Chinese Immigration Law does not recognize an exclusive spousal visa, though several visa categories do include spouses as part of their coverage. You are welcome to interact with our lawyers in China. They can explain to you how to get a spouse visa in China.
Quick Facts | |
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Types of spouse visas in China | S1 and S2 visas for short or long-term visits to China |
Who needs an S1 visa? |
Spouses of foreign citizens working or studying in China |
Who can apply for S2 visa? |
– family members (spouses, parents, sons, daughters, parents-in-law, etc) – working or studying in China |
Duration of stay with a spouse visa in China | 180 days |
Documents required for getting a spouse visa in China |
– valid passport, – invitation letter, – information on the visit to China, – certificates attesting the relationship with the inviter, notarised at Chinese Embassy |
Q visa for family members in China |
Spouses, parents, grandparents, sons, and daughters can apply for Q1 or Q2 visa if they are family members with a Chinese citizen. |
What is a dependant visa in China? |
Is the same thing as a Q visa or S visa |
Registration with the municipality (YES/NO) |
YES |
Administration fee for temporary residence visa in China |
Around CNY 400 |
Time frame to obtain a spouse visa for China | Normally a few days, but the process might prolong for a few weeks. |
Pre-application advice for a spouse visa for China |
It is recommended to work with a Chinese lawyer in order to avoid possible complexities due to the language barrier. |
Age restrictions |
Spouse visa application for citizens above 18 years of age |
Translation of documents for getting a spouse visa in China |
Specific documents must be translated into Chinese. |
Who issues Chinese visas for interested applicants? |
Immigration Office of People’s Republic of China through embassies and consulates |
Why work with our law firm in China? | We have experience in immigration matters, we can prepare the solicited documents, represent clients with a power of attorney, provide tailored services at affordable costs |
Table of Contents
Difference between Q and S visa
Please find below how Q and S visas are different from each other, and if you still have any concerns, you can get in touch with our lawyers. The Q visa is slightly different from the S visa, and more about these visas can be found here:
- Chinese Q visa
The spouses and relatives of Chinese nationals and those with permanent residence in China are given particular consideration when applying for the Q visa. The Q visa comes in two forms. For anyone planning to stay in China for longer than 180 days, a Q1 visa is required. It is often a single-entry visa that can be extended up to one year and is converted to a residence permit within a month of arrival. Q2 is for people who plan to stay in China for a shorter amount of time than 180 days. These permits may be for single or multiple entries.
- Chinese S visa
The family members of foreign nationals who reside and work in China on a long-term basis are granted this sort of visa. These foreign nationals may be residing in China on work visas (Z), long-term study visas (X1), long-term journalistic posting visas (J1), or Chinese Green Cards (D).
If you want to apply for a marriage visa in China, you can get assistance from our lawyers. Our Chinese lawyers can help you select the best visa type as per your circumstances, including a Chinese dependent visa. Furthermore, if you want to apply for residency, our lawyers can also help you with your application. Their legal assistance can help you get residency in China without refusal.
Who can apply for a Q visa in China?
The following individuals may apply for a spouse visa in China. Our attorneys in China can further guide you in this matter:
- Chinese nationals’ spouses, parents, sons, daughters, spouses of sons or daughters, siblings, sisters, grandparents, grandchildren, granddaughters, and parents-in-law are considered family members;
- Relatives of foreigners with permanent residence in China (Green-card);
- For people who want to visit China to meet family;
- Those who plan to travel to China to provide foster care.
If you fall among the categories provided above, and you need a spouse visa, you can interact with our Chinese lawyers, they can help you get a marriage visa in China. Furthermore, they will also explain to you the Chinese spouse visa requirements. The legal help from our immigration lawyers can help you to relocate to China without much hassle. Here, you might need a Chinese dependent visa.
