China Q1/Q2 Family Reunion Visa

Q1 is for long-term reunion stays of more than 180 days, such as a foreign spouse settling in China or foreign parents joining their Chinese children. After entry on Q1 you must go to the Exit-Entry Administration within 30 days to exchange it for a family reunion residence permit, valid for up to 5 years, during which you can enter and leave freely. Q2 is for short-term family visits of no more than 180 days, staying for the number of days stated in the visa. Q2 can be issued for single or multiple entry (up to 10 years) and needs no residence permit. The rule: for a short stay choose Q2 (simpler); to live in China long term choose Q1 (a residence permit is more stable).

The Q visa covers a wide range: spouse, parents (including parents-in-law), children (including your children's spouses), siblings, paternal and maternal grandparents, and paternal and maternal grandchildren. In short, direct relatives within three generations qualify. Family members of foreign nationals working or studying in China (who are not Chinese citizens or permanent residents) are not covered by the Q visa and should apply for an S visa. If in doubt, contact OTGEO to confirm whether your relationship qualifies, so you do not apply blindly and get refused.

Q visa processing usually takes 1–3 months. The timeline: (1) notarization and legalization of the family relationship (1–3 weeks, depending on the route — Apostille countries are 2–4 weeks faster than countries using consular legalization); (2) obtaining the invitation letter (1–2 weeks, depending on how quickly your relative in China responds); (3) embassy or consulate visa review (1–4 weeks). Notarization and legalization is the most time-consuming step: in Apostille Convention member states it takes about 2 weeks for notarization plus the Apostille; in non-Apostille countries it requires notarization plus authentication by the foreign ministry plus consular legalization by the destination country's embassy, which can take 4–6 weeks. Allow plenty of time.

Q visa costs fall into two parts: government fees and supporting costs. Government fees: the visa application fee is about ¥200–800 (depending on nationality and number of entries); the residence permit after Q1 entry is about ¥400–800 per year; extending a Q2 stay is about ¥200–400 per time. Supporting costs: notarization of the family relationship is about ¥200–500 per document; an Apostille is about ¥100–300; consular legalization is about ¥300–800 (depending on the embassy's charges). Total costs are about ¥1,500–4,000, with cross-border notarization and legalization accounting for a large share. OTGEO provides full handling at transparent prices.

Common reasons: (1) insufficient proof of family relationship — the marriage or birth certificate has not been notarized and legalized, translations are not standard, or the notarial certificate is more than 6 months old; (2) problems with the invitation letter — incomplete information, no copy of the relative's ID, or the relationship between inviter and applicant is not clearly stated; (3) the passport is valid for less than 6 months; (4) the applicant has a poor exit-entry record in China. If refused, you can reapply once the documents are complete; there is no mandatory cooling-off period. Have an OTGEO consultant review your full document set before submission so it goes through first time.

The Q visa (family reunion residence permit) explicitly prohibits the holder from working in China. If you want to work in China, you must first cancel the Q residence permit, and your employer must apply anew for a Foreigner's Work Permit and a Z visa. Under current policy, some regions allow holders of a Q residence permit to convert in country directly to a work-type residence permit (without leaving China to change visas), provided the employer is qualified to hire foreign nationals and the applicant meets the work permit conditions. If you do not meet the conditions for in-country conversion, you must leave China, apply for a Z visa and re-enter. OTGEO can assess your case and plan the best conversion route.