After publishing our comprehensive guide for obtaining a Chinese Visa, we received hundreds of questions and suggestions.
We updated the article several times based on the feedback and new laws. However, it appears that there is still a point that is unclear.
This article will explain what type of Visa you shall apply for and what documents you need when you want to visit (or accompany) your family members or friends in China.
Effective March 15, 2023, China will resume issuing all types of visas. Travelers may be required to provide a negative Covid-19 test taken within 48 hours prior to departure, but quarantine will not be necessary upon arrival.Differences between L, Q, and S Visa
There are three kinds of Visas that can be issued for visiting purposes: the L Visa (tourism), the S Visa (private affairs), and the Q Visa (family reunion).
This may be a bit confusing! In order to assess what Visa you shall apply for, you must look at the relationship (sister, friend, and so on) between you (that is the visitor) and the person you want to visit in China (that is the host). Moreover, you must take into account the legal status (Chinese citizen, foreigner with Chinese temporary resident permit, and so on) of the host in China.
Here are the details:
- Q Visa: Issued to family members (below you find the definition of “family member”) of Chinese citizens or foreigners with a permanent resident permit.
- S Visa: Issued to family members of foreigners with a temporary resident permit.
- L Visa: Issued to family members and friends of Chinese citizens or foreigners with a resident permit (however if you have a hotel booking you don’t need an invitation letter in order to get an L Visa).
Important: In order to be able to issue an invitation letter for you, your host should hold a resident permit (either temporary or permanent) or a Chinese passport. People that live in China with an M, F, L, X2, Z2, or J2 Visa can’t issue an invitation letter for you.
Notice that the definition of S Visa as “private affairs” leaves the door open to interpretation, and on some special occasions non-family members, such as unmarried couples, will also be able to apply.
Requirements for obtaining an L Visa
Beside the basic requirements (passport, photos, etc), you’ll also have to provide:
- An invitation letter: The invitation letter should contain your name, passport number, travel dates, itinerary, address, and your host’s name, passport and/or ID number, address in China, and telephone number.
- Copy of your host’s Passport and/or ID.
- Copy of your host’s resident permit (if he’s not a Chinese citizen).
- Copy of your host’s registration to the local police (if he’s not a Chinese citizen)
- Copy of your round-trip flight reservation (a round-trip ticket to/from Hong Kong or Macau is also accepted).
Important: Note that if you have a round-trip reservation AND a hotel booking for the whole duration of the trip (with the full names of all the people that will apply for the Visa and stay at the hotel with you) then you may apply for an L Visa without providing any additional documents (letter of invitation and so on).
The reason is that the L Visa is a standard touristic Visa. By presenting all the documents we mentioned above you won’t need any hotel reservations.
Definition of “family member”
The definition of “family member” depends on the type of Visa you’re applying for:
Q1 or S1 (long term, more than 180 days): A family member can only be your spouse, parent, parents-in-law, son, or daughter under the age of 18.
Q2 or S2 (short term, less than 180 days): Besides the previously mentioned relationship, a family member can also be your son or daughter 18+ years old, grandparent, grandson, granddaughter, or sibling.
Requirements for Q Visa and S Visa
Beside the basic requirements, you’ll also have to provide:
- A copy of the passport, registration to the local police, and/or resident permit of your family member (in case of a non-Chinese citizen) or a copy of the ID card (in the case of a Chinese citizen).
- An invitation letter from your family member indicating:
- Your personal data (name, passport number, address)
- Your family member’s personal data (name, contact, ID or passport number, address in China)
- general info about the visit (purpose, dates, relation between the host and you, itinerary, financial source for expenses)
Click on the following linka to download a sample of the invitation letter in English or Chinese.
- An original certificate (and a copy) that states the familiar relationship between you, that is the visitor, and the host (for instance a marriage certificate). Notice that additional documents or an interview might be required in order to prove your relationship.
How to transform my Q or S Visa into a resident permit
If you get a Q1 or S1 Visa you’ll have thirty days after entering China to change it to a resident permit (or the Visa will expire). Besides the basic requirements (passport, registration at the local police station, photos, and application form), you’ll have to provide:
- A copy of your family member’s passport or Chinese ID (and a copy of your family member’s resident permit in case of your family member isn’t a Chinese citizen).
