China Arrival Card for Foreigners
Arrival Card Asia | 外国人入境登记卡
August 28, 2026
✈️ Before You Go
For every foreign traveler landing in China, the Foreigner Entry Card is a mandatory ritual—no exceptions, regardless of visa type or length of stay. The actual process is far less daunting than the paperwork suggests. If you complete the card online via the National Immigration Administration’s official app or WeChat mini-program, budget just five to ten minutes, and you’ll sail through a dedicated digital lane. Paper forms at the border take ten to fifteen minutes, often with a queue. The biggest surprise for first-timers? The card asks for your hotel address and local contact phone number—not just your passport details—and border officers will reject incomplete forms, forcing you to re-queue. Also, do not assume your airline will provide the card; many budget carriers don’t. Insider tip: Before you land, screenshot your hotel’s exact Chinese name and address from your booking confirmation. You cannot copy-paste from a foreign app at the inspection counter, and fumbling for a Wi-Fi connection while holding up the line is a rookie mistake that invites stern glances. Prepare that one line, and you’ll clear customs in under a minute.
⚠️ Important Notes
Fill Time Window
Complete online before arrival (generates QR code valid 7 days), or fill paper version at immigration checkpoint
Cost
Free
0- • The arrival card is completely free; any website or agent charging money is a scam.
- • Fill in your name exactly as it appears on your passport; do not use nicknames or Chinese names unless they appear on your visa.
- • Passport number and visa number must match your documents exactly; even one wrong letter can lead to denial of entry.
- • For online filling, only use the official NIA system (s.nia.gov.cn) or its official app. Any other link is fake.
- • The QR code generated online is valid for 7 days. Ensure you enter China within this period, or re-fill the form.
- • Even if you are on transit without visa (TWOV), you must fill out the arrival card. Do not skip it.
- • Your accommodation address must be detailed, including street and building number. For hotels, it must match your booking confirmation.
- • When entering flight or train numbers, distinguish between digits and letters, e.g., CA981 not CA98I.
- • Some ports (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou) have self-service kiosks, but paper cards are still accepted. Follow on-site instructions.
- • If you hold multiple passports or have changed your name, use the passport you are currently entering with and declare any other relevant information truthfully.
- • Since Aug 28, 2026: due to the Nepal–Tibet border landslide disaster, China has suspended electronic border permits for Shigatse (Tibet) and the Gyirong land port is closed. Holders of existing permits should not travel to the area until further notice. Enter Tibet by flight or postpone (see our Nepal–Tibet border travel advisory article).
📋 Field Guide
| Field Name | Tips & Notes |
|---|---|
Full Name Full Name | Must match your passport exactly, including capitalization and spelling. If you have a Chinese name (e.g., on your visa), include it as well. |
Passport Number Passport Number | Be careful to distinguish between the digit 0 and the letter O, and between 1 and I. Double-check the number on your passport's info page. |
Nationality Nationality | Must match the nationality stated in your passport. Write the country name, not a region or city. |
Visa/Residence Permit Number Visa/Residence Permit Number | Find this number on your Chinese visa sticker or residence permit. Usually starts with a letter followed by digits. If visa-exempt, write 'None'. |
Accommodation in China Accommodation in China | Write the hotel name and full address, or your residential address in China (including province, city, district, street, and building number). |
Step-by-Step Guide
💡 Before You Start
Before you start, have your passport, visa, and hotel booking confirmation (with the exact Chinese address) ready. Online filing takes about 5-10 minutes and is completely free — use only the official platform s.nia.gov.cn.
1Open the Official Platform
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Open the Official Platform
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Visit the official NIA platform (s.nia.gov.cn), go to the Arrival Card Filing section, and choose the "Entry Filing" tab. Holders of border-resident passes (North Korea, Mongolia, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam) should use "Border Resident Entry Filing".
📸 About This Screenshot
This screenshot shows the latest official electronic entry card landing/login page. The step-by-step text guide below is based on the actual form structure, with detailed field instructions and common mistake warnings for your reference.
2Read the Filling Notice
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Read the Filling Notice
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Before you start, read the filling notice page to confirm eligibility and requirements. The QR code generated online is valid for 7 days; you must re-fill if it expires.
3Fill in Personal Information
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Fill in Personal Information
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Enter your full name, passport number, nationality, visa/residence permit number, and accommodation address exactly as they appear on your passport and visa. A single wrong letter can lead to denial of entry.
Full Name
textRequiredMust match your passport exactly, including capitalization. If your visa shows a Chinese name, include it.
⚠ Common Mistakes
- •Using a nickname or initials instead of the passport name
- •Ignoring capitalization differences
Passport Number
textRequiredDistinguish carefully between the digit 0 and the letter O, and between digit 1 and letter I. Verify against your passport's bio page.
⚠ Common Mistakes
- •Confusing 0 with O or 1 with I
- •Copying the old passport number after renewal
Accommodation in China
textRequiredEnter the hotel name and full address (province, city, district, street), matching your booking confirmation.
⚠ Common Mistakes
- •Entering only the hotel name without the address
- •Using a translated address that doesn't match the booking
💬 Travel Experience Exchange
Applying or already traveled? Share your entry/exit experience, real problems encountered, or recent changes to help fellow travelers — our editors will also respond regularly.
- Share pitfalls or surprises during your entry process
- Let others know about recent entry procedure changes
- Read the guide and warnings above before asking
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