China arrival card: fill it in online before you fly
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Short answer
Foreign visitors can file the arrival card online since 20 November 2025: on the NIA website, the NIA 12367 app, or the NIA mini-program in WeChat or Alipay.
Filing ahead is optional. If you don't, you can still do it at the border: Still accepted (QR code, kiosks or a paper card).
Use only the official form at s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/. China has warned that third-party sites have charged people to file it.
| Fact | Value | Checked | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online arrival card launchedinternational travellers entering China | 20 November 2025 | Shanghai Government (English) | |
| Where to fill in the arrival cardarrivals | website, NIA 12367 app, WeChat/Alipay mini program, QR | Shanghai Government (English) | |
| Official online formforeign visitors entering mainland China | s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/ | Shanghai Municipal People's Government | |
| Paper card at the borderforeign visitors entering mainland China | Still accepted | Shanghai Municipal People's Government | |
| How far ahead to submitarrivals | Not confirmed yet | Shanghai Government (English)Unverified | |
| Who is exempt from the arrival card | exemptions list | Shanghai Government (English) | |
| Fee for the arrival cardforeign visitors entering mainland China | Not confirmed yet | ICAO (paper by China) |
Where do I fill in the China arrival card?
There are four official routes, all run by the National Immigration Administration (NIA): the web form at s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/, the NIA 12367 app, the NIA mini-program inside WeChat or Alipay, and the QR codes posted at the border.
They all collect the same details: passport, flight or train, address in China and the reason for the trip. Have your first hotel's address ready in Chinese if you can; the hotel confirmation usually shows it.
How far ahead can I file it?
No official page gives a limit. The launch notice only says you can file before you travel. Some booking sites mention 72 hours, but we have not found that on an NIA page, so treat it as unconfirmed.
The safe approach: file it once your flight and first hotel are fixed, and keep the confirmation on your phone.
Is the China arrival card free?
We have not found an official page that says it is free or names a fee. What China has said, in a paper filed with ICAO, is that illegal third-party sites have charged travellers to file it. If a site asks for card details, close it and use s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/ instead.
What if I don't fill it in before I fly?
Nothing goes wrong. At the border you can scan a QR code, use the on-site devices or fill in a paper card. Filing ahead only saves a few minutes in the arrivals hall, which matters most when several long-haul flights land together.
Who does not need an arrival card?
exemptions list
What else should I sort before landing?
The arrival card is one of three things worth doing before the flight. Check your entry route on the visa-free page or the 240-hour transit page, and set up a way to pay with the payments guide.
Questions people ask
Is the China arrival card mandatory?
You still give the details on arrival, but filing online first is optional: Still accepted at the border.
What is the official China arrival card website?
s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/, run by the National Immigration Administration. The NIA 12367 app and the NIA mini-program in WeChat or Alipay are also official.
Do I need an arrival card on 240-hour transit?
Some transit passengers are exempt; see the list above. If you leave the airport, plan to file one.
Sources
- China launches online arrival card for intl travelers, Shanghai Government (English), retrieved
- China innovative measures on arrival card filing for foreigners (DGCA/61 IP/05-04), ICAO (paper by China), retrieved