- A proof of relationship issued by the Chinese government, authenticated by a Chinese consulate in the country where you got your Visa or issued by a foreign consulate in China.
The following additional documents might also be required:
- Depending on where you apply, you may need a copy of your family member’s unit business license, an enterprise code certificate (组织机构代码证), an official invitation letter. Click here to download sample invitation letter.
- If you entered China with a different Visa than a Q1 or S1 Visa, you may need a letter from your family member as a guarantee for your economical independence and compliance with Chinese laws. Notice that this is an “exceptional” situation: if you entered China with a different type of Visa, it will be difficult to get a resident permit.
Important: you must require your resident permit at the PSB (that is the Public Security Bureau) where your family member has its residence (hukou or local police registration). As an example, if your family member’s hukou is in Hubei province, it doesn’t matter if both of you live in Shanghai: you must apply in Hubei.
How to apply for an S or Q Visa if my partner isn’t living in China yet
- Q visa: The law isn’t clear whether a “family member” of a Chinese citizen that lives outside China can apply for a Q visa or not. However, in our experience, you can easily get a Q2 visa showing a marriage certificate and a Chinese citizen ID. Additional documents such as financial proof or a work contract might be required for a Q1 visa.
- S visa: You can apply for an S Visa at the same time as your family member is applying for the X1 or Z1 Visa (long term student and work Visa, respectively). The requirements are the same; the only difference is that, instead of the resident permit, you’ll have to provide a copy of all the documents of your family member’s Visa application.
How to apply for an S visa (for unmarried people)
Most Chinese laws offer a lot of space for interpretation in order to be adapted to specific circumstances. In this sense, Visa laws aren’t an exception. The S1 Visa normative states the following:
“Issued to those who intend to go to China to visit the foreigners working or studying in China to whom they are spouses, parents, sons or daughters under the age of 18 or parents-in-law, or to those who intend to go to China for other private affairs”
This vague definition allows certain flexibility to whom can apply. If you want to get an S Visa with your unmarried partner you should be in one of these two situations:
- Unmarried couples that have a biological son or daughter in common.
- Unmarried couples that have a relationship certificate indicating the partners live together as they were a married couple.
Important: Especially in the second case, the PSB or consulate officer will decide whether grant you a Visa or not case by case and at its sole discretion. Also, the rules might be different depending on where you apply and on the Visa owned by your partner.
Notice that same-sex partners with a marriage certificate might also be allowed to apply for an S Visa. Again, it depends on the circumstances.
I hope you found this article useful! If you have any questions or you want to share your experience you can leave a comment in the section below.
Photo Credits: 
Chinese Visa by Brett Wilms
Thank you for the article, very informative! Are you able to tell me how one would go about obtaing a “relationship certificate”? I’m italian and my partner is australian, we’ve been living together for 2 years in the UK and he has now got a job offer in China – I’d be keen to join him, but getting a visa to allow me to do that without leaving regularly or desperately finding a job seemed unlikely… until i found your article :)!
Hi! I might accept an ESL teaching job in China, (first time to work in China) but I want to bring my mom with me, from the get-go. Will this be possible? Shall I apply for the S2, for her? If not, what visa shall I apply best, if I intend to bring my mom with me, permanently for the 1-2 years work contract? Thanks and regards!
Hello, if you will get a Z visa, and thus a temporary resident permit, I think your mother could apply for an S visa. However, I suggest you to confirm this with the consular office in your country, beforehand.
Hi,
I am an American citizen looking to accept a teaching position in China. My fiance is looking to join me either at the same time that I go or very soon afterwards (within a month). My contract will be for a year and he would like to stay as long as I do. He is self-sufficient with a check every month. I will be getting an apartment, but not sure if he will be on the lease due to when he will actually arrive (likely at the same time that I do). If he arrives at the same time, he will be on the lease as well. What type of visa will he need or be able to get in both circumstances? How long can he stay on those visas? If he comes on a tourist visa and signs a lease agreement for an apartment with me, will he be able to get an extended type of visa?
