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    China Arrival Card: Fill It Online Before You Fly

    Last checked October 19, 2026 against official sources. How we check

    International arrivals exit, Terminal 3, Guangzhou Baiyun International AirportPhoto: Tim Wu · CC BY-SA 4.0 Details

    Quick answer

    Most foreign visitors to China must fill in an arrival card. Since November 20, 2025 you can do it online for free before you fly, on the National Immigration Administration (NIA) website, the NIA 12367 app or its WeChat and Alipay mini programs. If you do not, scan the QR code or use the paper card at immigration.

    Key facts

    CostFree; official channels never charge a fee
    OnlineNIA website, NIA 12367 app, WeChat or Alipay mini program
    Not done in advance?Scan the QR code, use on-site devices or fill the paper card at immigration
    Have readyPassport, flight details and your address in China
    ExemptSeven groups, such as permanent residents and some direct transit passengers (listed below)
    International arrivals exit, Terminal 3, Guangzhou Baiyun International AirportPhoto: Tim Wu · CC BY-SA 4.0 Details

    What the arrival card is

    The arrival card is the entry information form most foreign visitors give to China’s border inspection. Before November 20, 2025 it was a paper card only. China’s National Immigration Administration (NIA) now accepts the same information online, and the old paper card still exists as a fallback.

    It is a form, not a permit. It does not give you the right to enter. The officer at the counter decides that, based on your passport and your visa or visa-free status.

    Online or paper: which should you use?

    Online, before you flyOn arrival
    WhereNIA website, NIA 12367 app, WeChat or Alipay mini programQR code at the immigration hall, on-site smart devices, or a paper card
    CostFreeFree
    Best forEveryone with a phone and a few minutesTravellers who forgot, or whose phone does not work
    RiskA typo you only find at the counterQueueing and filling in at the same time

    The NIA says online filling is for travellers who can do it in advance, and that anyone who cannot may complete the process at the port. Both routes end at the same counter.

    How to fill it in online

    We did not find screen-by-screen instructions from the NIA, and we do not reproduce screenshots of government apps. The steps below follow the NIA notice and what commercial guides describe, so the wording on your screen may differ.

    1. Open an official channel. Use the NIA arrival card page at s.nia.gov.cn, the “NIA 12367” app (移民局12367), or the NIA mini program inside WeChat or Alipay. Check that the address or the app publisher is the National Immigration Administration.
    2. Choose English if the page offers a language switch.
    3. Enter your passport details exactly as printed in your passport.
    4. Add your trip details: arrival date, flight or train number, the purpose of your visit and where you will stay. For a hotel, copy the name and address from your booking.
    5. Submit and save the result. Take a screenshot of the confirmation or QR code in case your phone loses signal at the airport.

    Our Baiyun terminals guide tells you which terminal you land in, which helps with the “where will you stay” and arrival details.

    At Baiyun Airport

    The official notice says travellers who have not filled the card in can do it at the immigration inspection area of any port. At Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (广州白云国际机场) that means after you leave the aircraft and follow signs for arrivals and immigration.

    Terminal 2 concourse at Baiyun Airport with signs for arrivals, baggage claim and international transfersPhoto: 颐园居 · CC BY-SA 4.0 Details

    On arrival you have three ways to submit the information, according to the NIA: scan the official QR code with your phone, use the smart devices provided in the hall, or fill in a paper arrival card. Ask an officer if you cannot find the desks or devices.

    Who does not need to fill it in

    The NIA lists seven groups that are exempt:

    • Holders of a Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card of China.
    • Holders of a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (Non-Chinese Citizens).
    • Travellers on a group visa, or eligible for group visa-free entry.
    • Passengers transiting directly within 24 hours without leaving the port’s restricted area.
    • Passengers entering and leaving on the same cruise ship.
    • People entering through designated fast lanes (e-channels).
    • Foreign crew of exit-entry transport vehicles.

    Most visitors are not on this list. If you are on 240-hour visa-free transit and plan to leave the airport, you are entering China, so plan to fill in the card.

    Questions we could not confirm

    The official notices do not say how early you may submit, how to edit a submitted card, or how to retrieve a lost QR code. Forums and commercial sites give answers, but they disagree and are not official. If you need one of these, look at the NIA page itself, or call the NIA 12367 hotline.

    For what to expect next at the border, read our 30-day visa-free guide and, once you land, how to get from Baiyun Airport to the city.

    Traps and how to avoid them

    • Paying a third-party site

      The official channels are the NIA website, the NIA 12367 app and the mini programs inside WeChat and Alipay. They are free. A site that charges a fee or asks for card details is not the NIA.

    • Assuming the card replaces a visa

      The arrival card records your entry. It does not grant entry. Your passport still needs visa-free status or a visa. See our 30-day visa-free guide.

    • Filling it in at the front of the queue

      You can submit on arrival by QR code, on-site smart device or paper card, but you will be filling in a form in the hall. Do the online form before you leave, and keep a screenshot of the result.

    • Mistyped passport number

      The card must match your passport. If you spot a mistake after you submit, check the platform for a way to correct it. If there is none, tell the officer at the counter or use a fresh form.

    FAQ

    Is the online arrival card compulsory?

    Filling in the card is required, but doing it online beforehand is optional. Travellers who have not done it can submit on arrival by QR code, on-site smart devices or a paper card.

    How far ahead can I fill it in?

    The official notices we checked do not give a window, and we have not used the form ourselves. Some commercial guides say about three days before arrival; that is their claim, not an official rule.

    Do I need the card if I am only connecting through Guangzhou?

    Not if you transit directly within 24 hours and do not leave the airport's restricted area. If you leave the airport on visa-free transit, you enter China and should fill it in.

    I cannot find my QR code. What now?

    The official notices do not describe a retrieval step. Search your phone's screenshots and email first. If you cannot find it, use the QR code, on-site device or paper card at the immigration hall.

    Do I need a Chinese phone number?

    The notices do not say a Chinese number is required. The form is designed for foreign visitors; check the screen you are on if it asks for a verification code.

    Sources

    Update history

    • : First full version, written from the NIA notices of November 3 and December 5, 2025 and embassy notices

    Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it.

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