For people who would normally require to obtain a visa in advance there are certain emergency situations which will permit them to get a visa on arrival. These will always require an invitation from an accredited Chinese organisation which explains the emergency, (mostly related to business purposes which from the Chinese perspective it is important that you are admitted without delay) or you must yourself be in a real emergency situation such as a passenger in a plane or ship in mechanical difficulty.
Aliens who hold ordinary passports issued by countries which have diplomatic relations or official trade links with China as well as letter(s) or telegram(s) from authorized units in China, may, under any of the following circumstances where they must necessarily rush to China but have no time to apply for a visa, may apply to the visa-granting departments at entry ports as authorized by the Ministry of Public Security. The Rules on Visa Issued at Entry Ports are not applicable to the nationals of United States.
1. They are invited at the last moment by a Chinese host to come to China for a trade fair.
2. They are invited to come to China to submit a tender or to sign a formal economic or trade contract.
3. They come to China by appointment to supervise the inspection of import and export commodities or to participate in a check-and-accept operation in accordance with contracts.
4. They are invited to participate in the installation of equipment or in the emergency repair of engineering projects.
5. They come to China at the request of the Chinese side to solve a problem of claims.
6. They are invited to come to provide technical advisory services.
7. They come to China due to a last-minute change in the composition of a visiting group and with consent of the Chinese side after the visas are granted.
8. They come to China to see patients in critical conditions, or to undertake funeral matters.
9. Owing to force majeure, transit visa holders cannot leave the country within twenty-four hours by taking the original place or by taking other means of transport.
10. Other invited guests who really have no time for visa application to the aforesaid China's resident agencies abroad, and who hold letter(s) or telegram(s) from competent authorities who give the consent for the invited guests to apply for the visa at the designated entry ports.
The visa-granting agencies at entry ports shall not accept and handle visa applications filled out by people who do not come under the aforesaid circumstances.
Some accredited International Travel Agencies incorporated under Chinese laws may apply for group-tour visa at entry ports with Visa Notification Form issued by provincial office of foreign affairs.
Visa-issuing departments at port of entry, as authorized by the Ministry of Public Security, are stationed at the following ports: Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Dalian, Fuzhou, Xiamen, Xi'an, Guilin, Hangzhou, Kunming, Guangzhou (Baiyun Airport), Shenzhen (Luohu, Shekou), Zhuhai (Gongbei), Haikou, Sanya, Jinan, Qingdao, Yantai, Weihai, Chengdu, Nanjing, Changchun, Huichun, Hekou, Mohan.
There is also provision for a short stay (5 day) 'visa on arrival' for some nationalities for persons who only want to visit a Special Economic Zone such as Zhuhai or Shenzhen. Most travellers would find this not an option if they intend flying there. See Airline Regulations
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Travelers' Voices on Visa on Arrival
1.
Nov. 16,2009 08:48 Reply
Ms.mqd(Philippines) said:
Hi im a filipino. i need to go to zhongshan, guangdong for a 1 day visit on the 19th of november. can i get a visa on arrival at gongbei border?
Nov. 16,2009 21:32
Mr.Helper(Canada) replied:
I think you have to apply for the visa in advance in philippines.
Nov. 17,2009 03:41
Ms.mqd(philippines) replied:
HI mr Helper
I was just wondering why Mr Yohanes of indonesia can get a visa on arrival (below) and why i (a filipino) cannot.
Nov. 17,2009 18:55
Mr.Helper(Canada) replied:
It's no strange, the visa policy isn't the same to different nationalities.
Meanwhile, Mr Yohanes will go to Shenzhen not Guangzhou.
Nov. 18,2009 21:17
Ms.mqd(philippines) replied:
hi mr helper, i see what you mean. thanks. i have an employment pass for singapore. i am currently working in singapore (im a filipino). can i apply for a china visa in singapore, or do i need to get it from the philippines?
2.
Nov. 16,2009 09:31 Reply
Ms.Apoorva(India) said:
I am an Indian National who would like to holiday in HK for 2-3 days. Can I get a visa on arrival ? If not, how long will the visa application process take ?
Nov. 16,2009 21:34
Mr.Miles(UK) replied:
In dian passport holders enjoy visa free priority to Hk for 14 days.
Nov. 17,2009 09:48
Mr.apoorva(india) replied:
You are saying Indian nationals don't need visa upto 14days?
Nov. 17,2009 22:07
Mr.Miles(UK) replied:
Yes, Mr.apoorva.
3.
Nov. 11,2009 02:11 Reply
Mr.faheem(pakistan) said:
dear sir, iam holding pakistani passport and want to visit china for 7 days on my friends convocation what type of visa do i require and is there any exemption for pakistani citizens.
Nov. 11,2009 04:45
Mr.Ethan replied:
You may apply for a tourist visa. Pakistanis are exempt from any visa fee.
4.
