Foreigners entering mainland China usually need an arrival card. You can fill it online before you fly, through the National Immigration Administration's official channels. Fake sites that ask for a fee are a known problem. If you cannot complete it online, you can still finish it at the port with a QR code, a smart device, or a paper card.

Airport arrivals hall with signs for international arrivals, the step after immigration and the arrival card

Do you need an arrival card?

Most foreign passport holders entering mainland China for tourism, business, visits or transit through immigration need one. The following persons are exempt from filling in: holders of a valid Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card of the People's Republic of China; holders of a valid Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (non-Chinese Citizens); holders of a group visa or those eligible for group visa-free entry; passengers in 24-hour direct transit who stay within the designated area of the port; cruise passengers entering and departing on the same vessel; travelers entering through the E-channel; and foreign crew members of exit-entry transport vehicles. If one of those cases fits you, follow the port's instructions rather than forcing an online form that does not apply.

This page is about the card itself. It is not a visa decision. For which entry route you should use, start with China entry: visas, exemptions and transit. US passport holders can also use China entry planning for US passport holders.

Fill it online before you fly

On November 20, 2025, the National Immigration Administration (NIA) of China introduced the online arrival card filling service for foreigners. NIA warns that the online arrival card filling is free of charge and that counterfeit websites have been charging travelers; use only official channels, including https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/. Bookmark that official page. Do not pay a third-party “arrival card service”. If a site asks for a credit-card fee just to submit the form, leave.

Official channels named by NIA include:

  • the NIA arrival-card web page above (desktop);
  • NIA government service platforms;
  • the “NIA 12367” (移民局12367) app;
  • WeChat and Alipay mini-programs;
  • the designated arrival-card QR code on a phone.

Have these details ready before you open the form: passport biodata page, flight number and arrival city, first hotel or address in China (Chinese address helps), occupation and a contact phone you can still reach. Copy names exactly as printed in the passport. Save a screenshot of the confirmation; airport Wi-Fi can be slow after a long flight.

What if you did not fill it online?

Foreigners who cannot fill in the information online in advance may complete the process upon arriving at the immigration inspection site at Chinese ports of entry by scanning the QR code via mobile phone, using the smart devices on site, or filling out a paper-based Arrival Card. Paper cards are still issued at many ports, but queues move faster when the online form is already done. If your phone has no data, use the port Wi-Fi or the on-site device rather than a random QR code handed to you in the jet bridge.

Common mistakes

  • Paying a lookalike website. The government form does not charge a submission fee. Use the NIA URL or the embassy's published guidance.
  • Wrong address format. Immigration wants somewhere they can reach you, usually the first hotel. Hotel staff can write the Chinese address if you only have the English booking.
  • Assuming the card replaces a visa. The arrival card records your entry. It does not grant entry permission. Your visa, exemption or transit permission is a separate check.
  • Leaving the form half-finished on the plane. Complete it before you join the immigration queue so you are not editing under time pressure.

After you land

Keep the passport, the arrival-card confirmation or paper card, and your onward or hotel booking together until you clear immigration and reclaim bags. Once you are through, set up payments and data if you have not already: the China eSIM comparison and the metro tickets and payments guide cover the next steps most visitors need in the first hour.

How this fits a 240-hour transit stop

If you are only changing planes under a transit permission, confirm whether your stop keeps you inside the port's designated area. Some short airside connections are on the exemption list above; once you clear immigration into the city, the arrival card rules for ordinary foreign entrants apply. Work through the route test on the visa and transit overview before you treat a short layover as "no card needed".

Official sources (checked 2026-10-30)

  • NIA (English): Beware of Fraudulent Websites for Arrival Card Filling — includes the official form URL
  • Chinese Embassy in Canada: Guidance on Online Arrival Card for International Travelers — exemptions and on-arrival options
  • Official form: https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/

Policy pages go out of date. If the embassy or NIA page for your travel date differs from this summary, follow that page.