ChinaFamily visa

Family visit visa in China

The family visit visa is China's visa for a short trip to see a relative who lives permanently in the country: a Chinese citizen or a foreign national with permanent residence. Such a visa does not convert into a residence permit — you enter, stay for its term and travel back.

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

Who can obtain a Q2 visa

The visa is issued for a short visit to a relative. The category of the inviting party determines which documents about them must be attached.

The inviting relative is a Chinese citizen

You are travelling to China to visit a relative who lives in the country for no more than 180 days
The invitation is issued by the relative themselves, a Chinese citizen, stating their details and address in China
Copies of both sides of the inviting party's identity card are attached to the application

The inviting relative is a foreign national with permanent residence in China

You are travelling to China to visit a relative for no more than 180 days
The invitation is issued by the foreign relative holding a permanent residence card in China
Copies of the biographical page of their passport and of the permanent residence card are attached to the application

When the Q2 visa will not suit

The visit to the relative is shorter than 30 days

No visa is needed at all: until 31 December 2027 a visa-free regime applies to Russian nationals with an ordinary international passport, and it covers visits to relatives

You are visiting for more than 180 days or for permanent family reunion

Long-stay Family Reunion Visa (Q1 Visa)

You are visiting a foreign relative who works or studies in China but does not hold permanent residence

Short-stay Visa to Visit a Foreign National Working or Studying in China (S2 Visa)

Documents to gather

The list is shorter than for the long-stay family visa: no separate document proving the relationship is required — that information forms part of the invitation itself.

Invitation from the relative — a Chinese citizen or a foreign national with permanent residence in China: with their details, address in China, the details of the person invited, the degree of kinship, the planned date of travel and its duration
Copies of both sides of the Chinese citizen's identity card — if the inviting party is a Chinese citizen
Copies of the biographical page of the passport and of the permanent residence card (both sides) — if the inviting party is a foreign national with permanent residence

How the process runs

After the Q2 visa is issued no separate residence permit is obtained — the permitted period of stay is stated in the visa itself.

1
The relative in China prepares the invitation
The inviting party states in the invitation their name, date of birth, identity card or permanent residence card number, address in China, and also the name, date of birth, passport details and degree of kinship of the person invited, the planned date of entry and the length of the trip.
2
Filing the Q2 visa application
4 working days, or 3 under the express tariff
The applicant submits the invitation and copies of the inviting party's documents to a Chinese embassy or consulate. The Chinese embassy in the USA processes the application in 4 working days under the standard tariff and in 3 working days under the express one; timelines may differ at other consulates.
3
Entering China and registering the place of residence
24 hours to register after check-in
A Q2 visa allows a stay in China of no more than 180 days; no separate residence permit is required. After checking in you must register your place of residence with the local police within 24 hours — in a hotel the hotel does this itself.

Timelines and rights

Work

Work is not allowed. A foreign national may work in China only with a work permit and a work residence permit.

Trips, renewal and the grace period

No residence permit is obtained: the period of stay is stated in the visa. Accommodation is registered with the police within 24 hours of check-in; in a hotel this is done by the hotel.

A stay on a Q2 may be extended if the reasons for the extension are justified. The application is filed no later than 7 days before the period stated in the visa expires, with the exit and entry authority of the police at the place of stay. The total extension may not exceed the original period of stay stated in the visa.

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.

	Family visit visa	Z work visa	R visa for foreign talents
Visa term	Intended period of stay — no 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	Work is not allowed	Work only for the sponsor in the approved position	Work for the designated employer / host
Residence	No residence permit is obtained: the period of stay is stated in the visa	Police registration within 24 hours	A residence permit is obtained after entry

What comes next: permanent residence and citizenship

Route to permanent residence

Guest visits do not lead to permanent residence. Permanent residence is granted to the spouse of a Chinese citizen after 5 years of marriage and 5 years of residence in China, and also for investment, for 4 years of work in a management position together with 3 years of residence, or for an outstanding contribution.

Route to citizenship

China does not recognise dual citizenship. Citizenship is granted to close relatives of Chinese citizens, to those who have settled in China and on other lawful grounds. If approved, you lose your foreign citizenship.

Frequently asked questions about Family visit visa

Who can obtain a Q2 visa?

The Q2 visa is issued to those travelling to China to visit a relative — a Chinese citizen living in the country, or a foreign national with permanent residence in China. The permitted length of the trip is no more than 180 days.

How long does it take to obtain a Q2 visa?

The Chinese embassy in the USA processes the application in 4 working days under the standard tariff and in 3 working days under the express one. The period is counted from the date the passport is lodged; timelines may differ at other consulates.

Is a residence permit required after entering on a Q2?

No, no separate residence permit is obtained under the Q2 — the term for which the visa is issued does not exceed 180 days and is stated in the visa itself. You must, however, register your place of residence with the police at your place of stay within 24 hours of check-in; if you are staying in a hotel, the hotel does this itself.

Can a Q2 visa be extended if you need to stay longer?

Yes, if the reasons for the extension are justified. The application is filed no later than 7 days before the period stated in the visa expires, with the exit and entry authority of the police at the place of stay. The total extension may not exceed the original period of stay stated in the visa.

How does the Q2 visa differ from the long-stay Q1 family visa?

By the length-of-trip threshold and the steps that follow. The Q2 is for visits of no more than 180 days, with no separate residence permit needed after entry. The Q1 is for longer trips and requires a family reunion residence permit to be obtained within 30 days of entry.

Is a Q2 visa needed for a visit to a relative of just a couple of weeks?

If the trip is shorter than 30 days and the passport is an ordinary Russian international passport, no visa is needed at all. China has extended the unilateral visa-free regime for Russian nationals until 31 December 2027, and it covers visits to relatives and friends. A Q2 visa is obtained when the 30-day visa-free period is not enough.

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.