Foreign travellers can submit China’s arrival card information online before entry, but the service is optional in timing, not a paid fast track. The National Immigration Administration says travellers who do not complete it in advance can use official digital facilities or a paper arrival card at the port.
The most important rule is simple: use an NIA channel and do not pay a third-party website. NIA has specifically warned about fraudulent arrival-card sites and states that the official online service is free.
Official ways to submit
NIA’s November 2025 announcement lists several official channels:
- the NIA official website and Government Service Platform;
- the “NIA 12367” app;
- the NIA WeChat or Alipay mini-program channel;
- the official QR code displayed by NIA or at the port;
- smart devices at the immigration inspection area;
- the paper arrival card at the port.
The official web form is hosted on the s.nia.gov.cn domain. A search ad, travel agency page or look-alike domain is not the same service.
If the online form is unavailable, do not submit passport data to an unverified alternative. Keep enough arrival time to use the official port option.
Prepare the information, not a memorised screen sequence
The online interface can change, so prepare the underlying travel facts instead of following an old screenshot:
- passport or travel-document details;
- arrival transport and port;
- purpose and expected length of stay;
- accommodation name and address in China;
- onward or departure information where requested;
- a contact method you can access.
Enter details exactly as they appear in the travel document and confirmed bookings. Do not invent a hotel address or shorten a passport name to make a field fit. If the form rejects a valid entry, use the official help or port channel.
The China visa-free countries guide can help identify which official entry-policy page to check, but an arrival card is not a visa and does not create eligibility.
Who may be exempt from the arrival card
NIA’s implementing announcement lists seven exempt groups, including certain permanent residents, holders of specified mainland travel permits, some group-visa/group visa-free travellers, direct 24-hour transit passengers who do not leave the port’s restricted area, same-cruise entry and exit, fast-lane users and foreign crew members.
These are legal categories, not self-selected shortcuts. If the situation is unclear, follow the instruction from the airline, port or immigration officer. Completing a card unnecessarily is less serious than assuming an exemption that does not apply, but only the authority can decide the case.
Online submission does not equal entry approval
An arrival-card confirmation records information; it does not issue a visa, grant visa-free status or guarantee border admission. Carry the passport used in the submission and any documents relevant to the entry basis, such as a visa, onward booking or accommodation details.
For a transit itinerary, the entry route, third-country requirement and permitted area remain separate questions. For direct visa-free entry, passport type, nationality, purpose and duration still control. Recheck current NIA and consular sources before travel.
Avoid arrival-card scams
Stop if a site:
- charges a mandatory “government processing fee” for the standard NIA form;
- uses a domain that only resembles an official Chinese government address;
- requests card payment before showing who operates the service;
- promises guaranteed or priority border approval;
- asks for unrelated banking or account-recovery information;
- tells you the paper or port option no longer exists.
NIA’s fraud notice states the official service is free and that port-based digital and paper options remain available. Save the official URL before departure rather than searching under pressure in the arrivals hall.
What to keep offline
Save a screenshot or reference number if the official system provides one, but also keep the underlying information offline. A screenshot is not a substitute for the passport or required entry documents.
Store:
- the first accommodation’s Chinese name, address and phone number;
- onward transport details;
- the official NIA form URL;
- airline and travel-insurance contacts;
- a protected copy of the passport identity page.
After entry, accommodation registration is a separate duty. Hotels normally handle registration for guests; non-hotel stays can have a different process. See whether foreigners can stay in any hotel in China for the accommodation step.
Frequently asked questions
Is China’s online arrival card mandatory before flying?
NIA says travellers who cannot complete it in advance may use official digital facilities or a paper card at the port. Airlines may still ask passengers to prepare information before boarding.
Does the official arrival card cost money?
No. NIA’s scam warning says the online arrival-card service is free.
Does submitting the card mean a visa is approved?
No. It is an information declaration, not a visa or border-admission guarantee.
What if the official form does not work?
Use another official NIA channel or complete the process at the port. Do not move passport data to a look-alike website.
Sources and review date
- NIA announcement implementing online arrival-card filling
- NIA warning about fraudulent arrival-card websites
- NIA official arrival-card service
The official channels and exemptions were checked on 31 August 2026. Recheck NIA instructions and the arrival port’s current process before travel.
Image credits
- Featured image: International arrivals at Chongqing Jiangbei Airport. Image by 世界首都环游, via Wikimedia Commons. — CC BY-SA 3.0.
- First inline image: Immigration inspection signs at Shanghai Pudong Airport. Image by MNXANL, via Wikimedia Commons. — CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Second inline image: A China visa and immigration stamp. Image by Kristoferb, via Wikimedia Commons. — CC BY-SA 3.0.
