China Arrival Card 2026: How to Fill It Out (Online & Paper)
Every foreigner entering China must complete an arrival card — no exceptions. The good news: since November 2025, you can fill it out digitally before you even board your flight. Here's exactly how to complete it, field by field, whether you do it online or on paper.
In this guide
Who needs an arrival card?
You DO need one if:
→ You're entering on any type of visa (tourist, business, work, student, etc.)
→ You're entering under the 30-day visa-free policy
→ You're entering under the 240-hour transit visa-free policy
→ You're arriving by air, rail, road, or sea
You DON'T need one if:
→ You hold a Chinese Permanent Resident card (green card)
→ You're in 24-hour transit and staying in the restricted area of the airport
→ You're on a cruise ship and re-boarding the same vessel
→ You're entering under certain express transit programs without leaving the port zone
Option 1: Fill it out online (recommended)
Since November 2025, China's National Immigration Administration (NIA) lets you submit your arrival card digitally. Three ways to do it:
1. NIA website
Go to the NIA's online declaration portal on your phone or laptop. Fill in your details and submit. You'll receive a QR code to show at the counter.
2. WeChat mini-program
Search for "Immigration Bureau 12367" (国家移民管理局12367) in WeChat mini-programs. Complete the form in-app.
3. Alipay mini-program
Search for the same NIA mini-program in Alipay. Same form, same QR code result.
Advantages of filling it out online:
→ Skip the paper forms entirely — just show your QR code
→ Fill it out calmly at home or at the gate, not in a cramped airplane seat
→ Auto-validates your entries so you catch mistakes before submitting
→ Faster processing at the immigration counter
Tip
Fill it out 1–3 days before your flight. The submission is valid for your upcoming entry. Screenshot the QR code in case you lose internet access at the airport.
Option 2: Fill it out on paper
If you didn't fill it out online, no problem. Paper cards are available in three places:
→ On your flight — cabin crew distribute them before landing
→ At self-service kiosks — in the arrivals hall before immigration
→ At the immigration counter — ask the officer for a blank card
Bring a pen. The paper card must be filled in with a black or blue ballpoint pen. Pencil is not accepted. Not every airline provides pens, and the ones at kiosks sometimes run dry.
Field-by-field guide
Whether you're filling out the digital or paper version, the fields are identical. Here's every one explained.
Personal information
Family Name (姓)
Exactly as it appears in your passport. Example: SMITH
Given Name (名)
Exactly as in your passport. Example: JOHN MICHAEL
Sex (性别)
Check M (Male) or F (Female)
Date of Birth (出生日期)
Format: YYYY / MM / DD. Example: 1990 / 05 / 14
Nationality (国籍)
Write the country that issued your passport. Example: UNITED KINGDOM
Passport Number (护照号码)
Copy it exactly, including any letters. Example: AB1234567
Travel information
Purpose of Visit (来华事由)
Choose one: Tourism, Business, Work, Study, Employment, Visiting Relatives, or Other. Most visitors pick Tourism.
Visa Number (签证号码)
Found on your visa sticker. If you're entering visa-free, write VISA FREE or leave blank (the online form handles this automatically).
Flight / Vessel Number (航班号)
Example: CA982 or MU588. Check your boarding pass.
Coming From (从何处来)
The city you departed from, not your home country. Example: LONDON or TOKYO
Address in China
Hotel / Address (在华住址)
Write your hotel name and address. Example: JW Marriott, 399 Nanjing West Road
City (城市)
Example: SHANGHAI or BEIJING
Tip
Save a screenshot of your hotel booking confirmation with the Chinese address. Immigration officers occasionally ask to see it, and having the Chinese characters makes everything smoother.
Departure information
Intended Date of Departure (离开日期)
Your planned departure date in YYYY / MM / DD format. An estimate is fine.
Departing To (前往何处)
Your next destination after China. Example: SINGAPORE or USA
Declaration
The card includes a customs declaration section. You must declare if you are carrying:
→ More than USD 5,000 (or equivalent) in foreign currency
→ More than RMB 20,000 in Chinese currency
→ Animals, plants, or biological materials
→ Goods exceeding duty-free limits (e.g., more than 1.5L of alcohol, 400 cigarettes)
→ Commercial goods or samples
Most tourists check "No" for all items. If in doubt, declare it — there is no penalty for declaring, but there are penalties for not declaring.
Signature and date
Sign your name (same signature as in your passport) and write today's date. On the digital version, you draw your signature on screen.
Common mistakes
→ Writing too small or illegibly — use BLOCK CAPITALS on the paper card
→ Wrong date format — China uses YYYY/MM/DD, not MM/DD/YYYY or DD/MM/YYYY
→ Leaving the address blank — you must write something, even if it's just the hotel name and city
→ Mixing up "Coming From" and "Departing To" — "Coming From" is where you flew from; "Departing To" is where you'll go next
→ Forgetting a pen — bring your own black or blue ballpoint pen for the paper card
At the immigration counter
Here's what to expect when you reach the officer:
Join the "Foreigners" queue (外国人通道). Follow the signs after exiting the jet bridge.
Have your passport, arrival card (paper or QR code), and visa ready in hand.
Hand everything to the officer. They will scan your passport and review your card.
Look into the camera for a photo and place your fingers on the scanner for fingerprints.
The officer may ask simple questions: "How long are you staying?" or "What is your purpose?" Answer briefly.
You’ll receive an entry stamp in your passport. Check the date and permitted stay duration before walking away.
Wait times
Typical wait at major airports (PVG, PEK, CAN) is 15–40 minutes. Peak hours (multiple international arrivals) can push this to over an hour. Having the digital card speeds things up.
After immigration
Once you're through, here's what comes next:
Collect your luggage from the carousel (screens show belt numbers by flight).
Walk through customs — green channel if you have nothing to declare, red if you do.
Get connected: pick up a SIM card or eSIM at the airport.
Get to your accommodation by taxi, metro, or Maglev (Shanghai).
Need a SIM card? See our guide to getting a SIM card in China.
For a complete step-by-step of everything you need to do after landing, check our 72-Hour Task Flow, grab bilingual templates for taxis, hotels, and more, or use our Visa Checker to confirm your entry requirements.
This article is based on publicly available information from China's National Immigration Administration (NIA) as of March 2026. Entry requirements can change — always verify with your airline or the nearest Chinese embassy before travel.
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