Thank you!
If you aren’t married he can only get a tourist visa or student visa (if he join a course), the 10 year tourist visa in general you can only stay 60 days each time. In case you get married he can apply for a S1 that once in China will be changed for a one year resident permit associated to yours. The visa type an duration have nothing to do with the apartment contract.
Hi.. My sister have been rejected of a tourist visa 5 years ago. As to why they denied her of a visa, the consul didn’t say or even the agent who helped us with the application. On the Chinese Visa for,, Q 3.2 asks “Have you been refused of a Chinese visa before?” Do we answer YES even if it’s 5 years ago? Will they still have a record of it? and if we answer YES, what can we write on Q 3.6 of the form “If you have checked YES to any questions 3.1-3.5, please give details”. Many thanks if you would reply.. :)
Hi there, I would tell the truth!
They might have the record, especially if she didn’t change her passport. I would answer yes and explain that she applied for a tourist visa and was rejected without specifying the reason.
Hello,
So here is the thing, My wife and I recently came to China and got our Z visa since we were both here for work. However, after medical examination we found out that my wife is pregnant. So the company advised that it would be better if my wife stops working and change her VISA from Z to S1 and they also said to transfer we should go to Hong Kong. However, I was wondering if it were possible to do that in China Mainland?
Regards
You should ask this to your city PSB
Thanks for your reply Furio Fu! One more quick question. If I am interest in staying longer than 30 days, but less than 180 days, then the Q2 visa would be appropriate? I do not intend on working while there.
Thanks again!
Yes, for such a period a Q2 visa may work better.
Hello,
Thanks for providing so much insight to inquiring minds – truly a great service you provide.
I am an American citizen married to a Chinese national citizen. We want to travel back to mainland China to visit her parents (now my parents in-law) who still reside there. What is the appropriate visa to apply for? Q1?
Hello Tim,
if you are just traveling for, say, one month, then you can just get a L visa (it’s much easier!)
If, instead, you want to move to China longterm, then the Q1 visa would be the right one: with Q1 visa you can then apply for a resident permit (which lasts one year and can be renewed). Note, however, that you can’t work under a Q1 visa (if you want to legally work in China, you’ll need a Z visa).
Thanks Furio. Yeah I am afraid Chinese Embassy/Consulate in Finland would not accept my application since I am not really a resident of Finland. But, is it possible I apply for S1 visa here in UAE once he gets his Z visa?
Hello Bebe,
sorry but your questions are too specific. We can’t answer to this! I suggest you to get in touch with the Consular Office in UAE!
Hello, maybe someone can enlighten us here. My husband and I are moving to China, his company will process Z visa for him in Finland and said they will process my visa (S1-Family Visa) too. Question, is it possible that I send my passport to Finland so they can process my visa there? Do I need Non-Criminal Record and Health Examination Record in applying S1 visa? Thank you.
Ooohh! I forgot to mention, currently I am a resident of UAE with a Philippine passport. Thanks.
Hi there, you shall discuss these details with the Chinese Consular Office in Finland where your husband Visa will be processed!
Hello,
I have a question concerning my husband… I’ll be getting a short work visa first and later a work visa for a year (according to agency). It’s an option to wait until I receive my long term work permit and call my husband on a S1 visa. However, we’d like to reunited as soon as possible. Do you think it is possible to call him on a S2 visa and convert that from withing China, or Hong Kong, so a S1 visa?
Regards,
Anna
I think is possible as the two visas are family visas, but I can’t be sure as this depens on the PSB you are going to apply
I am a UK citizen with a Chinese wife who entered China on a Q1 visa after discussing options at the visa centre. No mention was made of additional documentation, I was just instructed to go to the local Entry/Exit bureau where it would not be a problem to get the resident permit. We married in the UK and used the UK certificate to get the visa. However, on attempting to obtain a resident permit I was told that it has to be in my wife’s province, requires a notarized marriage certificate (ours is not) and a series of other documents which could not be obtained within the 30 days. What are the options? Can it be changed to another type in China or Hong Kong?
