china_visa

Source: Global Times

Q Visas are issued to the spouses and family members of either Chinese citizens or foreigners with Chinese permanent residence who want to go to China for a family reunion or for the purposes of foster care. There are two kinds, depending on how long the person intends to stay in China.

If the person on the mainland is actually a foreigner who is in China to work or study and has a residence permit, then their spouse or relatives should apply using an S Visa. 

Application Requirements

Both Q Visas require the following information to be handed in at your nearest Chinese embassy, consulate or (in some countries) official visa processing center (although Q2 Visas can be obtained from within China, at the Exit & Entry Office of the main Public Security Bureau in your nearest city or region).

  1. Completed visa application form.
  2. One recent passport-size photograph with white or blue background.
  3. Original, signed passport (with at least six months before expiration).
  4. Evidence of previous Chinese visa (if you have previously received a Chinese visa).
  5. Money for visa application fee.

Note: Application forms for visas and authentication or notarization can usually all be downloaded from the websites of the Chinese Embassy and Consulate General in your country, or collected from the visa section in person. You can try to download from this page.

If you are already in China on a working residence permit then you may be able to switch to a marriage residence permit at the Entry & Exit Office of your local Public Security Bureau, although you should call in and check to make sure that this is available to you first.

 

  • Q1 Visa for spouses and family members (long-term stay)

To apply for a Q1 Visa, the intended duration of stay in China must exceed 180 days.

“Family members” refers to spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandsons, granddaughters and parents-in-law. Note that the more distant the relatives you are visiting, the more limited your stay may be; this is at the discretion of the visa officer.

 

Application requirements

In addition to the general requirements outlined at the beginning of this section, applicants should present:

  1. ID card of Chinese family member.
  2. Chinese person’s household registration (hukou) certificate.
  3. Relationship certificate to prove your relationship with your family member. For example, if your spouse is Chinese, present your Chinese marriage license. If this certificate was issued outside China, notarization by a Chinese Embassy/Consulate is necessary.
  4. An invitation letter signed by your Chinese family member.
  5. Proof that either you or the visiting family members have enough money to sustain them while they are in China. This is not technically required, but is highly recommended for first-time applications and should take the form of a bank statement (or statements) covering the past six months. There is no specific detail on how much money must be in the bank account, but it should be enough that you are clearly not going to work illegally in China once you are here.

 

Validity

More than 180 days.

 

Visa Extension

It’s possible to extend your stay with this visa.

 

Working Permission

You cannot obtain any job using this type of visa.

 

  • Q2 Visa for spouses and family members (short-term visit)

For a Q2 Visa, the intended duration of stay in China must not exceed 180 days. Note that the more distant the relatives you are visiting, the more limited your stay may be; this is at the discretion of the visa officer. The visa can be applied for from within China.

 

Application requirements

In addition to the general requirements outlined at the beginning of this section, applicants should present:

  1. ID card of Chinese family member.
  2. Chinese person’s household registration (hukou) certificate.
  3. Relationship certificate to prove you and your Chinese family member’s relationship. For example, if your spouse is Chinese, present your Chinese marriage license. If this certificate was issued outside China, a Chinese Embassy/Consulate notarization is necessary.
  4. An invitation letter signed by your Chinese family member.
  5. Proof that either you or the visiting family members have enough money to sustain them while they are in China. This is not technically required, but is highly recommended for first-time applications and should take the form of a bank statement (or statements) covering the past six months. There is no specific detail on how much money must be in the bank account, but it should be enough that you are clearly not going to work illegally in China once you are here.

 

Validity

Up to 180 days.

 

Visa Extension

With this visa, it’s possible to extend it for up to 180 days.

 

Working Permission

You cannot obtain any job with this type of visa.

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