Hi, I need to go to Shenzen China on short notice. I've done some research but I cannot get a clear answer to my question: Can I get a visa on arrival (VOA) when I arrive at Shenzen airport or must I go by land or ferry?

Shenzhen 5-Day Visa on Arrival
The Shenzhen 5-day visa on arrival, also known as a Shenzhen 5-day VOA or Shenzhen Special Economic Zone Tourism Visa, enables tourists from most countries, including Australia and Canada to stay in Shenzhen for 5 days without applying for a regular visa. During the 5 days, foreign tourists eligible for the VOA cannot leave the Shenzhen urban area and countryside. The five-day VOA is a sticker pasted on the passport like a regular visa. Hence, there must be at least one blank page in the applicant's passport. More

 

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Whether the five-day Shenzhen-only visa is in fact available at Shenzhen Airport is, in a sense, not relevant. What counts is whether the airline will let you board a flight to Shenzhen without a Chinese visa. Airlines rely on the Timatic visa database to determine what you need, and there's nothing in there that suggests you can get that visa on arrival in Shenzhen. Much easier not to worry and just go by land through HK, assuming you hold a passport entitled to that visa.