The official form is free
NIA introduced online arrival-card submission for foreign nationals on 20 November 2025. Its official online service does not charge a fee. A website that asks you to pay merely to submit the card is not the free NIA service.
For the clearest route, use the direct NIA web form linked above. Other official channels published by NIA include its Government Service Platform, the NIA 12367 app, WeChat and Alipay mini programs, and the designated arrival-card QR code.
Who needs a China arrival card?
If you are a foreign national entering mainland China, plan to complete the card unless a current NIA exemption covers your journey. Visa-free entry by itself is not a blanket arrival-card exemption.
Standard exemptions in the NIA launch announcement
- Holders of a People’s Republic of China Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card.
- Non-Chinese citizens holding a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents.
- Travelers holding a group visa or eligible for group visa-free entry.
- Passengers in direct transit for no more than 24 hours who do not leave the port’s restricted area.
- Cruise passengers who enter and leave on the same cruise ship.
- Travelers entering through an eligible fast lane.
- Foreign staff of entry-exit transport vehicles.
These categories summarize the launch announcement reviewed on the date above; they are not presented as a timeless or exhaustive count. Eligibility wording and the live interface can change or add situations. If your case is close to a category but not clearly covered, check the current official form or ask immigration staff. NIA lists the China Immigration Service Hotline as 12367.
Where can you complete the arrival card?
Before travel: official online channels
You may submit entry information through the official NIA website and other NIA-published digital channels. The announcement says “before coming to China”; it does not publish a universal 24-, 48- or 72-hour filing deadline. Follow the date choices and instructions shown by the current official service.
At the port: QR code or smart device
If you were unable to complete it online in advance, NIA says you can submit at the immigration inspection site by scanning the official QR code or using a smart device provided at the port.
At the port: paper arrival card
Paper arrival cards also remain available. Keep your passport, transport details and accommodation information accessible so you can complete the form shown by immigration staff.
Need help with the fields?
Use the separate guide for the passport screen, entry and journey details, Destination Cities, Cities of Transit, worked itinerary examples, submission evidence and difficult cases.
Read the field-by-field filling guideChina Arrival Card questions
Is the official China Arrival Card free?
Yes. NIA states that online arrival-card filing through its official service is free of charge.
When should I complete it?
NIA allows travelers to submit online before coming to China, but its announcement does not set a universal number of hours or days. Use the dates accepted by the live official form. If you cannot submit before travel, use an official option at the port.
Can I fill it at the airport or another port of entry?
Yes. NIA says official QR-code filing, on-site smart devices and paper cards remain available for travelers who could not submit online in advance.
Is it a visa, eVisa or entry approval?
No. It records entry information for immigration. It does not replace your visa or visa-free eligibility check, any separate customs declaration that applies to your goods, or the border officer’s admission decision.
Does submitting the form guarantee entry?
No. Submission is not an admission decision. You must still satisfy the entry rules that apply to your passport and itinerary and cooperate with inspection.