Family Visit Visa (Q Visa)

If you want to visit Chinese families in China, please apply for a Q visa.

How long does it take to obtain a Chinese visa (updated on March 19, 2023)

We calculate our service time from the time you extract your fingerprints at the Chinese visa center and submit documents to embassy staff. Based on this standard, your visa passport will be ready to be collected from our office within 3 working days (including the day of fingerprint issuance) in the afternoon (courier service) or 4 working days (standard service) after fingerprint issuance. Please note that these times may be affected by restrictions on opening hours during the pandemic. For detailed information, please call or email us.

How can I obtain a Chinese visa?

1. Choose one of the following options to order our services – our prices include all embassy fees and Chinese visa center fees. We will send you an email during working hours and inform you of what needs to be done later.

2. Fill out the application form for the Chinese visa center online (click here for the online form). Alternatively, you can fill out the simplified form for the China Visa Direct Card and we will fill out the center’s form for you (additional fee – add the form filling service to your shopping basket and we will contact you).

If you have any questions about filling out the form, please call us or send us an email and we will provide assistance. Please provide your customer reference number.

If you have filled out the form yourself, please send us an email:

(i) A copy of the completed form;
(ii) A copy of your passport photo page;
(iii) The following supporting documents.

These will allow us to thoroughly check your form. If any changes are required, we will suggest and obtain your consent to make these changes. Do not book fingerprints with the center (see below).

After reviewing your form and your situation, we will contact you to learn about the next steps – we will inform you if you need to bring any other documents when you come to the center to obtain your fingerprints. Please note that only applicants aged 14 to 69 (inclusive) are required to provide fingerprints.

6. We will make an appointment for you and inform you when to bring your passport (original) and required documents to the Chinese visa center (please note where the original and copy are required according to the following text and our instructions). Throughout the process, one of our employees will meet with you at the Chinese visa center and greet you. Please note that we may schedule an appointment for the next day (please call us for more details).

7. We will mail or courier your passport and visa back together (additional charge – if you need courier, please add Royal Mail Express to your shopping basket or call us), or you can collect it at our office. Alternatively, you can send us a prepaid Royal Mail Express envelope and we will return it to you in this way.

8. Please remember that the visa type and duration for each stay are always determined by the Chinese Embassy, which will provide you with the most suitable visa based on all circumstances, especially the documents at hand.

Q visa certificate document

The “Q” visa is applicable for visiting relatives who hold a Chinese passport. Q visas are divided into Q1 and Q2 visas – Q1 visa is suitable for people who plan to travel to China for a long time, while Q2 visa is suitable for visits. Therefore, the Q1 visa is only for one-time entry and needs to be converted into a residence permit within 30 days of arrival.

To make the application run properly, you need: 1. Copy of passport and photo page – the passport must have two blank pages and a remaining validity period of 6 months

2. Digital photo (upload to China Visa Center application form) – Specific photo requirements – Click here for more information. If the requirements (each link) are not met, the application may be rejected.

If you have not selected our form filling service, please send us an email with the submitted application form so that we can check and correct any errors.

If you have not applied for an EU passport, please provide evidence of your legal entry into the UK, such as a UK visa

If you have been to China before, please provide a copy of your last Chinese visa.

If you have held a Chinese passport in the past, please contact us for more information.

7. Invitation letter from the family member you want to visit (in Chinese). You also need to send two copies of the inviter’s ID card. View our blog post about invitation letters. We can also provide you with an invitation letter template as requested upon receipt of your order.

For children under 18 years old, the following documents are now required:
Copy of birth certificate; Copy of passport of the parents who signed the application form.

If you are applying for a Q1 visa, you also need to bring an original document showing your relationship with the inviting party, such as a marriage certificate.

Please remember: When you submit your application to the Chinese visa center online, do not make an appointment for fingerprinting – just come to our daily fingerprinting/submission time slot – call us a few times!