The China Q2 visa is a short-term family reunion visa that lets you visit relatives in mainland China for up to 180 days per entry. Your host must be a Chinese citizen living in China or a foreign national who holds a Chinese permanent residence permit.1China Daily. Short-Term Family Reunion Visa (Q2 Visa) It covers visits only. You cannot work, study, or use it to establish long-term residency.
Before you start, make sure Q2 is the right category. Q2 is for stays of 180 days or less. If you plan to stay longer than 180 days and eventually apply for a residence permit, you need a Q1 instead.2Chinese Visa Application Service Center. Visa Category Applying for the wrong one wastes time and money.
Who Qualifies
Eligibility turns on your relationship to your host. Qualifying relatives include spouses, parents, children, spouses of children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and parents-in-law.3Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Republic of Türkiye. Q1/Q2 Visa List of Required Documents Your host must currently live in China and be either a Chinese citizen or a foreign permanent resident.1China Daily. Short-Term Family Reunion Visa (Q2 Visa)
One useful detail: the Q2 does not require you to submit a notarized marriage or birth certificate to prove the family relationship. The consulate relies on the invitation letter and the host’s identity documents. This is different from the Q1 and some other categories, which do require certified relationship proof.4Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in New York. Requirements and Procedures for Chinese Visa Application
Documents You Need
Passport and Photo
Your passport needs at least six months of remaining validity and at least two blank visa pages.5Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States of America. Requirements and Procedures for Chinese Visa Application You also need a recent color photo taken within the last six months, sized 48mm by 33mm and printed on glossy paper against a white background. Your full face and both ears must show, expression neutral, lips closed. Glasses are allowed if the frames are not thick or tinted. Photos that miss these standards get applications rejected on the spot.6Chinese Visa Application Service Center. Photo Requirements – FAQ
COVA Online Application
You complete the application online through the China Online Visa Application (COVA) system before visiting the consulate. The form asks for education from high school onward, work history, previous travel, and family details. Fill every field accurately; errors and blank fields cause delays or rejections. When the system shows your status as “Passport to be Submitted,” you’re ready to bring your documents in.5Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States of America. Requirements and Procedures for Chinese Visa Application
Invitation Letter from Your Host
Your host writes an invitation letter with specific details about both of you. For the host: full name, gender, date of birth, Chinese ID number (or passport number and permanent residence card number for foreign hosts), current address in China, phone number, and email. For you: full name, gender, date of birth, and passport number, all matching your passport exactly. The letter should also state the purpose of your visit, your planned travel dates, and the cities you intend to visit.5Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States of America. Requirements and Procedures for Chinese Visa Application
With the letter, submit copies of the host’s Chinese ID card (front and back). If your host is a foreign permanent resident, submit copies of their passport bio-page and permanent residence permit instead.4Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in New York. Requirements and Procedures for Chinese Visa Application
If You Were Born in China
Naturalized U.S. citizens who were born in China must submit extra documents with their first visa application after naturalization: the naturalization certificate and the last Chinese passport. If that old passport was lost or expired more than five years ago, download and complete a “Chinese Passport Loss Declaration Form” from the consulate website.7Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Los Angeles. Apply for Ordinary Visas If your name changed at naturalization and this is your first application under the new name, upload the name change documentation through COVA.5Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States of America. Requirements and Procedures for Chinese Visa Application
If the Applicant Is Under 18
Minors need a signed consent letter from their parents or legal guardians, plus passport copies for the child, both parents, and anyone submitting the application on the child’s behalf.8Chinese Visa Application Service Center. Consent Letter by Parents/Legal Guardian for Minor’s Chinese Visa Application First-time applicants under 16 also need a birth certificate. If either parent on the birth certificate was born in China, additional documents apply: proof the parent held a foreign passport or permanent residency at the time of the child’s birth, and a naturalization certificate if either parent later acquired foreign citizenship.9Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in San Francisco. Requirements and Procedures for Chinese Visa Application
How and Where to Apply
The Chinese Embassy and consulates in the U.S. currently accept walk-in submissions. No appointment. After finishing COVA, bring the printed barcode page, your original passport, and all supporting documents to the visa section during office hours.10Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States of America. Notice on Walk-in Without Appointment Visa Application Service Fingerprints are not required. You don’t have to appear in person; someone else or a visa agency can submit and pick up for you. Mail-in applications are not accepted.11Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Los Angeles. Apply for Ordinary Visas
You must apply at the consulate that covers the state where you live. The Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C. and the consulates in New York, Chicago, San Francisco, and Los Angeles each have designated state assignments; confirm yours before you travel to submit.12Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the United States of America. The Consular Jurisdiction of Chinese Embassy and Consulates
Fees and Processing Times
The standard visa fee for U.S. citizens is $140 for a single-entry visa.13Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in San Francisco. Payments and Fees A reduced-fee program remains in effect through December 31, 2026, so the amount at the counter may be lower than the standard schedule.14Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Los Angeles. Notice on Extension of Visa-Fee Reduction Non-U.S. citizens typically pay less; check with your consulate for the current amount for your nationality.
