Who This Helps

  • Foreign travelers entering mainland China.
  • Travelers using visa, visa-free entry, or transit visa-free policy.
  • Travelers preparing airport, rail, or seaport arrival documents.

Before You Start

  • Check visa, visa-free, or transit eligibility from official sources before booking final travel.
  • Prepare passport, visa or entry-basis documents, onward tickets, and hotel address.
  • Use official NIA channels for online arrival-card filling when applicable; do not pay unofficial websites.
  • Save the QR code, hotel address, and first-night booking offline.
  • Carry the passport used for bookings and entry throughout arrival day.
  • Know whether your itinerary requires accommodation registration after arrival.
  • Use 12367 or on-site immigration staff for official immigration questions, not social media rumors.

Common Failure Cases

  • A website asks for payment to submit an arrival card. Use only official NIA channels or complete the card at the port if needed.
  • Your transit route is questioned. Show onward ticket and official policy details; apply for the proper visa if the route does not qualify.
  • You cannot access documents at immigration or hotel. Use offline PDFs, screenshots, and printed details for passport, visa, hotel, and onward travel.

Source cross-check

This answer was checked against NIA: Beware of fraudulent websites for arrival card filling and NIA: Online filling of Arrival Card from November 20, 2025. A third source, NIA: China Immigration Service Hotline and English website, was used where the answer depends on implementation detail or traveler-facing handling. Additional support from U.S. Department of State: China travel advisory and entry guidance was kept when official rules and platform execution need to be separated. Where sources use different scope or dates, the guide follows the current official or most directly authoritative source and keeps platform or traveler-facing material as implementation context only.

FAQ

Is the online arrival card mandatory for everyone?
NIA lists exemptions and still provides port-device or paper options for people who cannot complete online filling in advance. Check the current official category for your case.
Is arrival-card filling free?
Yes. NIA warns that the official online arrival-card filling service is free.
Who can answer immigration questions?
Use NIA 12367, official websites, carriers, or on-site immigration staff.