The Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China (hereinafter Exit and Entry Law), adopted by the National People's Congress in June of 2012, took effect on July 1, 2013. Relevant administrative regulations and rules, including those on the visa system and the employment of foreigners, are expected to be updated in accordance with the new law. The changes are aimed at addressing the illegal stay and illegal employment of foreigners living in China. According to the new law, visas for China are divided into four categories: diplomatic visa, courtesy visa, official visa and ordinary visa. The following are some important articles:

» Article 18  Foreigners who apply for visas shall submit their passports or other international travel documents, as well as information of specific application matters, to the visa-issuing authorities stationed abroad. They shall go through relevant formalities and accept interviews in accordance with the requirements of the visa-issuing authorities stationed abroad.

» Article 19  Where foreigners applying for visas need to provide written invitations issued by entities or individuals within China, the applicants shall provide such invitations in accordance with the requirements of the visa-issuing authorities abroad. Entities or individuals that issue written invitations shall be liable for the fidelity of the contents.

» 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 (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 who:

(1) Were deported, or was repatriated upon decision, and for whom the no-entry-into-China period has not expired;

(2) Are suffering from serious mental disorders, infectious tuberculosis or other infectious diseases that may severely jeopardize 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.

» Article 23  Where foreigners under any of the following circumstances need to enter China temporarily, they shall apply to exit/entry border inspection agencies for going through the formalities for temporary entry:

(1) Foreign seamen and their accompanying family members disembark at cities where the ports are located;

(2) Persons specified in Subparagraph (3) of Article 22 of this Law need to leave ports; or

(3) Foreigners needing to enter China temporarily due to force majeure or for any other urgent reason.

The duration of stay for temporary entry shall not exceed 15 days.

For foreigners who apply for going through the formalities for temporary entry, exit/entry border inspection authorities may require such foreigners, the persons in charge of the transport vehicles used for such foreigners' entry or the agencies handling the exit/entry business for transport vehicles to provide necessary guaranty measures.

(Source: http://www.mps.gov.cn/n16/n84147/n84196/3837042.html)