Chinese VISA for visitors: Shall I apply for a Q, S or L VISA?

More than one year ago, we published the first version of our comprehensive guide for obtaining a Chinese VISA. Since then we received hundreds of questions and suggestions for improving it (thousands, if you consider the Spanish and Italian version of this website).

We actualized the article several times according to the feedback we received and the new laws that ruled out. However, it seems that there is still a point that isn’t clear at all.

This article will explain what type of VISA you shall apply for and what documents you need when you want to visit (or accompany) your family members or friends in China.

Differences between L, Q and S VISA

There are three kind of VISAs that can be issued for visiting purposes: the L VISA (tourism), the S VISA (private affairs) and the Q VISA (family reunion).

This may be a bit confusing! In order to assess what VISA you shall apply for, you must look at the relationship (sister, friend, and so on) between you (that is the visitor) and the person you want to visit in China (that is the host). Moreover, you must take into account the legal status (Chinese citizen, foreigner with Chinese temporary resident permit, and so on) of the host in China.

Here the details:

• Q VISA: Issued to family members (below you find the definition of “family member”) of Chinese citizens or foreigners with a permanent resident permit.

• S VISA: Issued to family members of foreigners with a temporary resident permit.

• L VISA: Issued to family members and friends of Chinese citizens or foreigners with a resident permit (however if yuo’ve an hotel booking you don’t need an invitation letter in order to get a L VISA).

Important: In order to be able to issue an invitation letter for you, your host should hold a resident permit (either temporary or permanent) or a Chinese passport. People that live in China with a M, F, L, X2, Z2 or J2 VISA can’t issue an invitation letter for you.

Notice that the definition of S VISA as “private affairs” leaves the door open to interpretation, and in some special occasions non-family members, as unmarried couples, will also be able to apply.

Requirements for obtaining an L VISA

Beside the basic requirements (passport, photos, etc), you’ll also have to provide:

• An invitation letter: The invitation letter should contain your name, passport number, travel dates, itinerary, address and your host’s name, passport and/or ID number, address in China and telephone number. Click here to download a sample of invitation letter.

• Copy of your host’s Passport and/or ID.

• Copy of your host’s resident permit (if he’s not a Chinese citizen).

• Copy of your host’s registration to the local police (if he’s not a Chinese citizen)

• Copy of your round-trip flight reservation (a round-trip ticket to/from Hong Kong or Macau is also accepted).

Important: Notice that if you have a round-trip reservation AND an hotel booking for at least the 20% of the time that you’re going to spend in China than you may apply for a L VISA without providing any additional documents (letter of invitation and so on).
Source: http://www.saporedicina.com/english/chinese-visitor-visa/