Everything you need to know about port visas in China!

你需要了解关于中国港口签证的一切！

I. Do China's port visas equal the commonly known "visas on arrival"? Which ports are authorized to issue port visas?

一、中国的港口签证和常见的“落地签证”是一样的吗？哪些港口有资格发放港口签证？

Answer: China's port visas are similar to the "visas on arrival" of some other countries. The term refers to a "way" or "method" to apply for visas, rather than a specific type of visa like a "business visa" or "tourist visa". Regardless of the names, every country sets corresponding application conditions and processing procedures according to its laws for foreign nationals to apply for visas in this way.

答: 中国的港口签证类似于其他一些国家的“落地签证”。该术语指的是一种申请签证的“方式”或“方法”，而不是像“商务签证”或“旅游签证”这样的特定签证类型。不论名称如何，每个国家根据其法律为外国人申请签证的方式设定相应的申请条件和处理程序。

According to the relevant Chinese laws and regulations, foreign nationals holding ordinary passports, who have urgent needs to enter China but do not have enough time to apply for visas at Chinese embassies or consulates abroad, can apply for port visas for entry. Foreign nationals applying for port visas can submit applications in advance to the port visa authorities by themselves or through inviting parties, or apply on site upon arrival at ports in China.

根据我国相关法律法规，持有普通护照的外国人如有紧急需要入境中国，但未能在境外的中国使领馆办理签证，可以申请口岸签证。申请口岸签证的外国人可通过自身或邀请方提前向口岸签证机关提交申请，或在中国境内港口抵达后现场申请。

To facilitate the applications, avoiding situations where applicants are unable to obtain approval for entry due to legal reasons such as being legally ineligible for visa issuance or entry upon arrival at ports, which may affect travel arrangements and increase economic and time costs, it is recommended that foreign nationals submit their applications in advance to the port visa authorities in the intended destinations, obtain preliminary approval from the port visa authorities, and then go to the corresponding ports for applying for visas. For foreign tourist groups applying for port visas, the Chinese travel agencies responsible for the reception should apply for them in advance at the port visa authorities.

为避免因法律原因如签证发放或抵达港口时法律上不适合入境等原因导致申请人无法获得入境批准，可能影响旅行安排并增加经济和时间成本，建议外国国民提前向拟前往的港口签证机关提交申请，从港口签证机关获得初步批准，然后前往相应港口申请签证。对于申请港口签证的外国旅游团，负责接待的中国旅行社应提前向港口签证机关申请。

As of now, port visa services have been provided at 99 ports in 72 cities nationwide with a large number of international flights and a high volume of foreign nationals entering China. (For the details of the major port visa authorities in China and their contact information, please visit the official website of the National Immigration Administration.)

II. What are the "situations of urgent needs of entering China" that are eligible to apply for Chinese port visas?

二、有哪些符合条件可以申请中国港口签证的"急需入境中国的情况"？

Answer: Any foreign ordinary passport holder who has an urgent need to travel to China for business cooperation, visits and exchanges, investment and entrepreneurship, visiting relatives and handling private affairs, etc., or for humanitarian reasons such as attending funerals or visiting critically ill patients, and are unable to obtain a visa from Chinese embassies or consulates abroad in time, can apply for a port visa at a port visa authority in China.

任何持有普通护照的外国人，如因商务合作、访问与交流、投资创业、探亲与私事处理等有紧急需求前往中国，或因参加葬礼或探望重病患者等人道主义原因无法及时在中国驻外使领馆获得签证，均可在中国的港口签证机构申请港口签证。

III. What documents are required to apply for a port visa in China?

三、在中国申请港口签证需要哪些文件？

Answer: A foreign national who plans to apply for a port visa at a port visa authority is required to submit his/her valid passport or any other international travel document, along with relevant supporting documents that evidence the urgent reason(s) for his/her entry into China. Once the visa is issued, he/she may enter China from the port where the visa application is made. As for the supporting documents, a foreigner entering China for urgent business activities, for example, shall submit the inviting party’s invitation letter explaining the business purposes, details of emergency, and main itinerary arrangements, as well as relevant proof of the emergency. For more information, please contact the port visa authority at the intended port of entry.

答：计划在港口签证机构申请港口签证的外国公民需要提交有效的护照或其他国际旅行文件，并提供证明其入境中国有紧急原因的相关支持文件。一旦签证发放，他/她可以从签证申请所在的港口入境中国。至于支持文件，例如，外国人因紧急商务活动而入境中国，需要提交邀请方的邀请函，说明商务目的、紧急情况的详细情况和主要行程安排，以及相关紧急情况的证据。如需更多信息，请联系拟入境港口的港口签证机构。

IV. What types of visas can be extended, renewed, and re-issued for foreign nationals in China in their vicinity?

四、在中国，外国人可以在当地续签、换发哪些类型的签证？

Answer: Foreign nationals coming to China for short-term non-diplomatic and non-official activities such as business cooperation, visit and exchange, investment and entrepreneurship, visiting relatives, tourism, or private matters, etc., and have legitimate reasons for extending their stays may submit applications to the nearest exit-entry administrations of the public security organs located in the places where they stay for the extension, renewal, and re-issuance of their business visas (M visas), visit visas (F visas), short-term private affair visas (S2 visas), and short-term family visit visas (Q2 visas), as well as for the extension and re-issuance of their tourist visas (L visas).

答：来华从事短期非外交、非官方活动，如商务合作、访问交流、投资创业、探亲访友、旅游或私人事务等，并有合理理由需要延长停留时间的外国人，可向其所居住地的最近公安机关出入境管理部门提交申请，延长、换发商务签证（M签证）、访问签证（F签证）、短期私人事务签证（S2签证）和短期探亲访问签证（Q2签证），以及延长、换发旅游签证（L签证）。

V. How to apply for group tourist port visas?

五、如何申请团体旅游港口签证？

Answer: For foreign tourist groups consisting of two or more people applying for group tourist port visas, the Chinese travel agency responsible for organizing and receiving such groups must submit invitation letters, lists of personnel, and tourist reception plans to the relevant port visa authorities in advance. The above tourist groups can enter and exit from all open ports in China.

答：对于由两人或更多人组成的外国旅游团体申请团体旅游港口签证，负责组织和接待此类团体的中国旅行社必须提前向相关港口签证机关提交邀请函、人员名单和旅游接待计划。上述旅游团体可以从中国所有开放口岸进出。