Policies for Family Visit & Residence Permit in China

No matter how far it is, we are always willing to travel across the ocean to visit our family and relatives who are working and living in China. The number of foreigners visiting relatives in China is increasing year by year, so the Chinese immigration department has promulgated policies and rules regarding foreigners with immediate family in China (PRC).

Period of validity:

Family Visit Visa: no more than 1 year (unlimited entry)

Residence Permit: 180 days – 5 years (unlimited entry)

Foreigners who meet one of these requirements can apply for this kind of family visit visa or residence permit:

Ø  Foreign parents, spouses, and children under 18 of Chinese citizens/foreigners who have permanent residence status in PRC

Ø  Foreigners over 60 (& their spouses) + without immediate family abroad + have immediate family members who are Chinese citizens/foreigners who have permanent residence status in PRC

Ø  Overseas Chinese over 60 (& their foreign spouses and children under 18) + have purchased real estate in PRC

Ø  Overseas Chinese over 18 + come to take care of their Chinese parents (at least 60 years old + without other children living in PRC)

Ø  Foreign children under 18 in PRC + their parents are overseas Chinese / Chinese citizens holding permanent residence in other countries

Apply for this kind of family visit visa/residence permit within China mainland, applicants of this category can:

Ø  Apply for an L-VISA (validity: 6 months for single entry/double-entry/multi-entry) in local Public Security Bureau

Ø  Apply for a longer-term Residence Permit (validity: 1 year) which can also be extended

Ø  Foreigners over 60 / children under 18 --- apply for a Residence Permit (validity: 2 years) which can also be extended

Required documents of the applicants:

Ø  Your passport + visa + certificate of Temporary Residency

Ø  Temporary Registration Form

Ø  Recent photographs with receipt (within a month)

Required documents of the people in China Mainland who you will visit:

Ø  Notarized Birth Certificate / Marriage Certificate / Certificate of Kinship (translated in Chinese)

Ø  Foreigners who want to visit Chinese citizens living in China Mainland:

The ID card + Residence Certificate/ household registration of the Chinese citizens

Ø  Foreigners who want to visit overseas Chinese living in China Mainland:

Chinese passport + Permanent Residence in foreign countries + Proof of Residence in Mainland (validity: at least 6 months) of the overseas Chinese

Ø  Foreigners who want to visit Hong Kong and Macao residents living in China Mainland:

The sponsor’s “Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macau Residents” + Proof of Residence (living in Mainland for more than 6 months)

Ø  Foreigners who want to visit Taiwan residents living in China Mainland:

Entry Permit of Taiwan Residents to the Mainland / Travel Documents of PRC + Proof of Residence (living in Mainland for more than 6 months)

Ø  Foreigners who want to visit foreigners having permanent residence status in China:

Permanent Residence Permit + Proof of Residence (living in Mainland for more than 6 months)

Notice:

Foreigners who hold a Family Visit Visa / Residence Permit cannot work in China!

When you have been separated from our family members for several months due to the pandemic and are planning to go to China, it would be better if you read this article about the recent travel ban policy of entering China.