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Q1 Visa and Reunion Residence Permit - Family Reunification

ChinaFamily

Explore the five recorded questions, answers and sources for this pathway.

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Explore pathways in China Read the five questions ↓

Which family relationships qualify?

Family members of Chinese citizens or foreigners with Chinese permanent residence may seek reunion residence. The guide defines family to include spouses, parents, parents-in-law, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren and children's spouses.

See recorded sources
  • Article 6(8)
    (8) The Q1 visa is issued to family members of Chinese citizens and family members of foreigners with permanent residence status in China who apply for residence in China for family reunion, as well as for persons who apply for residence in China for fosterage or other purposes; the Q2 visa is for relatives of Chinese citizens living in China, or relatives of foreigners with permanent residence status in China, who apply for a short-term visit;
  • XII(1)
    （一）家庭成员：包括配偶、父母、配偶的父母、子女、兄弟姐妹、祖父母、外祖父母、孙子女、外孙子女、子女的配偶。

Who may sponsor or bring the family member, and what immigration/citizenship status must that person hold?

The invitation comes from the Chinese citizen living in China or foreign permanent resident. Residence-stage evidence includes the sponsor identity and relationship letter; other visa entrants also provide formal relationship proof.

See recorded sources
  • Article 7(8)
    (8) To apply for the Q1 visa, in the case of applying for residence in China for family reunion, the applicant shall submit the invitation letter provided by the Chinese citizen living in China or by the foreigner with permanent residence status in China and proof of family relationship; and in the case of applying for entry for fosterage or other purposes, the applicant shall submit such certification documents as a power of attorney; to apply for the Q2 visa, the applicant shall submit such certification documents as the letter of invitation provided by the Chinese citizen living in China or by the foreigner with permanent residence status in China;
  • V(2)(d)
    Foreigners entering China with Q1 visa shall submit the identity certificate of the person being visited and a letter explaining the relationship between family members.
  • V(2)(d)
    Foreigners entering China with other categories of visa shall also submit proofs of family member relationship.

What is important for proving marriage, partnership, parentage, custody, dependency or another qualifying relationship?

Applicants must supply the required invitation and marriage, birth, adoption or other relationship evidence. For public documents within the Apostille Convention scope from countries for which it applies with China, an apostille replaces consular legalisation from 7 November 2023; other documents require the applicable authentication procedure.

See recorded sources
  • Article 7(8)
    (8) To apply for the Q1 visa, in the case of applying for residence in China for family reunion, the applicant shall submit the invitation letter provided by the Chinese citizen living in China or by the foreigner with permanent residence status in China and proof of family relationship; and in the case of applying for entry for fosterage or other purposes, the applicant shall submit such certification documents as a power of attorney; to apply for the Q2 visa, the applicant shall submit such certification documents as the letter of invitation provided by the Chinese citizen living in China or by the foreigner with permanent residence status in China;
  • XII(2)
    （二）家庭成员关系证明和亲属关系证明：有关国家主管部门出具的结婚证明、出生证明、收养证明、其他亲属关系证明以及相关公证；所属国驻华使领馆出具的婚姻证明、出生证明、亲属关系证明、姓名等资料变更证明等。
  • Implementation paragraph 2
    《公约》是海牙国际私法会议框架下适用范围最广、缔约成员最多的国际条约，旨在简化公文书跨国流转程序。11月7日起，中国送往其他缔约国使用的公文书，仅需办理《公约》规定的附加证明书（Apostille），即可送其他缔约国使用，无需办理中国和缔约国驻华使领馆的领事认证。其他缔约国公文书送中国内地使用，只需办理该国附加证明书，无需办理该国和中国驻当地使领馆的领事认证。

What important financial, accommodation, insurance or maintenance responsibilities apply?

The checked official sources did not provide enough route-specific evidence to confirm the financial, accommodation, insurance or maintenance responsibilities that apply.

See recorded sources
Limits of the record
  • Specific financial, accommodation and insurance requirements must be checked for the accepting office; none may be inferred from permanent-residence family rules.
  • V(2)(d)
    Foreigners entering China with Q1 visa shall submit the identity certificate of the person being visited and a letter explaining the relationship between family members.
  • Article 7(8)
    (8) To apply for the Q1 visa, in the case of applying for residence in China for family reunion, the applicant shall submit the invitation letter provided by the Chinese citizen living in China or by the foreigner with permanent residence status in China and proof of family relationship; and in the case of applying for entry for fosterage or other purposes, the applicant shall submit such certification documents as a power of attorney; to apply for the Q2 visa, the applicant shall submit such certification documents as the letter of invitation provided by the Chinese citizen living in China or by the foreigner with permanent residence status in China;

How does the application work at a high level, what rights does the family member receive, how long does the status last, and how can it become independent or longer-term where officially stated?

Obtain Q1 entry permission where required, then apply for reunion residence within 30 days of entry. Those under 18 or at least 60 may receive up to three years, with a minor permit ending no later than the 18th birthday; others may receive up to two years. Renew 30 days before expiry. Employment requires separate work authorisation; the family permit is not itself an unrestricted work or permanent-residence grant.

See recorded sources
  • Article 7(8)
    (8) To apply for the Q1 visa, in the case of applying for residence in China for family reunion, the applicant shall submit the invitation letter provided by the Chinese citizen living in China or by the foreigner with permanent residence status in China and proof of family relationship; and in the case of applying for entry for fosterage or other purposes, the applicant shall submit such certification documents as a power of attorney; to apply for the Q2 visa, the applicant shall submit such certification documents as the letter of invitation provided by the Chinese citizen living in China or by the foreigner with permanent residence status in China;
  • VI(2) entry deadline
    外国人所持签证注明入境后需要办理居留证件的，应当自入境之日起30日内，向拟居留地公安机关出入境管理机构申请办理外国人居留证件。
  • V(2)(d)
    For those under the age of 18 or at or above the age of 60, residence permit with a validity period of not more than 3 years may be issued. The date of expiry of the residence permit for a person under the age of 18 shall not be later than the date on which he/she turns 18. For other persons, a residence permit with a validity period of no more than 2 years may be issued.
  • Article 32
    第三十二条 在中国境内居留的外国人申请延长居留期限的，应当在居留证件有效期限届满三十日前向居留地县级以上地方人民政府公安机关出入境管理机构提出申请，按照要求提交申请事由的相关材料。经审查，延期理由合理、充分的，准予延长居留期限；不予延长居留期限的，应当按期离境。
  • Article 41
    第四十一条 外国人在中国境内工作，应当按照规定取得工作许可和工作类居留证件。任何单位和个人不得聘用未取得工作许可和工作类居留证件的外国人。

These are the answers currently recorded in the catalogue. A missing or partial answer is not an eligibility decision.

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