Chinese Q visa requirements and documents
Please find below the list of documents and requirements that you need to fulfill to apply for a spouse visa in China. You can also get more details from our lawyers about the Chinese spouse visa requirements:
- The original passport that is at least valid for six months;
- A recent photo and an application form;
- A letter of invitation from a relative living in China who is either a Chinese citizen or a foreigner having a permanent residency status in China. The invitation letter should also include personal information, and details about the visit to China, date of arrival and departure, accommodation, etc.;
- A photocopy of the inviter’s permanent residence permit and their Chinese ID or foreign passport;
- Only for Q1 visa Applications, proof of family relationship is required. For instance, the original and copy of a birth certificate or marriage certificate that serves as proof of kinship;
- Chinese visa application form;
- Photocopy of the passport’s biographical page;
- Passport-sized photo;
- Proof of domicile in China, if you apply from this country;
- Proof of relationship, with the help of birth or marriage certificates, as the case may be.
Get in touch with immigration lawyers at our law firm in China. They can provide you with comprehensive details about Chinese spouse visa requirements and about a Chinese dependent visa.
You can also interact with our lawyers if you want to apply for Chinese citizenship. Our lawyers can provide you with step-by-step guidance regarding obtaining citizenship in this country. Your citizenship application might face rejection due to minor inconsistencies. However, our lawyer’s guidance can help you collect and present related data.
Eligibility for a Chinese Family Visa
If you are interested in a spouse visa in China and want to reunite with your family, we recommend that you consider the eligibility criteria for a Chinese family visa, Q1 or Q2 visa.
Thus, if you want to apply for a Q1 visa, you must prove that you are a family member of a Chinese citizen or of someone who already has a Chinese permanent residence permit. The family members may include:
- spouses,
- parents,
- grandparents,
- spouses of sons or daughters,
- sons, daughters, brothers, sisters,
- parents-in-law.
In order to obtain a Q2 visa, the same conditions as for Q1 are observed, namely a relative of Chinese citizens or expats with a permanent residence permit in China. We recommend specialized help that can be provided by one of our Chinese immigration lawyers.
Requests for a Chinese Family Visa
What you need to know to obtain a family visa for China involves requirements for documents to be prepared, depending on the purpose of the visit to this country. The requirements are mostly the same as for the Chinese spouse visa that we described above.
We strongly recommend the legal services offered by one of our specialists. We can tell you more about Chinese spouse visa requirements or Chinese family visas.
When can you apply for a residence visa and how long can you stay in China?
When you arrive in China, you must register with the local authorities and apply for a temporary residence permit. This procedure must be done within 30 days at most.
As for the residence permit, the application can be made at the Public Security Bureau Exit and Entry Administration, where a fee of approximately CNY 400 must be paid.
In principle, the issuance of the residence document is done in approximately 15 days, depending on the documents and other formalities. But in order to be able to assure you that everything is correct and without complexities, we advise you to contact our immigration specialists. We are also here to explain how to get a marriage visa in China.
On the other hand, the Q1 visa allows foreigners to live in China for more than 180 days, considering that it is issued for single entry. We specify that the residence permit is issued with a validity of a minimum of one year and a maximum of 5 years, without restrictions regarding travel outside the country.
Is it possible to work with a spouse visa in China?
If you have applied and obtained a marriage visa in China or a Chinese family visa, you should know that this type of document does not allow you to accept a job in this country and start activities. But if you want to work in China, you will have to apply for a work visa with the relevant authorities. There are a series of procedures and formalities that must be respected in this regard and we recommend that you talk to our Chinese lawyers whenever you want.
We have the necessary experience and can take care of the necessary documents to obtain the necessary visa. Therefore, if you are interested in applying for a spouse visa in China, you can contact us by phone or online for more information and specialized legal guidance.
Immigration statistics in China
There has always been a surge in Chinese immigration statistics. Because China is rising as a hub of opportunities and attracting people from around the globe. So, it is the best time to move to China. You can also find below the immigrant and population statistics in China:
- In 2022, over 9.56 million births were registered, but over 10.4 million deaths.
- Migration in China decreased by approximately 0.79% in 2023, compared to 2022.
- The same percentage of decrease in immigration to China was also recorded in 2021.
Contact our lawyers in China if you need any legal assistance regarding your visa application. They can explain to you the whole criteria for a Chinese spouse visa.
Besides this, our Chinese lawyers can also assist you if you want to buy property in China.