With the opening-up of China's policies, the issuance process for visas to China has become more convenient and efficient. The grand holding of the Canton Fair has attracted a large number of foreign businesspeople to China for business exchanges, seeking cooperation and investment opportunities. However, due to the validity limitations of visas, some foreign nationals with immediate family members in China hope to convert their visas into long-term family reunion residence permits. But when they consult the local entry and exit administration departments, they are informed that the current visa type they hold cannot be directly converted into a family reunion residence permit. Instead, they need to reapply for a Q1 visa outside China before applying for a family reunion residence permit upon entry. This change has caused confusion among many foreign nationals. They have expressed that their friends around them had previously successfully applied for family reunion residence permits, so why is it not feasible now?
随着对华政策的开放，来华签证的签发流程变得更为简便高效。广交会的盛大举行更是吸引了大批外籍商人赴华进行商务交流、寻求合作与投资机遇。然而，由于签证的有效期限制，部分在华有直系家属的外籍人士希望将签证转换为长期的团聚居留许可。但当他们向当地出入境管理部门咨询时，却被告知当前所持有的签证类型无法直接转为团聚居留，而是需要在境外重新申请Q1签证入境后方可申请。这一变化让许多外籍人士感到困惑，他们纷纷表示，之前身边的朋友都是顺利办理团聚居留的，为何现在却行不通了呢？
With the relaxation of visa policies for entry into China, certain regions indeed require individuals holding non-residence permits or entering China on a non-Q1 visa to exit the country and re-apply for a Q1 visa before converting it to a family reunion residence permit. To help everyone better understand the relevant issues surrounding the application of various visas for family residence, we have compiled several common scenarios to share with you, hoping to provide practical guidance.随着来华签证政策的放宽，部分地区对持有非居留许可或Q1签证入境的人士，确实需要按规定出境后重新申请Q1入境，才能进而转换为团聚居留。为了帮助大家更好地理解各类签证申请家庭居留的相关问题，我们整理了几个常见情况与大家分享，希望能为大家提供实用指导。
Q&A on Common Questions about Foreigners' Family Reunion Residence in China
外国人来华团聚居留常见疑问 Q&A
Q: When foreigners come to China for family visits, how should they choose between applying for a Q1 visa or a Q2 visa?
Q: 外国人来华探亲时，应如何选择申请Q1还是Q2签证？A: The Q1 visa is applicable to foreigners who need to reside in China for family reunions, including family members of Chinese citizens, family members of foreigners with permanent residency status in China, and those who need to enter and reside in China for reasons such as foster care. These family members specifically include spouses, parents, parents-in-law, children, spouses of children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. When choosing between a Q1 and Q2 visa, foreigners should consider the length of their intended stay in China, the nature of their relationship with the host family, and the specific requirements of each visa type.
A: Q1签证适用于那些因家庭团聚需要在中国境内居留的外国人，包括中国公民的家庭成员、具有中国永久居留资格的外国人的家庭成员，以及因寄养等原因需入境居留的人员。这些家庭成员具体涵盖配偶、父母、配偶的父母、子女、子女的配偶、兄弟姐妹、祖父母、外祖父母、孙子女及外孙子女。
The Q2 visa, on the other hand, is designed for relatives of Chinese citizens residing in China or relatives of foreigners with permanent residency status in China who plan to visit China for a short-term stay (not exceeding 180 days).
而Q2签证则是为那些计划短期（不超过180天）来中国探亲的居住在中国境内的中国公民亲属或具有中国永久居留资格的外国人的亲属而设。
Therefore, when foreigners are choosing between applying for a Q1 or Q2 visa for family visits, they primarily need to consider the purpose of their visit and the length of their planned stay. For long-term residency and family reunions, they should apply for a Q1 visa, while for short-term visits, they can choose a Q2 visa.因此，外国人在选择申请Q1还是Q2签证时，主要需考虑其探亲的目的和计划居留的时间长短。长期居留探亲应申请Q1签证，而短期探亲则可选择Q2签证。
Q: Can a foreign partner holding an M, L, or S visa apply for long-term residence for their lover after entering China?
