ChinaResidence permit

Family reunion residence permit in China

The reunion-type residence permit for foreigners is issued to family members of Chinese citizens or of foreign nationals with permanent residence in the country, and also to foreign children in foster care with relatives in China. The document is issued by the exit and entry department of the police at the place of residence after entry on the corresponding family visa and confirmation of the family relationship.

Source: National Immigration Administration of China (nia.gov.cn), guide to the foreigner residence permit

Who can obtain a family reunion residence permit

The residence permit is obtained after entry on a family visa, provided the relationship is confirmed by documents.

Who counts as a family member

Spouse
Parents and parents-in-law
Children
Brothers and sisters
Grandparents on the paternal and maternal side
Grandchildren on the paternal and maternal side
Children's spouses

Who does the inviting in China

A Chinese citizen
A foreign national with permanent residence in China

Special case — a child in foster care

A foreign child under 18 of a Chinese person holding foreign citizenship or of an overseas Chinese (huaqiao), fostered in China
The application is filed by the guardian or the parents at the guardian's permanent or main place of residence

What it costs

Residence permit valid for up to 1 year	400 CNY
Residence permit valid for 1 to 3 years	800 CNY
Total government feesThe sum of the mandatory rows in the table.	1 200 CNY

Documents to gather

The general list for the family reunion residence permit.

Valid passport or other international travel document
Completed Visa / Stay Permit / Residence Permit Application Form and a photograph meeting the prescribed requirements
For those who entered on a category Q1 visa — the inviting party's identity document and a letter explaining the family relationship
For those who entered on other visa categories — documents proving the relationship (marriage, birth or adoption certificate and other documents on kinship)
For a residence permit valid for more than 1 year — a health certificate from the quarantine service or a medical institution at county level or above
Documents in a foreign language — with a translation into Chinese
For a child in foster care — additionally the birth certificate, copies of the foreign parents' passports, letters entrusting and accepting the foster care, proof that the guardian has lived there for more than 6 months and the guardian's identity document

How the process runs

The procedure according to China's immigration administration.

1
Filing the application
within 30 days of entry
The applicant files the documents in person at the exit and entry department of the public security authority at the intended place of residence. For an applicant under 16 or over 60, or in the case of a disability, the documents may be filed by the inviting party, by relatives or by a specialised service organisation.
2
Acceptance of the documents and the receipt
up to 15 working days
Once the completeness of the documents has been checked, the applicant is issued a receipt of acceptance. The decision to issue the residence permit is taken before the receipt expires — no more than 15 working days from the date of acceptance.
3
Verification of the information
The exit and entry department may verify the authenticity of the grounds through an interview, telephone calls and on-site checks. If the applicant fails without good reason to attend the interview at the appointed time, the residence permit may be refused.
4
Collecting the residence permit
The approved residence permit is collected in person at the exit and entry department on presentation of the receipt of acceptance.

Timelines and rights

Work

This residence permit 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 validity of the residence permit depends on the applicant's age.

Applicant under 18 or aged 60 and over

The residence permit is issued for no more than 3 years; for minors the validity may not extend beyond their 18th birthday

All other applicants

The residence permit is issued for no more than 2 years

A foreign child under 18 of a Chinese person holding foreign citizenship or of an overseas Chinese (huaqiao), in foster care in China

The residence permit is issued for no more than 3 years and not beyond the child's 18th birthday

Trips, renewal and the grace period

An extension is applied for 30 days before the term ends. If the details change, notify the exit and entry department within 10 days. Accommodation is registered with the police within 24 hours of check-in.

An extension is applied for 30 days before the residence permit expires, at the exit and entry department of the public security authority at the place of residence, together with documents confirming the ground for the extension. If the reasons for the extension are found justified, the period of stay is extended and a new residence permit is issued. If personal details or the purpose of stay change, supporting documents are submitted to the same department to register the changes and obtain a new residence permit. A lost, damaged or stolen residence permit is reissued on the basis of a certificate of loss of the passport or a letter from the embassy of the country of residence in China, or on the basis of the damaged and the new travel document.

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 reunion residence permit	Z work visa	R visa for foreign talents
Visa term	Up to 3 years for persons under 18 and over 60; for everyone else — no more than 2 years	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	This residence permit confers no right to work	Work only for the sponsor in the approved position	Work for the designated employer / host
Residence	An extension is applied for 30 days before the term ends	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. Close kinship with a Chinese citizen is one of the grounds for admission to citizenship, but not an automatic right. If approved, you lose your foreign citizenship.

Frequently asked questions about Family reunion residence permit

Who can obtain a family reunion residence permit in China?

Family members of Chinese citizens or of foreign nationals with permanent residence in China: spouse, parents, parents-in-law, children, brothers and sisters, grandparents on the paternal and maternal side, grandchildren on the paternal and maternal side, children's spouses. A separate residence permit is provided for a foreign child under 18 of a Chinese person holding foreign citizenship or of an overseas Chinese (huaqiao) who is in foster care in China.

How much does a family reunion residence permit cost?

The fee depends on the validity: CNY 400 for a residence permit of up to 1 year and CNY 800 for 1 to 3 years. The tariff is set for all residence permits for foreigners in China by the single Notice of the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Finance on fee standards.

How long does it take to obtain the residence permit?

The application is filed in person within 30 days of entering China. The receipt of acceptance is valid for no more than 15 working days from the date of acceptance — the decision to issue the residence permit is taken within that period.

How does the family reunion residence permit differ from the private affairs residence permit?

Reunion is for the family of Chinese citizens and of foreign nationals with permanent residence in China. The private affairs residence permit is obtained on an S1 visa for the family of a foreign national (not a Chinese citizen) who is himself working or studying in China: spouse, parents, parents-in-law and minor children under 18. Its validity equals that of the residence permit of the person being visited.

Is permanent residence in China possible after family reunion?

The spouse of a Chinese citizen or of a foreign national with permanent residence may apply for permanent residence after at least 5 years of marriage and at least 5 years of continuous residence in China with at least 9 months of stay a year, with a stable source of income and a permanent place of residence. The decision is taken within 6 months of the application being accepted; the fee is CNY 1,500 for the examination and CNY 300 for producing the card.

What is needed to extend a family reunion residence permit?

The extension application is filed 30 days before the permit expires, at the exit and entry department of the public security authority at the place of residence, together with documents confirming the ground for the extension. If personal details or the purpose of stay change, documents confirming the changes are submitted to the same department and a new residence permit is issued.

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.