I don’t know exactly the options because if you go to Hong Kong your Q visa will be cancelled and then once back to China you’ll not be able to get a resident permit, the only option I see is ask to the Entry/Exit bureau if you can get an extension to be able to get all the documents. Anyway, the best option is to try to get the documents within this month
hello,
Mi wife got a X1 visa for study her masters degree (3 years), and also in the same time i got a S1 visa for go with her to live in china.
she will go to china on the 5th of september for university registration, police registration, health checkup and visa office for applying the residence permit.
Can i go with her, and at the same time to apply for my residence permit? or do i need wait until she gets her residence permit and then go china and apply for mine?
Means , do i need her residence permit in her passport to apply mine or can we apply our residence permit together?
thanks
Hi Juli you can arrive and apply for the resident permit at the same time
Hello,
Could you please give me some example for “•A proof of relationship issued by the Chinese government, authenticated by a Chinese consulate in the country where you got your VISA or issued by a foreign consulate in China.”?
Thanks,
A marriage certificate, for instance.
Hi can anyone advised me about what visa can i get for me and for my baby.. me and my partner are not yet married.. but he wants to get married to me when we go to china.. please someone helo me what kind of visa i can apply..
If your partner get a Z visa your baby can easily get a S1 Visa. You can also get it if you are married, if not is a bit more difficult but having a kid in common shouldn’t be a problem
Hi,
Is it possible to change from a tourist visa to an S visa while one is already in China? My partner has a work visa and we are both in Shanghai.
Hi Cesar, theorically you cannot get an S visa while in China but some people managed to do so. You can try to go to the PSB in Shanghai
Hi, I have a Z visa and work in China. I got married to an American in China who has an L visa. What do I need to do to allow her to be put on my resident permit status?
You have to provide the certified marriage papers and all the documents from your working permit (resident permit, work contract, foreign expert certificate), probably he will also need to get a medical check and criminal record. However I’m not sure he can apply on China, is posible that he have to apply the S1 visa back home
Hi Furio, I am form Serbia and I am plannig to go and work in China this year. School is going to take care of my Z visa and accommodation. I would like to take my fiance with me. We are engaged not married. Can she get S1 visa?
It will be really difficult unless you have a child in common or a property so you can prove your relationship. The easiest way is if you are married
Hi Furio, great website you have here! my name is Mark and I’m from the Netherlands and I’ve been with my Chinese girlfriend for more than 5 months now, living together for more than 3 months, we wanted to get married, but her parents wont allow it yet, so I wanted to know what are the requirements for proof of relationship paper and if I can get a visa this way, I’m currently already in china with a student visa and like to either extend or change my visa, what are my possibilities? ahh and where can I get the proof of relationship paper? at the Dutch embassy in Beijing ad an example? any assistance here is much appreciated
Thank you!
Hello Mark,
unfortunately if you aren’t married, I don’t think you can “prove” the relationship
Hi thanks alot for your help.
My Austrian boyfriend is moving to china beijing for a 3 years work contract, am from Kenyan and we would like to move together to china.we have no proof of relationship as we both are from different countries. What type of visa do i require for a long stay or what would you advice us to do.
Thanks
Hi,
without proof or relationship you are on “your own”, for the visa. You either find a job or sign up for a school, if you want to stay longterm!
Hi there,
First of all thank you for creating this website because its very useful, however I have a situation at the moment.
Me and my girlfriend will get married this month in New Zealand and I am planning to go china with her for 1 year. The embassy recommend that I must get married than they will issue a visa for me otherwise they wont issue any other visa, because I overstayed couple of times before in China. So the only way is by marrying her.
Now the question is that do I need to be married with her for sometimes before I apply for visa or once I got married than I should apply for visa straight away and provide marriage certificate. Please give me some advice please.
Hi,
note that, even if you get married, you may get a S visa only if your girlfriend will have a regular resident permit.
I never head of time requirements, ie. I dont know if you must be married for some times before to apply. You could ask this to the Chinese consular office.