Article 20 Foreigners who need to enter China urgently for humanitarian reasons, or are invited to enter China for urgent business or rush repair work, or have other urgent needs, and hold materials that prove the competent departments' approval of their applying for visas at port, may apply for port visas with the visa-issuing authorities entrusted by the Ministry of Public Security at the ports (hereinafter referred to as "port visa authorities") which are approved to issue port visas by the State Council.

Travel agencies that organize inbound tourism in accordance with relevant State regulations may apply for group tourist visas from port visa authorities.

Foreigners who apply to port visa authorities for visas shall submit their passports or other international travel documents, as well as relevant information of specific application matters. They shall go through relevant formalities in accordance with the requirements of the port visa authorities, and enter China at the ports where they apply for visas.

Visas issued by port visa authorities shall be single entry and the duration of stay shall not exceed 30 days.

Article 21 Under any of the following circumstances, visas shall not be issued to foreigners:

(1) Was deported, or was repatriated upon decision, and the No-Entry-into-China period has not expired;

(2) Is suffering from serious mental disorders, infectious tuberculosis or other infectious diseases that may severely jeopardize the public health;

(3) May endanger China's national security or interests, or disrupt social and public order, or engage in other illegal or criminal activities;

(4) Resort to fraudulent acts in visa application or cannot guarantee expected expenditures during their stay in China;

(5) Fail to submit relevant information required by the visa-issuing authorities; or

(6) Other circumstances in which visa authorities consider a visa should not be issued.

The visa-issuing authorities are not required to give reasons for refusing the issuance of a visa.

Article 22 Under any of the following circumstances, foreigners may be exempt from applying for visas:

(1) So exempted based on the visa exemption agreements signed by the Chinese government with the governments of other countries;

(2) Hold valid foreigners' residence permits;

(3) Hold connected passenger tickets and are in transit to a third country or region by an international aircraft, ship or train via China, will stay for not more than 24 hours in China without leaving the port of entry, or will stay in the specific zones approved by the State Council within the prescribed time limit; or

(4) Other circumstances stipulated by the State Council in which visas may be exempted.