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China Arrival Card: do you need it, and how to fill it online?
Almost certainly yes — since November 20, 2025 foreigners fill in China's arrival card — also called the immigration arrival card or China entry form — online (free, about five minutes), unless you fall into one of seven official exemption categories. Two questions below give you a definitive answer, then a prep list so the form is painless.
You need the arrival card
Like almost every tourist. The good news: it's free, it's online, and with the list below in hand it takes about five minutes. Fill it in before you travel — or at the border if you must.
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All set? Open the official form ↓ — your ticks stay on this device only.
Where to fill it in (official channels only)
“NIA 12367” app / WeChat & Alipay mini-programs
Search “NIA 12367” in your app store, or inside WeChat / Alipay once you have them set up.
Counterfeit site warning
The arrival card is free. The NIA warns that fraudsters run lookalike websites charging “processing fees”. If a site asks for payment, it's fake — the real form lives on s.nia.gov.cn and in the official NIA 12367 app and mini-programs. We deliberately link nothing else.
Couldn't do it in advance?
- QR code at the border. Scan the posted QR code at the immigration hall and fill it on your phone.
- Smart terminals at the port. Self-service machines in the arrival hall.
- Paper arrival card. The classic paper form is still available at every port.
The seven official exemptions
The seven exemption categories, in our English rendering of the National Immigration Administration and Chinese embassy notices:
- Holders of a valid Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card of the People's Republic of China
- Holders of a valid Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (non-Chinese Citizens)
- Holders of a group visa or those eligible for group visa-free entry
- Passengers in 24-hour direct transit who stay within the designated area of the port
- Cruise passengers entering and departing on the same vessel
- Travelers entering through the E-channel
- Foreign crew members of exit-entry transport vehicles
Frequently asked questions
Is the arrival card the same as the China entry form or immigration card?
Yes — same thing, different names. The official term is the arrival card, issued by China's National Immigration Administration (NIA), but travellers also search for it as the China entry form, the immigration arrival card, or simply the immigration card. Since November 20, 2025 it's filled in digitally, so there's no separate paper entry form to track down.
Is the arrival card the same as the China customs declaration form?
No — they're two separate forms. The arrival card is the immigration entry form from the National Immigration Administration (NIA), filled online at s.nia.gov.cn. The customs baggage declaration is a different form, run by China Customs, covering the goods you bring in: with nothing to declare you walk through the green channel, otherwise you declare in the red channel. People search for the “China declaration form” meaning either one — for entry immigration, the form you want is the arrival card on this page.
Do I need the arrival card if I'm entering China visa-free?
Yes. Individual visa-free entry is not one of the seven exemptions — almost every tourist fills in the arrival card. The exemption for “group visa or group visa-free entry” covers organised tour groups travelling on a group document, not individual travellers.
I'm using the 240-hour visa-free transit — do I need it?
Yes. Only passengers in 24-hour direct transit who stay inside the designated port area are exempt. Using the 240-hour policy means you pass immigration and enter China, so the arrival card applies.
Do children and babies need a China arrival card?
Children aren't on the exemption list, so their entry details have to be submitted too. You usually don't file a separate card for each one, though: the official online form ends with an “Accompanying Person(s)” step where the main traveller adds family members — including children and infants — to the same submission. So a parent can complete one filing that covers the whole family rather than starting from scratch for each person.
How early can I fill in the arrival card?
The official wording is simply “before coming to China” — no earliest date has been published. A few days before departure is plenty; have your final flight number and first night's address at hand when you fill it in.
Is the arrival card free?
Yes — the National Immigration Administration states the online filling is free of charge, and warns that counterfeit websites have been charging travellers fees. Only use the official form on s.nia.gov.cn (or the NIA 12367 app and official mini-programs).
What if I can't fill it in before I fly?
You can still do it at the border: scan the QR code posted at the immigration hall, use the smart terminals on site, or fill in the classic paper arrival card. Doing it online beforehand just saves queue time.
Arrival card sorted? The form asks for your visa-free policy — confirm yours in 10 seconds. And since you'll fill it on your phone, make sure your data works on landing and your payments are set up.
Official sources
Every policy on this page was checked against these official pages. Always confirm with the source before booking.
- https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147463/c191530/content.html
- https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147413/c187308/content.html
- https://us.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/lsfw/zj/notice/202512/t20251203_11765346.htm
- https://bb.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/lsyws/202511/t20251128_11762211.htm
- https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/
Disclaimer: This page is general information, not legal advice. Entry procedures change — verify with the official sources above before you travel, and treat the official NIA form as authoritative. Ready Set China is an independent information site: not a travel agency, not a booking agent, and not affiliated with the National Immigration Administration or any government.