Q is for relatives of Chinese citizens. S is for relatives of foreigners holding a residence permit in China. Digit 1 (Q1/S1) = long-term (>180 days), digit 2 (Q2/S2) = short-term (<180 days).

China Family Visa for Ukrainians in 2026
Seamless family reunions in China. Meticulous Q and S visa processing. Zero refusals.
What is a Family Visa to China
The Chinese Family Visa (Type Q or S) is for family reunion and relative visits. Type Q is for relatives of Chinese citizens; Type S is for relatives of foreigners holding a residence permit in China. Long-term versions (Q1/S1) are for stays exceeding 180 days and convert to a family residence permit within 30 days of arrival (biometrics required). Short-term versions (Q2/S2) cover visits up to 180 days per entry (remote submission via Moldova is possible). The Chinese host prepares the invitation — we verify the package and manage the apostille.
Key requirements
- Valid international passport (minimum 6 months, 2 blank pages)
- Digital biometric photo (3.5×4.5 cm) on a white background
- Completed China2Day internal questionnaire
- Invitation and documents from your relative in China (host prepares, we verify)
Who is this visa for
This type of visa permit is ideally suited for the following categories of applicants:
READY TO GET YOUR FAMILY VISA?
Free consultation. Processing without your presence. Results in as little as 3 days.
Overview
Questions and Answers
What is a Chinese family visa?
How much does it cost?
Are biometrics required?
What about apostille?
What is the '1 day in Chișinău' scheme?
Our Frictionless Process
From collection to delivery, your visa is tracked through every phase of the diplomatic channel.
Send us your passport
Secure courier pickup from your office or residence. Total chain of custody maintained.
No personal visit required →THE 'MAXIMUM PACKAGE'
We don't just fill forms. We prepare everything: Hotel reservations, Flight itineraries, and custom Travel Routes approved for L-visa issuance.
Full visa guide →Receive your passport with the visa
Delivered to your doorstep. Verified, stamped, and ready for your departure.
Processing timelines →Transparent packages & fees
All-inclusive digital concierge fees with no hidden diplomatic charges.
Q2 — turnkey (no presence)
- Processing speed: 10–14 days
- Complete document package pre-screening
- Remote embassy submission
S2 — turnkey (no presence)
- Processing speed: 10–14 days
- Complete document package pre-screening
- Remote embassy submission
Q1 / S1 — '1 day in Chișinău' scheme
- Processing speed: 14–18 days
- Complete document package pre-screening
- Remote embassy submission
Turnkey pricing. Q2/S2 — no personal presence via Chișinău. Q1/S1 — our '1 day in Chișinău + 2 passports' scheme: you arrive for 1 day, submit biometrics, return home on your second passport. Preparation-only service for self-submission — $150.
All prices in USD · Currency converter
Required documents
We simplify document preparation to the minimum. Requirements are structured in two groups.
Mandatory documents
- International passport (original)
- Digital photo (3.5×4.5 cm)
- Completed China2Day internal questionnaire
Supporting documentation
- Scan of host's passport first page (host prepares)
- Scan of host's Residence Permit (for S visas, foreign host)
- Host invitation letter in the required format
- Apostilled relationship certificate — marriage certificate (spouses) or birth certificate (parents/children)
- For Q1/S1 the apostille is mandatory; for Q2/S2 it is required only if the consulate asks
Visa sub-types & validity parameters
Q1 (long-term — relatives of Chinese citizens)
Stay over 180 days. Entry visa for conversion to a family residence permit within 30 days of arrival. Biometrics required.
Q2 (short-term — relatives of Chinese citizens)
Stay up to 180 days per entry. Usually single (90%+ of cases). Remote submission via Chișinău is possible.
S1 (long-term — relatives of foreigners in China)
For spouses/children of foreign residence-permit holders, long-term stays. Entry visa for residence permit conversion. Biometrics required.
S2 (short-term — relatives of foreigners in China)
Short visits to foreign relatives in China, up to 180 days. Remote submission possible.
Please remember that exiting mainland China into Hong Kong or Macau is legally treated as crossing an international border. If you hold a single-entry visa, exiting to Hong Kong immediately voids it, preventing you from returning to the mainland. For trips planning transits or side-visits to Hong Kong/Macau with a return to the mainland, you must apply for a Double-Entry or Multiple-Entry visa.