Q：外籍伴侣持有M、L、S签证入境后，能否为恋人办理长期居留呢？A: If the couple has not yet obtained a legal marriage certificate, they cannot apply for reunion residence solely based on their romantic relationship.
A：若男女双方尚未领取法定结婚证书，是无法仅凭男女朋友关系来申请团聚居留的。
The basic application conditions for reunion residence permit are as follows:
团聚居留许可的基本申请条件如下：
1.The applicant must have a Chinese national relative residing in China;
1.申请人需有中国籍亲属在国内；
2.Provide identity and household registration materials of the Chinese national relative, such as an ID card, household registration book, etc.;
2.提供中国籍亲属的身份及户籍证明材料，例如身份证、户口本等；
3.It is also necessary to provide documentary evidence of the relationship with the Chinese relative, such as a notarized birth certificate, marriage certificate, or other relationship certificates.
3.还需提供与中国亲属的关系证明材料，如出生证明、婚姻证明等关系公证书。
Q: Can a foreign minor child under 18 years old who is fostered in China apply for reunion residence?
Q：寄养在国内的未满18周岁外籍未成年子女，能否办理团聚居留？A: For foreign-born Chinese or overseas Chinese children under 18 years old who are fostered in China, the foster carer can submit an application to the exit-entry administration agency of the public security organ located in the place of household registration or primary residence. These agencies can issue residence permits for these children, with a validity period not exceeding 3 years, and the expiration date of the residence permit shall not exceed the child's 18th birthday.
A：对于寄养在国内、尚未满18周岁的外籍华人、华侨子女，寄养受托人可以向户籍或主要生活所在地的公安机关出入境管理机构提出申请。这些机构可以为这些孩子签发居留证件，其有效期最长不超过3年，且居留期截止日期不得超过孩子18周岁的日期。
When applying, a series of necessary materials must be submitted, including the child's birth certificate and copies of the foreign parents' passports. If both or one of the parents hold Chinese nationality, a copy of the overseas settlement certificate is also required. Additionally, a letter of entrustment from both or one of the parents, as well as a letter of entrustment from the foster carer, specifying the details of the entrusted custody or guardianship and the duration of the fosterage, must be provided. Furthermore, the foster carer needs to present proof of local permanent residence or a residence certificate indicating at least six months of residence in the actual place of residence, along with their resident identity card.
申请时，需提交一系列必要材料，包括孩子的出生证明、外籍父母的护照复印件。若父母双方或一方为中国国籍，还需提供境外定居证明的复印件。此外，还需提交父母双方或一方的委托书，以及寄养受托人的受托书，明确注明委托抚养或监护事宜、寄养年限等内容。同时，寄养受托人还需提供本地常住户籍证明或实际居住地6个月以上的居住证明以及居民身份证。
Q: Which visas can foreigners hold to enter China and directly apply for reunion residence?
Q：外国人持有哪些签证入境，可以直接办理团聚居留？
A: According to the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on the Entry and Exit Administration of Foreigners, the processing of long-term residence permits is mainly carried out through the Q1 visa for family reunion residence. The Q2 visa, on the other hand, is specifically designed for foreign relatives visiting China for short-term stays. It is worth noting that for those who do not hold a Q1 visa, some cities have explicitly required them to exit China first and then apply for a Q1 visa upon entry to be able to apply for family reunion residence. Therefore, when applying for family reunion residence, it is crucial to understand and comply with the relevant visa regulations.
A：根据《中华人民共和国外国人入境出境管理条例》的规定，办理长期居留许可主要是通过Q1签证进行家庭团聚居留的办理。而Q2签证则是专为短期来华探亲居住的外籍亲属而设。值得注意的是，对于非Q1签证持有者，部分城市已经明确要求他们需要先出境，然后申请Q1签证入境，才能办理家庭团聚居留。因此，在申请团聚居留时，请务必了解并遵守相关签证规定。
Q: Can foreigners holding Q1 visas directly apply for reunion residence upon entry into China?
