In principle, Chinese visa applicants should apply for a visa in advance at the Chinese embassy or consulate abroad, the Commissioner’s Office in Hong Kong or Macau, or other overseas agencies authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Applicants should apply for a visa in advance according to their own itinerary.
Foreigners who need to enter the country urgently for humanitarian reasons, are invited to enter the country to engage in emergency business, engineering repairs, or have other urgent needs for entry and who hold documents proving that the Chinese competent authorities agree to apply for a visa at the port can apply for port visa business with the approval of the State Council of China. At the port, apply for a port visa to the port visa agency entrusted by the Ministry of Public Security.
If a travel agency organizes inbound tourism in accordance with relevant national regulations, it may apply to the port visa authority for a group travel visa.
Being able to apply does not mean that the application will be automatically approved, and all responsibilities that may arise therefrom shall be borne by the applicant.
In addition to 24-hour transit without leaving the airport, 72-hour transit in 7 cities including Beijing and Shanghai, 6-day convenient tour in Guangdong and 15-day visa-free tour in Hainan, American and French citizens must apply for a visa abroad in advance before coming to China, and cannot Apply for a visa at the port.