China Spouse and Dependant Visa for Indians: Joining Family

China visas in India are lodged at the Chinese Visa Application Service Centers (the centre's service fee is paid online through VFS Global payment pages). No appointment is needed, but since December 2025 you must first apply online and wait for the status 'online review completed' before taking your passport to the Visa Center. Fees and processing times are as published on the official sources, checked on 10 October 2026. For tourist, business and other categories, see our China visa guide for Indians.

Q visa or S visa: it depends on who you are joining

The deciding question is the status of your family member in China, then how long you will stay.

Two common situations:

• Your spouse is an Indian professional posted in China on a Z (work) visa. You apply under S: S1 to live with them, S2 for a visit.
• Your spouse is a Chinese citizen. You apply under Q: Q1 for family reunion, Q2 for a visit.

Children joining a working or studying parent follow the same logic as the spouse, using a birth certificate as relationship proof.

The invitation letter your family member must send

Both Q and S applications rest on an invitation from the person in China. The Embassy expects the letter to include:

• Your details as the applicant
• The purpose of the visit
• Places and duration of stay, with arrival and departure dates
• Your relationship to the inviter
• The financial source for the stay
• The inviter's details, with stamp or signature

Submit the letter with your application and keep the original reachable, because the original may be requested. Every point above is on the Embassy's list, so ask your relative to cover each one with exact dates and names rather than general wording.

Category documents for Q and S applicants

Q1 and Q2: family of Chinese citizens or permanent residents

• Invitation letter from the Chinese citizen or the foreigner holding a Chinese permanent residence permit
• Photocopy of the inviter's Chinese ID card, or foreign passport and permanent residence permit
• Original and photocopy of relationship proof, such as a marriage certificate or birth certificate

S1 and S2: family of foreigners working or studying in China

• Invitation letter from the inviting individual
• Photocopy of the inviter's passport and Chinese residence permit
• Original and photocopy of relationship proof: marriage certificate, birth certificate or kinship attestation
• For private affairs, documents showing the nature of those affairs, as required

What every family applicant submits, including fingerprints

On top of the category documents, each applicant, adult or child, brings the standard set:

• The Chinese Visa Application Form and the confirmation page of the online application. Since December 2025 the online application is compulsory: pay the centre's service fee online, then fill the form and upload your documents on the Visa Center website (mandatory at the New Delhi centre from 20 December 2025).
• Original passport valid for at least 6 months with 2 or more blank visa pages, a photocopy of the information pages, and any expired passports from the last 5 years (plus a name-change document if names differ).
• Two recent colour photos, 48mm x 33mm, full face, front view, bare head, taken within 6 months.
• A copy of your most recent Chinese visa, if you have had one.

Ten fingerprints are taken at the Visa Center. You are exempt if you are under 14 or over 70, if you were fingerprinted in the past five years with the same passport, or if your fingers cannot be printed. For now, applicants for short-term single or double-entry visas of less than 180 days are also exempt, which can apply to some Q2 and S2 visits. Q1 and S1 applicants should plan to give fingerprints unless another exemption applies.

Fees, processing time and the right Visa Center

The fee for Indian passport holders depends on the number of entries, not on whether you hold Q or S. The Embassy's reduced fees are extended until 31 December 2026.

Qualified applications usually take 4 working days (regular) or 3 working days (express) for processing by the Embassy. Submit at the centre that matches your state:

• Mumbai: Maharashtra and Karnataka
• Kolkata: Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal
• New Delhi: all other areas

The jurisdiction notice dates from August 2024, so check the Embassy's visa section for later changes before you travel to a centre.

Before you go to the Visa Center

1. Confirm whether your relative is a Chinese citizen or PR holder (Q) or a foreign worker or student (S).
2. Pick type 1 or type 2 based on whether you will stay over 180 days.
3. Get a dated, signed invitation letter covering every point listed above.
4. Carry originals and photocopies of your marriage or birth certificate.
5. Check passport validity (6 months, 2 blank pages) and print 48mm x 33mm photos.
6. Pay the Visa Center service fee online, then complete the online form and upload your documents on the Visa Center website.
7. Once the status shows 'online review completed' and the confirmation email arrives, take the Visa Application Certificate and your original passport to the Visa Center for your state within 15 days, on a working day (no appointment). S and Q applicants may also be asked to attend an interview.

The Embassy pages we checked do not publish an insurance requirement for these categories or a photo background colour, so confirm both at the Visa Center if they matter for your file.

If your visit needs supporting travel paperwork, Yatra For Fun's India office in Gurugram prepares flight reservations, hotel bookings, travel itineraries and cover letters for visa files, with packages from INR 1,000 (flight reservation) to INR 3,000 (reservation, hotel, itinerary and cover letter). WhatsApp +91 95230 91018 or contact us.

Frequently asked questions

Can my children apply for an S visa along with me?

Yes. The S category covers family members of foreigners working or studying in China, and a birth certificate serves as relationship proof. Each child needs their own application form, passport and photos; children under 14 are exempt from fingerprinting.

Do I need an appointment at the Chinese Visa Application Service Center?

No. Since November 2023, no appointment is required. Since December 2025, though, you must first apply online on the Visa Center website and wait for the status 'online review completed'; then take your passport to the centre that covers your state (Mumbai, Kolkata or New Delhi) on a working day.

How long does China take to process a Q or S visa?

For qualified applications, the Embassy usually takes 4 working days on regular processing and 3 working days on express. Express and urgent services carry an extra Rs1800 / Rs2700 per application.

Is a Q2 or S2 visa cheaper than a Q1 or S1?

Fees for Indian passport holders are set by the number of entries, not by the visa letter. A single-entry visa costs Rs2900 and a double-entry visa Rs4400, while multiple-entry visas cost Rs5900 for six months and Rs8800 for 12 months or above.