Family Reunion Lawyers in China

Family reunion is not one universal visa category. The route changes with whether the person in China is a Chinese citizen, a foreign permanent resident, or a foreign national staying or residing for work, study, or another purpose; which family relationship applies; and whether the applicant seeks a short visit, longer residence, fosterage, or permanent residence. The sponsor’s remaining status and the applicant’s intended activity must be checked together.

Questions that change the route

Who is the sponsor and what status do they hold?

Record nationality, Chinese identity or foreign permanent-residence card, visa or residence-permit type, validity, address, employment or study basis, and whether the sponsor’s status can cover the requested period.

What relationship and duration support the route?

Identify spouse, parent, child, parent-in-law, other relative, or fosterage facts; distinguish the family-member definitions used by Q and S routes; and map short stay, long stay, residence, extensions, and any permanent-residence criteria separately.

Can the civil-status documents be used in China?

Review marriage, birth, adoption, custody, death, divorce, name-change, and kinship records for consistency, translation, authentication or apostille requirements, issuing authority, and discrepancies across passports and household records.

Evidence to organize first

• Applicant and sponsor passports, identity documents, permanent-residence card or residence permit, invitation, address, and accommodation registration
• Marriage, birth, adoption, custody, kinship, name-change, divorce, and death records with required translation and authentication
• Entry-exit and visa history, sponsor-status timeline, application receipts and decisions, insurance or support evidence, and plan for work, study, or other activity

Official orientation sources: Regulation on the Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (2025 revision) · NIA guide to stay and residence permits · Measures for the Administration of Permanent Residence of Foreigners. Source check: 6 October 2026.