Regular processing takes about four business days. Express service costs an additional $25 with pickup on the third business day. Some cases take longer, and the consulate will notify you if additional review is needed.15Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Los Angeles. Processing Time, Visa Fees, Pickup and Payments You’ll get a pick-up slip at submission that you or your representative must present to collect the passport.
How Long You Can Stay
Each Q2 visa specifies the number of entries allowed and the maximum stay per entry, up to 180 days per entry counted from your arrival date.1China Daily. Short-Term Family Reunion Visa (Q2 Visa) The overall validity period, meaning how long the visa can be used for new entries, is a separate number. A multiple-entry visa may be valid for a year or more, but each individual visit still cannot exceed the per-entry stay stamped in your passport.
The consulate decides how many entries, what validity, and what stay duration to grant.16Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China in Edinburgh. Important Notice on 5-Year/10-Year Multiple Entry Visa Not everyone receives the maximum. The Q2 does not authorize work; taking unauthorized employment can lead to fines, detention, or deportation.
Register with the Police Within 24 Hours
This is the step most visitors overlook, and it carries real consequences. Within 24 hours of arriving at any accommodation that isn’t a hotel, you or your host must register your temporary residence with the local police station. Hotels handle this automatically at check-in.17Gov.cn. Policy Interpretation of the Online Accommodation Registration Service for Foreigners Residing or Staying in Domiciles Other Than Hotels
If you’re staying with family, which is the whole point of a Q2 visa, registration falls on you and your host. Failure to register can bring a warning and a fine of up to 2,000 yuan (roughly $275).18China Daily. Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China – Article 76 It can also complicate future visa applications. As of early 2026, an online registration option is being piloted in several provincial-level regions through the National Immigration Administration’s platform and mobile apps; outside those areas, you still need to go to the local station in person.17Gov.cn. Policy Interpretation of the Online Accommodation Registration Service for Foreigners Residing or Staying in Domiciles Other Than Hotels
Extending Your Stay
If your visit runs longer than expected, you can apply to extend without leaving China. Submit the request at the exit-entry administration office of the local public security bureau at least seven days before your current stay expires. The documents mirror the original application: valid passport, completed application form, photo, letter from the relative you’re visiting, their identity documents, and proof or a statement of your family relationship.19National Immigration Administration. Guide on Visa Extension, Replacement and Reissuance for Foreigners
An extension can add up to 180 days, but the total extended time cannot exceed what was authorized on your original visa. Authorities decide within seven working days, and the process may include an interview or other verification.19National Immigration Administration. Guide on Visa Extension, Replacement and Reissuance for Foreigners Converting a Q2 into a Q1 inside China is a separate process handled by local immigration authorities.
What Happens If You Overstay
Staying past your authorized duration triggers escalating penalties. A minor overstay draws a warning. If the overstay is deemed serious, the fine is 500 yuan per day (about $70), capped at 10,000 yuan (about $1,375). In more severe cases, you can be detained for five to fifteen days.20China Daily. Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China – Article 78 An entry ban of up to five years may follow. To leave the country after overstaying, you’ll need to request an exit visa from the local public security bureau, which can take up to 20 working days. If you think you may run past your deadline, file for an extension well before it arrives.