The Cost of Efficiency
Why top-tier professionals and corporate travelers choose China2day over the physical Warsaw Poland DIY submission approach.
| Comparison factors | China2day (Concierge) | Self-submission (Warsaw) |
|---|---|---|
| Direct Cost | from $270 (fixed) ≈ ₴11 205 (ref.) | From Ukraine (if permitted to travel): $450+ (travel, hotel, consular fees) From EU (Spain, Germany, Italy, etc.): ~$150 (local consular fees) |
| Time Invested | 15 Minutes (Digital form) | 4–5 Full Days (Travel & queues) |
| Logistics | Turnkey prep & remote submission | Flights, hotel bookings, Warsaw queue |
| Risk Factor | Under 2% (Pre-screened docs) | High (Any minor error forces repeat trip) |
5 visa refusal causes & our expert solutions
Relationship document submitted without apostille (mandatory for Q1/S1, on demand for Q2/S2)
We coordinate apostille on the marriage or birth certificate. China is in the Hague Convention — additional legalization is not required
Apostille placed on the wrong relationship document — not on the link connecting the applicant to the person legally in China
The apostille must trace the relationship chain to the Chinese-side host. Example: a Ukrainian husband's mother visiting a Chinese-citizen daughter-in-law — apostille goes on the son's birth certificate
Incorrectly formatted invitation letter (format, dates, passport details)
We pre-check the invitation and coordinate with the host in China for corrections
Applying for Q1 expecting to simply 'live 180+ days' — Q1 is an entry visa requiring residence permit conversion within 30 days of arrival
We explain the logic upfront: Q1 is an entry permit for conversion, not a long-stay visa by itself
For spouses — passport replaced after marriage; no old passport page or replacement certificate from Ukrainian consulate attached
We verify the document timeline and prepare evidence of passport replacement
Step-by-step application workflow
Consultation and type selection
We map the relationship, the host's status in China (PRC citizen → Q; foreign residence-permit holder → S), and the planned stay length (>180 days → Q1/S1, <180 → Q2/S2).
Coordination with the Chinese host
The host in China prepares the invitation letter and sends scans (passport, residence permit if S). We verify the format and flag corrections.
Relationship document apostille
For Q1/S1 the apostille is mandatory. We help apostille the marriage or birth certificate and confirm it is on the correct document.
Electronic submission (Stage 1)
We fill the COVA form and upload all documents to the consulate website. Online review takes 2–5 business days.
Q2/S2 remote stamping · Q1/S1 '1 day in Chișinău'
For Q2/S2 you ship the passport via Nova Poshta; we hand it to the consulate. For Q1/S1 you fly in for 1 day, submit biometrics, return home on your second passport. We send the finished passport back to Ukraine.
Common DIY application mistakes
Ensure you avoid these critical paperwork issues to guarantee approval:
- Submitting Q1/S1 without an apostille on the relationship certificate
- Apostille placed on the wrong document — not on the link to the Chinese-side relative
- Expecting Q1 to be a simple long-stay visa instead of an entry permit that converts to residence permit within 30 days
- Applying for Q1/S1 from another country expecting biometrics from a non-Moldovan consulate to count — each consulate keeps its own biometric record
- Asking for a multi-entry family visa — multi-entry Q/S does not exist; multi-entry is achieved via residence permit
- Underestimating apostille time — plan 4+ weeks for complex relationship cases
Frequently Asked Questions
Mandatory on the relationship document for Q1/S1; on demand for Q2/S2. China is in the Hague Convention, so the apostille alone is sufficient — additional legalization is not required.
The apostille goes on the document linking the applicant to the person with legal status in China. Example: a Ukrainian husband's mother visiting a Chinese-citizen daughter-in-law — apostille on the son's birth certificate (the relationship chain reaches the Chinese side).
$270 turnkey for all types (Q1/Q2/S1/S2). Preparation-only service for self-submission — $150.
For Q1/S1 — yes (long-term visas with residence permit conversion). For Q2/S2 — no; remote submission via Chișinău is possible.
For Q1/S1 personal presence is mandatory, but only for biometrics submission. You arrive in Chișinău for 1 day, submit fingerprints, hand us the passport, and return home on a second passport. We courier the finished passport to you. Real time in Moldova: 1 day.
Two valid international passports. One stays with us in Chișinău for visa stamping; you return home on the other. This is our operational scheme for client convenience, not a consulate requirement.
Q2/S2 — up to 180 days per entry. Q1/S1 — entry visa for residence permit conversion within 30 days, after which you live in China unrestricted under the residence permit.
No. Family visas do not permit employment. A Z work visa is required for that.
Up to 30 days visiting relatives — tourist L is simpler. Over 30 days or long-term with minor children — family Q2/S2.
Staying with relatives — you personally go to the police on day one. Staying in a hotel — the hotel registers you. Especially critical for family visas.
Include the first page of the old passport. If the passport was replaced at the Ukrainian consulate in China, attach a separate replacement certificate from that consulate.
Voice Search
China2Day issues Chinese Family Visas Q1/Q2/S1/S2 for Ukrainian citizens from $270 turnkey. Q2/S2 (short stays up to 180 days) are submitted remotely through the consulate in Chișinău. Q1/S1 (long stays over 180 days) use the '1 day in Chișinău + 2 passports' scheme — you fly in for one day to submit biometrics and return home on a second passport. Q1/S1 require an apostille on the relationship document.
What clients say about our service
Expert travel publications
Apply for Family Visa
Submit a request — free consultation and processing without your personal presence.
