Question: Can a foreign tourist party or group apply for group tourist port visa when coming to China for a tour?

Answer:

　　The border visa agencies stationed at both the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport and Pudong International Airport may issue group tourist visa upon arrival to tourist groups organized from overseas by Shanghai's international travel services established under the approval of the China National Tourism Administration.
　　The practice of issuing group visa at the border can shorten the visa processing time needed for organizing overseas tourist groups to China; the number of visits to China's overseas embassies and consulates for visa application may be reduced as well. When an overseas travel agency organizes a tourist group of 5 persons and above (including 5) on a tour of China, it may apply to the above mentioned Shanghai's international travel services for group tourist visa issued at the border.
　　The overseas travel organizers shall provide to the relevant international travel services in Shanghai the details of the tourist group, three days before its arrival at the border. These details include the name of the applying overseas travel agency, the name of the tourist group, the number of travelers, the group ID number, serial number of the group list, both English and Chinese names of the travelers, sexes, birth dates, nationalities, passport types, occupations, places to visit during the trip and the planned number of days to stay in China.
　　Under the approval of the Shanghai government department concerned, the international travel service in Shanghai should send a letter of approval to the overseas organizer 24 hours before the arrival of this tour group. With the letter, the overseas tourist group can leave for Shanghai. On its arrival of Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport or Pudong International Airport, the tour group must submit three copies of "names of the tourist group" to the visa office at the border. After checking them carefully , the visa office will issue its tourist group visa.
　　Foreign travel agencies or tourists who need further information may contact international travel services in Shanghai.