China Family Visa (Q visas) Requirements and Application

What are the China family visa requirements?

Applicants for a family visa in China must provide the following documents:

• A valid passport: It must be valid for more than six months. Passports of US citizens who intend to apply for a Q2 visa must be valid for one year or more. It is necessary to provide a copy of the passport. If you have a Chinese visa in your other passport, you must give that passport along with your new passport.
• Q visa application form  (V.2013) along with the applicant’s color photo to be attached to the form:

• Complete the application form on your computer first, then print it out and sign it. Handwritten forms will not be accepted.
• When filling out the form, if a section does not apply to you, write N/A in the blank. No parts should be left blank.
• The form must be printed as single-sided pages.
• The applicant’s photo must have been taken within the last six months.
• The dimensions of the photo should be 33 by 48 mm.

• Invitation letter for China family visa: This invitation letter must contain the following information:

1. Applicant information such as full name, gender, and date of birth
2. The purpose of the visit, the date of arrival in China, the place of residence, the probable period of residence in China
3. A financial source that provides travel expenses
4. The relationship between an applicant with the sender of the invitation
5.  Information about inviting individual (s) such as name, contact number, and address. The invitation letter must be signed by the inviter and can be sent as a copy by scan, email, and fax. In some cases, the original invitation letter may be requested.

• Proof of family relationship is required for Q1 visa applicants (Birth Certificate and Marriage Certificate)
• A copy of the Chinese ID or Foreign Passport and Permanent Residence, Permission of the Inviter, must be provided for the China family visa.
• Applicants under 18 who have not been invited by their parents are treated as foster and must submit the following documents:
• Official notarization of foster issued by Chinese embassies in foreign countries
• Original and copy of  consignor’s passports
• Original and copy of marriage certificate and birth certificate showing the relationship between parents, guardians, and the children
• A consent letter on foster care issued by a reputable person in China
• Photocopies of documents showing that the parents were permanently resident abroad at the time of the child’s birth, provided that either or both parents are Chinese citizens.
• More documents may be required at the discretion of the Chinese consulate.

What are the steps for applying for a China family visa?

Applicants for a family visa in China must submit their documents to one of the following centers in person:

• Chinese embassies
• Chinese consulates
• China Visa Application Service Centers

Most embassies and consulates do not accept mailed applications. It is not necessary to arrange an appointment in all cases.

How much does a China family visa cost?

The application fee for a China family visa is the same as other Chinese visas. The cost of applying for a Chinese visa varies from country to country. The embassies can provide detailed guidance in this regard.

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How long can a Chinese family visa holder stay in this country?

The Q1 visa is issued as a single entry. Holders of this visa must apply for a temporary residence permit within 30 days of their arrival in China. After receiving their residence permit, they will be allowed to stay in China for 1 to 5 years. As long as the visa is valid, they can freely enter and leave China.

The China family visa (Q2) is valid for 30 to 180 days. This visa is issued in single, double, and multiple entries. Holders of this visa are allowed to reside in China based on the duration indicated on the permit.

If you want to know about the difference between single and multiple entry visas, see “Number of Entries of China Visa.”

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How long does it take to assess the documents and issue a China family visa?

The processing time for a family visa in China is about four working days. Applicants must apply for a visa at least one month before their trip. If the applicants demand to be processed their application as Express Or Urgent, they need to pay more.

Let’s sum up…

In this article, we have reviewed information related to the China family visas application, such as requirements, costs, and other details. On the Visa Library website, you can learn about other Chinese visas as well as ways to immigrate to other countries. In case you have some experience, please write it down in the comment section. Your comments let the readers choose better and avoid mistakes. Conveying your experiences in comments is a great help for applicants.