ChinaFamily visa

Q1 family visa in China

The family reunion visa is a long-stay visa for relatives of Chinese citizens and of foreign nationals with permanent residence in the country who are joining them to live together for an extended period, and also for those entering for the foster care of a child. After entry it is converted into a residence permit at the place of residence.

Source: Embassy of China in the USA (china-embassy.gov.cn), Chinese visa requirements and procedure, September 2025 update

Who can obtain a Q1 visa

The visa applies to two groups of applicants.

Family reunion

Spouse, parent, child, child's spouse, brother, sister, grandparent or grandchild (on the paternal and maternal side), or parent-in-law of a Chinese citizen or of a foreign national with permanent residence in China
You are joining the inviting party in China for more than 180 days

Foster care of a child

A child of Chinese origin or of foreign citizenship under 18 placed in foster care in China
Arranged at the guardian's permanent or main place of residence

What it costs

Family reunion residence permit, up to 1 year	400 CNY
Family reunion residence permit, 1–3 years	+800 CNY
Family reunion residence permit, 3–5 years	+1 000 CNY

Documents to gather

For the Q1 visa you need:

Invitation from a Chinese citizen or a foreign national with permanent residence in China who lives in the country
Copies of the Chinese citizen's identity card (front and back) — or copies of the biographical page of the passport and of the permanent resident card if the inviting party is a foreign national
Original of the document proving the family relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate and the like) for verification on the spot; a copy is uploaded online in advance
Passport: biographical page, at least 2 blank pages for the visa, validity of 6 months or more

How the process runs

The process has two stages: the visa abroad and the residence permit after entering China.

1
Preparing the invitation and the documents
The inviting party — a Chinese citizen or a foreign national with permanent residence in the country — prepares the invitation. The applicant gathers the original of the document proving the family relationship and copies of the inviting party's identity document.
2
Filing the application and receiving the Q1 visa
4 working days under the standard tariff, 3 working days under the express one (Chinese embassy in the USA)
The applicant files the documents with the Chinese embassy or consulate covering their place of residence. Processing time depends on the particular consulate.
3
Obtaining the family reunion residence permit
file no later than 30 days after entry; decision no later than 15 working days after the application is accepted
The application is filed with the exit and entry department of the public security authority at the intended place of residence. A Q1 visa holder provides the inviting party's identity document and a letter on the family relationship. The residence permit is issued for up to two years; for applicants under 18 or aged 60 and over — up to three years, but for minors not beyond their 18th birthday.

Timelines and rights

Work

The Q1 confers no right to work. To work you obtain a work permit and change the residence permit to a work-type one.

Who you can bring with you

The circle of relatives is the same for the Q1 visa and for the family reunion residence permit that follows:

Spouse, parents, parents-in-law, children and children's spouses

The main family reunion category

Brothers, sisters, grandparents and grandchildren on the paternal and maternal side

They also count as family members under this visa

A child of Chinese origin or of foreign citizenship under 18 in foster care in China

A separate ground for the Q1 — foster care rather than kinship. The child's birth certificate, copies of the parents' passports, letters entrusting and accepting the foster care and proof that the guardian has lived in China for 6 months or more are required

Trips, renewal and the grace period

Within 30 days of entry, apply for a family reunion residence permit. Accommodation is registered with the police within 24 hours of check-in; in a hotel this is done by the hotel.

The family reunion residence permit is issued for up to two years; for applicants under 18 or aged 60 and over — up to three years, but for minors not beyond their 18th birthday. An application for extension is filed no later than 30 days before it expires, with the exit and entry department of the public security authority at the place of residence.

How it differs from the routes next to it

The comparison is built from the official terms of the routes themselves — the source links sit on their own pages.

	Q1 family visa	Z work visa	R visa for foreign talents
Visa term	Intended period of stay — more than 180 days	Z visa 30 days; conversion into a residence permit (~1 year) within 30 days, renewable	Often a multiple-entry visa for up to 5 years, renewable
Work	The Q1 confers no right to work	Work only for the sponsor in the approved position	Work for the designated employer / host
Residence	Within 30 days of entry, apply for a family reunion residence permit	Police registration within 24 hours	A residence permit is obtained after entry

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

The spouse of a Chinese citizen or of a foreign national with permanent residence applies for permanent residence after 5 years of marriage and 5 years of residence in China. The family route also covers unmarried children under 18 and relatives aged 60 or over with no family abroad. The decision takes up to 6 months; the fee is CNY 1,500 plus CNY 300 for the card.

Route to citizenship

China does not recognise dual citizenship. Marriage to a Chinese citizen does not in itself confer citizenship: close kinship is only one of the grounds on which an application may be approved. If approved, you lose your foreign citizenship.

Frequently asked questions about Q1 family visa

Who can obtain a Q1 visa?

The Q1 visa is issued to family members of Chinese citizens or of foreign nationals with permanent residence in China — spouses, parents, children, children's spouses, brothers, sisters, grandparents, grandchildren and parents-in-law — who are travelling for family reunion for more than 180 days. The Q1 is also used to enter China for the foster care of a child of Chinese origin or of foreign citizenship under 18.

How long does it take to obtain a Q1 visa?

Timelines depend on the particular consulate. The Chinese embassy in the USA issues the Q1 visa in 4 working days under the standard tariff and in 3 working days under the express one.

How does the Q1 differ from the Q2 and the S1?

The Q2 is the short version of the same family visa: it is used to visit relatives in China for no more than 180 days. The S1 is the visa for the family of a foreign national who is himself working or studying in China rather than a Chinese citizen or permanent resident: it covers his spouse, parents, parents-in-law or children under 18.

Is anything required after entering on a Q1 visa?

Yes. Within 30 days of entry you must apply for a family reunion residence permit at the exit and entry department of the public security authority at your place of residence. The decision is taken no later than 15 working days after the documents are accepted.

How much does the family reunion residence permit cost?

The fee depends on the validity: CNY 400 for up to one year, CNY 800 for one to three years and CNY 1,000 for three to five years.

Can the spouse of a Chinese citizen obtain permanent residence?

Yes. The spouse of a Chinese citizen or of a foreign national with permanent residence may apply for permanent resident status after five years of marriage and five years of residence in China — at least nine months a year — with a stable income and accommodation. The decision is taken within six months; the fee is CNY 1,500 for the application and CNY 300 for producing the card.

Other ways to move to China

Every route in one list — migration programmes: China.

The terms and the amounts are checked against official sources — the link sits under each section.Last checked on: 7 August 2026.