China Arrival Card: How to Fill It In Online for Free

The short version

China’s arrival card is a short form with your passport, travel and accommodation details. Border officers use it when you enter the country.

• Who needs it: most foreigners entering mainland China, including visa-free and 240-hour transit travelers.
• Cost: free. Any website that charges a fee is not official.
• Where to fill it in: online before you fly, on the National Immigration Administration (NIA) website s.nia.gov.cn, in the NIA 12367 app, or through the NIA mini-programs in WeChat or Alipay. You can also do it at the airport on a kiosk or paper card.
• Time needed: about 10 minutes with your passport, flight number and first hotel address ready.

The online service opened on 20 November 2025. This guide follows the NIA’s official instructions and video, checked on 29 September 2026.

Official channels only

Fake websites that look like China’s official arrival card service charge travelers a fee. The NIA has warned that online arrival card filling is free of charge and should be done only through these channels:

Check the web address before you type anything. The official site ends in nia.gov.cn. Search engine ads for “China arrival card” sometimes lead to paid agent sites.

What you need before you start

• Your passport, so you can photograph the photo page
• Your visa number, if you have a visa. Visa-free travelers can skip this.
• Your flight, train or ship number and entry date
• The city and address of your first night, such as a hotel name and address
• The name of your inviting person or company, if you were invited
• Your departure details, if you already have a ticket out. 240-hour transit travelers must have one.

Step by step: filling in the arrival card online

These steps follow the NIA’s official video guide.

1. Open an official channel and choose your language. The website offers 13 languages, including English, Japanese, Korean, Russian, French, Spanish and Arabic.
2. Choose “Entry Declaration”. Border residents of seven neighboring countries have a separate form.
3. Read the instructions and agree. They list who is exempt (see below) and warn that false or missing information can lead to entry being refused.
4. Upload a clear photo of your passport photo page. The system reads it and fills in your name, passport number, date of birth and other basic details automatically. Check each field and correct anything it misread.
5. Fill in your personal and travel details. These include:
   • your nationality and means of transport (flight, train or ship number)
   • your country of residence
   • your visa number, if you have one
   • whether you hold another citizenship, and whether your passport has ever been lost or stolen
6. Add your expected entry date and the city where you will stay.
7. Say whether you were invited. If a person or company invited you to China, select “Yes” and enter their details.
8. Add your departure details if you have them.
9. Add accompanying persons if you want. Select “Yes” to fill in arrival cards for family members or others traveling with you.
10. Sign electronically and confirm.
11. Save the result. You receive a QR code summary. Save the image to your phone or email it to yourself, and keep it offline.

If you come back to China within a year, the system keeps your information, so the next card is faster.

When to fill it in

The NIA has not published a fixed deadline for how far in advance you can submit. In practice:

• Fill it in after your flight and first hotel are booked, because the form asks for them.
• A few days before departure is a good time. You still have time to fix a mistake, and your plans are unlikely to change.
• If your plans change, fill in the card again with the new details, or complete it on arrival.

Who is exempt

According to the NIA, these travelers do not need to fill in the arrival card:

1. Foreigners with a valid Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card of China
2. Foreigners with a valid Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (non-Chinese)
3. Travelers transiting within 24 hours without leaving the airport’s restricted area
4. Members of foreign tour groups entering visa-free or on a group visa
5. Crew members, drivers and other transport staff
6. Cruise passengers who return with the same ship
7. People eligible for special centralized document handling
8. Foreigners who enter through the automated e-channel (self-service gates)

Travelers who leave the airport under the 24-hour or 240-hour visa-free transit policies should fill in the arrival card.

At the border

1. Go to the foreigners’ immigration line. Some airports have separate counters for visa-free transit.
2. Hand over your passport. Have your arrival card QR code ready in case the officer asks for it.
3. Answer questions about your trip briefly and honestly, for example your purpose, cities and hotel.
4. Collect your stamped passport and check the permitted stay.

If you did not fill in the card online, use a self-service device in the arrivals hall or ask for a paper card before you join the queue.

What the arrival card does not do

• It is not a visa. You still need a visa or a visa-free option that covers your nationality. See Which countries can visit China visa-free? and 240-hour visa-free transit.
• It is not a customs declaration. If you carry goods or cash above the allowances, declare them separately to customs. See China customs rules.
• It does not register your accommodation. Hotels register you when you check in. If you stay in a private home, you or your host must register within 24 hours, online through the NIA 12367 app or its Alipay mini-program, or at a police station.

Common mistakes

• Paying a fake agent. The service is free.
• Letting the passport scan make errors. Check the passport number and dates carefully.
• Leaving out a second nationality or a lost passport. Leaving information out can lead to entry being refused.
• Losing the confirmation. Save the QR code image offline, because you may not have data when you land.
• Assuming it replaces a visa. It does not.

Planning the rest of your arrival

After immigration, you will need data, payments and a way into the city. Our first 24 hours in China guide covers each step. If you would like help planning the arrival and the rest of the trip, our free trip planning service can help.