly for future visits.