Q：外国人持有Q1签证入境，是否一定可以直接办理团聚居留？
A: Not necessarily. If the relationship supporting documents provided by the applicant are issued by a foreign institution, these documents will need to be authenticated by the Hague Apostille Convention before they can be used domestically. The specific documents required for authentication vary depending on the nature of the relationship. For example, if relying on a marital relationship, authentication of an overseas marriage certificate is required, and if relying on a parent-child relationship, authentication of an overseas birth certificate is necessary. The requirements for receiving documents domestically should be consulted for accurate guidance. Therefore, in addition to holding a Q1 visa, it is also necessary to ensure that the provided supporting documents meet the relevant authentication requirements when applying for reunion residence.
A：不一定可以直接办理。如果申请人提供的关系证明材料是由国外机构出具的，那么这些材料需要经过海牙认证后才能在国内使用。具体所需认证文件，如依靠夫妻关系需要提供海外结婚证明认证，依靠父母关系需要提供海外出生证明认证，还需以国内接收文件单位的要求为准。因此，在办理团聚居留时，除了持有Q1签证外，还需确保所提供的证明材料符合相关认证要求。
Q: Can foreigners directly apply for permanent residence in China after obtaining a reunion residence permit?
Q：外国人办理了团聚居留许可后，能否直接申请中国永久居留？
A: Many foreigners who have lived in China for a long time aspire to apply for a Chinese resident identity card to enjoy a more convenient life. For foreigners holding reunion residence permits, especially those relying on marital relationships to live in China, they indeed have the opportunity to apply for permanent residence in China. However, this application is not achieved overnight and requires meeting a series of conditions.
A：许多外籍人士在华生活久了，都希望能申请到中国的居民身份证，享受更加便捷的生活。对于持团聚居留许可的外籍人士，尤其是那些依靠夫妻关系在华生活的，他们确实有机会申请中国的永久居留权。但这一申请并非一蹴而就，需要满足一系列条件。
Specifically, the application conditions for permanent residence based on marital reunification include the following:
具体而言，夫妻团聚类永久居留的申请条件包括：
1.Applicants must abide by Chinese laws and regulations, be in good physical health, and have no criminal record.
1.申请人必须遵守中国的法律法规，身体健康，且没有犯罪记录。
2.The applicant must be the spouse of a Chinese citizen with a permanent household registration or a foreigner who has obtained permanent residence status in China.
2.申请人需为具有常住户籍的中国公民或已在中国获得永久居留资格的外国人的配偶。
3.The marital relationship must have existed for a minimum of five years.
3.婚姻关系必须存续满五年。
4.After getting married, the applicant needs to have resided continuously in China for a minimum of five years, with each year's residence period in China being no less than nine months.
4.婚后需在中国连续居留满五年，且每年在中国居留的时间不少于九个月。
5.The applicant must also possess a stable source of livelihood and accommodation.
5.申请人还需具备稳定的生活保障和住所。
The application requirements for permanent residence under the parent-child category are as follows:
亲子类永久居留的申请条件如下：
1.The applicant must be under 18 years of age and unmarried.
1.申请人需未满18周岁，且为未婚状态。
2.Both or one of the applicant's parents must be Chinese citizens with permanent household registration in China, or both or one of the applicant's parents must be foreigners who possess permanent residence status in China.
2.申请人的父母双方或其中一方必须为中国公民，并具备国内常住户籍；或者，申请人的父母双方或其中一方需为拥有中国永久居留资格的外国人。
3.The applicant must undergo a review in accordance with China's nationality law to confirm their foreign nationality.
3.申请人必须根据我国国籍法经过审查，确认其具备外国国籍。
Friendly Reminder:
温馨提示：
If you are applying for family reunification residence for the first time and are not familiar with the application process, or if you are concerned that there may be many oversights in the materials you provide, which may affect the visa application, please do not worry too much. You can contact our customer service team at any time for consultation, and we will be happy to provide you with detailed answers and personalized application plans to help you successfully complete the process of family reunification residence.
如果您是首次办理家属团聚居留，对办理流程不太熟悉，或者担心提供的材料存在较多疏漏而影响到签证的办理，不必过于焦虑。您随时可以联系我们的客服团队进行咨询，我们将竭诚为您提供详细的解答和个性化的申请方案，帮助您顺利完成团聚居留的办理过程。
