China Q1 Family Reunion Visa Guide
Q1 is generally for eligible family members of a Chinese citizen or a foreigner with Chinese permanent residence who intend to stay in China for family reunion for more than 180 days. It is not simply a longer Q2 visit visa.
Q1 eligibility
The official family-member definition includes spouses, parents, parents-in-law, children, children’s spouses, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren. The inviter must live in China and be either a Chinese citizen or a foreign citizen holding Chinese permanent residence.
Document checklist
- Basic passport, COVA, residence and prior-visa documents applicable to the applicant.
- A signed invitation stating inviter and applicant details, relationship, planned arrival and intended long-term residence.
- Inviter’s Chinese ID, front and back; or foreign passport bio page and Chinese permanent residence card, front and back.
- Original marriage, birth or other official certificate proving the relationship, with a clear image uploaded online.
- Name-change, translation or chain-of-relationship documents when one certificate does not connect the two people clearly.
Invitation-letter consistency
The Embassy’s annex calls for the inviter’s identity and contact details, the applicant’s passport details, the relationship, expected travel date and stay, signature and date. These facts should agree with COVA and the supporting certificates.
After arrival
A Q1 visa is an entry step for long-term family reunion. Holders generally must apply for a residence permit with the local exit-entry authority within 30 days after entry, subject to the visa annotation and current local requirements. Plan for local registration and residence-permit documents before travel.
Q1 or Q2?
Q1 concerns intended stays over 180 days and residence; Q2 is for short family visits of no more than 180 days. Do not choose Q1 only because it sounds more flexible. Reddit timelines are individual experiences, not an official rule, and cannot predict review time or approval.
Related guides
One service for the full Q1 file
eChinaVisa can organize the invitation, inviter identification, relationship records and COVA answers, coordinate follow-up and manage passport handling. Approval and residence-permit decisions remain with Chinese authorities.
Start an applicationSources
- Chinese Embassy in the U.S.: Q1 requirements and invitation-letter contents
- r/Chinavisa Q1 discussions—individual experiences, not an official rule.
eChinaVisa is an independent visa application assistance service owned and operated by Dragon Byte Design Inc. It is not a government website and is not affiliated with any Chinese embassy or consulate. Requirements and case-specific requests can change. This guide is general information and does not guarantee approval or timing.