China Arrival Card 2026: How to Fill It Online Before You Fly
Contents
- China Arrival Card: What It Is and Who Needs It
- Who must fill in the China arrival card
- Who is exempt from the arrival card
- How to Fill In the China Arrival Card Online
- Official channels: all free of charge
- Filling in the card, step by step
- Information to have ready
- If you cannot submit it online
- Arrival Card Timing, Validity and Cost
- At the Airport: What to Show at Immigration
- Arriving by land or sea
- Arrival Card, Visa and Visa-Free Transit: Which Applies to You
- After You Arrive: Registration and Practical Tips
- China Arrival Card FAQ
- Is the China arrival card mandatory?
- Where can I fill in the China arrival card?
- Do I still need a visa if I complete the arrival card?
- What if I cannot fill in the card online?
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Since 20 November 2025, foreign travellers entering mainland China have filled in the arrival card online instead of on paper. The form is run by China's National Immigration Administration (NIA) and applies to arrivals by air, land and sea.
The digital arrival card is an entry declaration, not a visa. Holding a visa or travelling visa-free does not remove the requirement, and the NIA charges no fee for the form.
Almost every foreign traveller entering mainland China needs to submit the form, including:
Every entry needs its own card: a trip from mainland China to Hong Kong and back requires two separate submissions.
Seven groups do not need to complete the card:
The online form takes about 10 to 15 minutes once your passport and trip details are at hand.
Submit the arrival card through an official NIA channel only:
Online arrival card filling is free. Ignore lookalike websites that ask for a payment, because the NIA collects nothing for this service.
- Photograph the data page of your passport and upload it; the system reads your name, passport number, date of birth and expiry date.
- Check the extracted passport details and correct anything the system misread.
- Choose your entry policy (30-day visa-free, 240-hour visa-free transit or visa) and enter the visa number if you hold one.
- Add your contact details and travel information: mode of transport, arrival flight, train or vessel number, entry city and port.
- Enter your itinerary and accommodation: purpose of entry, arrival date, main destination city and the full address of your hotel or host.
- Sign the declaration, submit the form and save the QR code to your phone; emailing a copy to yourself keeps it available offline.
You can still complete the arrival card after landing. Ports provide self-service devices, QR codes to scan with your phone, and paper arrival cards at the immigration counters. Allow extra time if you complete it on arrival, especially during public holidays.
There is no fixed rule on how early you submit the card, but the details you enter must match your actual trip.
On arrival, the QR code on your phone does the work of the old paper card at the immigration counter.
- Follow the signs for foreigner entry and join the immigration queue.
- Present your passport and the arrival card QR code to the officer.
- Complete the identity check and fingerprint collection if it is requested.
- Collect your luggage from the belt shown for your flight.
- Use the green channel if you have nothing to declare, or the red channel if you do.
Land, rail and sea arrivals use the same online card. If you cross at Luohu, Futian or another Shenzhen land port, select Shenzhen as the entry city and walking as your mode of transport rather than arriving by air. Cruise passengers who return on the same ship do not need a card. For onward travel, see our guide to getting around China.
The arrival card is required whichever entry policy you use. The policy you pick in the form should match your passport and your ticket.
240-hour transit passengers must hold an onward ticket to a third country or region and leave within 240 hours. A return trip to the country you departed from does not qualify. If you are still planning the rest of the trip, start with our guide to travelling to China from Singapore.
The arrival card is not the only formality once you land; your accommodation must also be registered with the local public security bureau.
Choosing accommodation near the port you arrive through shortens the first day. Our guide to choosing a hotel in China compares the main areas, and once your entry is sorted, see the places to visit in China for itinerary ideas.
Most travellers begin in one of these three gateway cities:
Yes. Nearly every foreign traveller entering mainland China must complete the card, unless they belong to one of the seven exempt groups listed above.
Only through official NIA channels: the NIA website, the NIA 12367 app, the WeChat or Alipay mini-program, or the QR code at the port. The service is free of charge.
Only if your nationality requires one. The arrival card is an entry declaration and does not replace a visa, a residence permit or a visa-free arrangement.
Complete it on arrival using the self-service devices, the port QR code or a paper card at the immigration counter.