问一：中国的口岸签证是常说的“落地签”吗？哪些口岸可以办理“口岸签证”？

Q1：Do China’s port visas equal the commonly known “visas on arrival”? Which ports are authorized to issue port visas?

答：中国口岸签证与有些国家“落地签”类似，是办理签证的一种“方式”或者说“途径”，而不是像“商务签证”“旅游签证”等是签证的一个种类。无论是口岸签证还是“落地签”，各国都依据各自法律设定相应的申请条件和办理程序。根据中国有关法律规定，持普通护照外籍人员有紧急入境需要、来不及在驻外使领馆办妥来华签证的，可申办口岸签证入境。外籍人员申办口岸签证，可由本人或邀请单位提前向口岸签证机关提出申请，或在抵达口岸后现场向口岸签证机关提出申请。为便利申请人顺畅办理口岸签证，避免申请人在抵达口岸后因具有法定不予签发签证、法定不准入境等情形，无法获批口岸签证入境，影响行程安排、增加经济时间成本，建议外籍人员提前向拟入境地口岸签证机关预申报，经口岸签证机关初步审核同意后再抵达口岸办理签证。外国旅游团申办口岸签证的，应由负责组织接待的境内旅行社提前向口岸签证机关申请。

截至目前，中国在国际航线较多、外籍人员入境量较大的口岸均已开展口岸签证业务，覆盖全国72个城市的99个对外开放口岸。（主要口岸签证机关及联系方式可在国家移民管理局官网查询）

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 "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.

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.

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.

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.)

问二：哪些“急需来华”情形可以申办中国口岸签证？

Q2：What are the “situations of urgent needs of entering China” that are eligible to apply for Chinese port visas?

答：持普通护照外籍人员有急需来华从事商贸合作、访问交流、投资创业、探望亲属及私人事务等事由，或因来华奔丧、探望危重病人等人道原因，来不及在驻外使领馆办妥签证的，可向口岸签证机关申请办理口岸签证。

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.

问三：申办中国口岸签证需要提交哪些证明材料？

Q3：What documents are required to apply for a port visa in China?

答：外籍人员向口岸签证机关申请办理口岸签证，应当提交本人的有效护照或者其他国际旅行证件，证明紧急来华事由的相关材料，经批准后从申请签证的口岸入境。例如，入境从事紧急商务活动的，需提交邀请单位出具的说明商务目的、紧急情形、主要行程安排的邀请函件及紧急情形相关证明材料。具体可向拟入境地口岸签证机关咨询。

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.

问四：在华外籍人员可以就近办理签证延期换发补发的签证种类有哪些？

Q4：What types of visas can be extended, renewed, and re-issued for foreign nationals in China in their vicinity?

答：短期来华从事商贸合作、访问交流、投资创业、探望亲属、观光旅游及处理私人事务等非外交、公务活动的外籍人员，有正当合理事由需继续在华停留的，可就近就便向停留地公安机关出入境管理机构申请商贸（M字）签证、访问（F字）签证、短期私人事务（S2字）签证、短期探亲（Q2字）签证的延期、换发、补发以及旅游（L字）签证的延期、补发。

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).

问五：如何办理口岸团体旅游签证？

Q5：How to apply for group tourist port visas?

答：2人及以上的外国旅游团办理口岸团体旅游签证，须由负责组织、接待的境内旅行社提前向口岸签证机关提交邀请函件、人员名单以及旅行接待计划等证明材料。旅游团可以从中国所有对外开放口岸入境、出境。

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.