Since 20 November 2025, you can fill China’s foreigner arrival card online, for free, on the National Immigration Administration’s official page at s.nia.gov.cn. You can also fill it in the 12367 app, in official WeChat or Alipay mini programs, or at the port on a device or on paper. The NIA has warned about fake sites that charge a fee. Paper cards have not been abolished. We do not state a mandatory “72-hour before arrival” window, because the official NIA English notice we cite does not.
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Key facts
| Official URL | https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/ — free. Bookmark it before you fly |
|---|---|
| Started | 20 November 2025 (NIA English notice, 5 December 2025) |
| If you did not fill it | You can still complete it at the port: QR code, smart devices, or a paper card |
| Fake sites | The NIA has warned that lookalike sites charge a fee. Do not pay one |
| What we will not claim | A mandatory 72-hour pre-arrival window. That wording is not in the NIA or Chinese-embassy-in-Canada guidance we cite |
Fill it free on the official NIA site at s.nia.gov.cn. Paper still exists at the port. If a site asks you to pay, leave.
Who this is for
- Anyone flying in after 20 November 2025 who has been told they “must” complete a card.
Skip this if
- You already submitted the official form and have a screenshot — you are done.
Use only the official page
The official online service is at https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/. The National Immigration Administration’s English notice, dated 5 December 2025, states that online filling began on 20 November 2025, that the service is free, and that travellers should beware of fake websites. If a site asks you to pay to “pre-register” an arrival card, leave.
You can also fill the card in the official 12367 immigration-service app, in official WeChat and Alipay mini programs, or by scanning a QR code. The same notice says that if you have not filled it before you travel, you can complete it at the port through a QR code, a smart device, or a paper card.
When to fill it — and what we will not invent
Official NIA wording, and the Chinese embassy in Canada’s guidance of 23 October 2026, describe filling the card before travel or at the port. They do not, in the pages we cite, impose a mandatory “must complete within 72 hours before arrival” rule. Some third-country ministry pages have used that wording. We will not copy it as a Chinese government requirement. Fill it when you have a confirmed hotel address, and keep a copy or a screenshot.
Exemptions (read the official list)
The 23 October 2026 embassy guidance lists categories that may not need to fill the card, including holders of a foreigner’s permanent resident ID; certain Hong Kong and Macao permit holders; some group-visa travellers; passengers in 24-hour direct transit who stay in the port’s permitted area; same-vessel cruise travellers in stated cases; people using the E-channel; and foreign crew in stated cases. If you think you are exempt, read the official text — do not take our summary as the legal list.
If you land at Shenzhen Bao’an (SZX)
The arrival walk-through is in our SZX guide. Filling the card ahead of time usually means one less queue. Have your hotel’s Chinese address ready either way. The hotel will still register you after you check in.
Frequently asked questions
Is the arrival card the same as a visa?
No. The arrival card is an entry declaration. You still need to qualify under a visa, a visa-free programme, or another lawful entry rule.
Do I have to fill it online?
No. Official guidance says you may fill it before travel or at the port. Paper remains available. Filling it ahead of time usually speeds up the hall.
Who is exempt?
The Chinese embassy in Canada’s 23 October 2026 guidance lists some exemptions, including holders of a permanent resident ID, certain Hong Kong and Macao permits, some group visas, 24-hour direct transit that stays in the port area, same-vessel cruise passengers, E-channel users, and foreign crew in stated cases. Read the official list; do not assume you are on it.
What address should I write?
Your first hotel, in Chinese if you can. Have the hotel’s Chinese name and address saved as a photo. See hotel registration.