Visas and residency for retiring in China
Last reviewed: 2026-05-24
There is no China retirement visa. The pages below cover the realistic pathways overseas Chinese families really use (Q1, Q2, S-series, talent, eventually PR for some) and the residence-permit process after arrival.
Pages in this section
- Is there a China retirement visa? – There is no China retirement visa. Realistic stay pathways for overseas Chinese retirees: Q1/Q2 family-reunion visas, S1/S2 dependent visas, work-related routes, PR, what each requires.
- Q1 vs Q2 family visa for retiring in China – Q1 (long-stay family) vs Q2 (short-stay family-visit) visa for overseas Chinese retirees: eligibility, application documents, residence permit conversion, common mistakes.
- Residence permit after arrival: what families need to plan – China residence permit (居留许可) after arrival: 30-day conversion window, 出入境管理局 workflow, document checklist, renewal cycle, what triggers a re-apply vs renew.