Nov. 9,2009 21:58 Reply
Mr.robert(Philippines) said:
Dear Sir,
I have an invitation from a company to go to Guangzhou from HK on the 12th of November I dont have time to apply for a visa and the Chinese embassy just got burned yesterday. Can I apply at the port of entry? And if so would you happen to know the port of entry toGuanzhou from HK via train? Thanks so much
Nov. 10,2009 04:34
Mr.Chris replied:
You can't get the visa at the entry of Guangzhou, you have to apply for the visa in HK.
5.
Nov. 3,2009 01:20 Reply
Mr.yohanes(INdonesia) said:
Hi
I'm Indonesian pasport holder
Can I get Visa On Arrival at Lo Wu , since i will go to shenzhen |(departure from hongkong) for 3 days (2 night)
Thanks for your answer
Nov. 3,2009 04:52
Mr.Winston replied:
I think you can.
Nov. 10,2009 03:09
Mr.Arwin(Indonesia) replied:
Hi, Pak Yohanes.
Although I haven't proved it myself, I'm sure u can. Just last week, my wife easily applied and got a Visa On Arrival in Shekou Port (this is the port in Shenzhen if u come by ferry from HK). The fee is RMB 160, the visa is valid for 5 days, and it is specifically for Shenzen area only (u can't go to other China provinces). The process only took about 15 minutes, no hassle whatsoever. U just have to make sure that u come during working hours; in Shekou, the Visa Counter closes at 5.30 PM.
In Lo Wu (or is it Luo Hu?), I think Indonesians (and many other nationalities) can get Shenzhen Visa On Arrival with no problem.
At least I know it's a very common thing to do for Indonesian tourists / shoppers. You'll be amazed on how of us u will bump-in to while u do some shopping at Luo Hu shopping center :)
Hope this helps.
6.
Nov. 5,2009 21:48 Reply
Mr.SW Tan(Malaysia) said:
Hi Sir,
I intend to go to Zhuhai on business trip. Can I get visa on arrival in Zhuhai?. Which area of entry? Gonbei entry port of Jiuzhou entry port?. Pls advise as my intended flight is to Macau.
Nov. 6,2009 01:37
Mr.George replied:
How long will you stay in Zhuhai?
Nov. 6,2009 02:55
Mr.SW Tan(Malaysia) replied:
Hi Sir,
I will be staying for 5 days.
Nov. 6,2009 04:50
Mr.Hamiltion replied:
If so, you have to apply for the China visa from the China Embassy in Malaysia ahead of your trip, since you can only get Zhuhai Special Zone visa on arrival at the entry port if you will just stay there for less than 3 days.
Nov. 6,2009 20:06
Mr.SW Tan(Malaysia) replied:
Hi Sir,
Thank you sir. In that case, can I go out after 3 days and re-enter Zhuhai with new tourist visa. Can I get it done at Gongbei entry port instead of Jiuzhou?
I cant get it done in Malaysia or Singapore (I stay in Singapore) as I travel in an out of Singapore daily.
7.
Nov. 1,2009 23:28 Reply
Ms.Shirlyn(Malaysia) said:
May i know what is the office hours of the Visa Application Office at Gongbei border ( not the CTS office) as i'll be visiting Macau first before proceeding to Zhuhai.
Thanks.
Nov. 2,2009 04:31
Ms.Alice replied:
The office hours for visa appliction of the Gongbei Border is 08：30—12：15；13：00—18：15；19：00—22：30
8.
Oct. 29,2009 10:50 Reply
Mr.moidi(Libya) said:
hello
I'm Libyan .
I'm in Indonesia now .
i would like to visit shanghai next week.
is it possible to get visa from Chinese embassy in Jakarta ?? I'm not resident in Indonesia.
hope i get an answer as soon as possible.
Oct. 29,2009 20:35
Ms.MARYWU(China) replied:
Hi,Libyan
You can hold tourist ( L ) visa from Chinese Embassy in Jakarta.
Mary
Oct. 29,2009 21:04
Mr.Duncan replied:
i think you can, but it depends on the China embassy in Jakarta finally.
9.
Oct. 28,2009 01:52 Reply
Mrs.divya(india) said:
hi,
Can an Indian passport holder apply for shenzhen visa on arrival?
Oct. 28,2009 04:22
Mrs.Cheryl replied:
It depends on how long you will stay in Shenzhen?
Oct. 28,2009 08:01
Mrs.divya(india) replied:
i need to visit for sum urgent business so may be just 2-3 days.
Oct. 28,2009 20:20
Mr.Nicholas replied:
If so, you may apply for a Shen Zhen Special Zone Visa at the entry port. However, you have to confirm this with the visa office at Luohu port firstly.
Tel: 86 755 82324022
10.
Oct. 25,2009 10:36 Reply
Ms.Foo(Philippines) said:
Hi, I plan to go to Guangzhou via Luo Hu port (Shenzhen) for 1 day trip, can I just apply visa on arrival at the port? How much is the fee?
Oct. 26,2009 21:20
Mr.Lionel replied:
Please contact the visa office at Luohu Port directly for exact answe:
Tel: 86 755 8232 4022