China Arrival Card: How Foreign Visitors Fill It Before Entry

China arrival card: use only the official free filing channel

The National Immigration Administration says foreign visitors can submit entry information through its official website, government service platforms, the NIA 12367 app, approved WeChat or Alipay mini-programs, or the designated QR code. The official filing service is free. A website that asks you to pay merely to submit the arrival card should be treated as suspicious.

The official web address published by the NIA is s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/. Open it from the NIA notice rather than from an advertisement or an unsolicited message. Do not upload passport details to a look-alike site, and do not send one-time codes or full document images to a travel helper.

• Open the filing route from an official NIA page.
• Check that the service is free.
• Keep the confirmation or result available offline.
• Do not pay a third party simply to submit the card.

Prepare the information before you start filling

Keep your passport, arrival flight or vessel details, date of entry, and first address in China together. Copy your name exactly as it appears in the travel document used for the journey. If a field does not match your situation, use the official instructions or ask the NIA 12367 service rather than guessing.

Save the Chinese and English name of your first hotel or host address. A booking confirmation can help you copy the address accurately, but an arrival-card filing does not replace the hotel or host registration process that may apply after entry.

Visa applications are a separate step

An arrival card records entry information; it does not replace a visa, visa-free eligibility check, or other permission required for your trip. If your passport or itinerary requires a visa, start with the official Chinese Visa Application Service Center at visaforchina.cn. Requirements, forms, appointment rules, fees, and processing times can vary by the country or region where you apply.

Use the official center or the relevant Chinese embassy or consulate to confirm the visa category, supporting documents, photo rules, and submission location. Do not use an arrival-card filing website as a substitute for a visa application, and do not pay an unofficial site to decide which visa you need.

• Check whether your route requires a visa.
• Choose the visa category from an official source.
• Confirm local appointment, document, fee, and processing rules before booking travel.

Online, port device, and paper options can serve the same entry step

If you cannot file in advance, the NIA says you can use a mobile QR code or smart device at the port, or complete a paper foreigner arrival card. Keep enough arrival time for this step, especially if you need help reading a field or your connection is tight.

Some travelers are exempt from filing under specific official categories, including certain permanent residents, direct-transit passengers who do not leave the restricted port area, and other listed groups. Do not infer an exemption from nationality, visa-free entry, or a past trip alone; confirm your current category with the official notice.

Fix mistakes before you reach the inspection counter

Check passport number, name order, travel-document expiry, arrival date, transport number, and address before submitting. If the online result conflicts with your current itinerary, use the official correction path or ask an officer at the port instead of creating multiple inconsistent submissions.

Keep the filing result accessible without mobile data. The arrival card is one part of entry inspection, not permission to enter by itself. Carry the travel document and any other documents required for your trip, and follow the instructions of the border-inspection officer.