China Q2 visa: short visits to relatives of up to 180 days

A Q2 visa is for relatives of Chinese citizens living in China, or of foreigners with Chinese permanent residence, who apply for a short-term visit. The main document is an invitation letter issued by that relative, and a photocopy of the relative's ID or residence documents must accompany it. The rules below come from the Regulations and from the Visa Application Instructions of the People's Republic of China on the China Consular Services website.

Who the Q2 visa is for

Regulations, Article 6, item 8, states: "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."

The category table in the Visa Application Instructions gives the same class in shorter form. Its Q2 row reads: "Issued to those who intend to visit their relatives who are Chinese citizens residing in China or foreigners with Chinese permanent residence, for a short-term stay of no more than 180 days." "No more than 180 days" includes 180 days.

Documents for a Q2 visa

Regulations, Article 7, item 8, states the Q2 requirement in these words: "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."

The Q2 Visa section of the Visa Application Instructions lists the following:

• An invitation letter issued by a Chinese citizen residing in China or a foreign citizen with Chinese permanent residence.
• The invitation letter must contain the following information:
• Personal information of the invited: name, gender, date of birth, etc.
• Information about the invited person's visit to China: reason for coming to China, dates of arrival and departure, place of visit, relationship with the inviting individual, who will pay for the travel, etc.
• Information of the inviting individual: name, phone number, address, signature of the inviting individual, etc.
• A photocopy of the Chinese ID card of the inviting individual, or photocopies of the bio-page of the foreigner's passport and the permanent residence permit.

Under Important Tips, section III, the Visa Application Instructions state: "The invitation letter may be a fax, a photocopy or a printout, but the consular officers may require the applicant to provide the original one."

Proof of kinship

The Q2 Visa section lists no proof of kinship. Regulations, Article 7, item 8 names proof of family relationship only in the case of a Q1 application for residence in China for family reunion.

Other documents officers may ask for

This is the point most applicants miss. The Q2 section's list is not the end of the file. Under Important Tips, section III, the Visa Application Instructions state: "When necessary, the consular officers may require the applicant to provide other supporting documents or supplementary materials, or require the applicant to attend an interview."

Regulations, Article 7, closing sentence, states: "The visa authority may, in light of specific cases, require a foreigner to submit additional application material."

Who decides

The Visa Application Instructions, Important Tips, section III, state: "The consular officials will decide whether to issue a visa and determine its validity, duration of stay and number of entries according to the applicant's specific circumstances."

Where to check current requirements

The Visa Application Instructions refer applicants to the Guidance on Visa Application section of the China Online Visa Application System for specific requirements, and to the website of the Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General in the applicant's locality. The Visa Application Instructions say that the application is submitted "as required by the Chinese Embassy or Consulate-General in your locality."

Planning suggestion, not a rule: before you apply, compare the Q2 list above with the current notice of the office that handles your application.

For the other classes, see the visa classes section of this site.

Sources

• Visa Application Instructions of the People's Republic of China (申请办理中华人民共和国签证须知), China Consular Services, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the PRC
• Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners, National Immigration Administration

Checked 11 October 2026

This page is an unofficial summary. It is not published by or affiliated with the National Immigration Administration, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, any embassy, consulate or visa application service centre, and it is not legal or immigration advice. If the official text and the current notice of the office handling your case differ, the official text and that notice prevail.