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Since November 20, 2025, China's National Immigration Administration has offered online arrival-card filling for foreign travelers before entry. Online pre-filling is usually the easiest option, but it is not mandatory to complete it before departure: travelers unable to do so can still use official QR codes, smart devices, or paper arrival cards at Chinese ports of entry.
Quick Answer: What Do Foreign Travelers Need to Know?
| Question | Direct Answer |
|---|---|
| Do I need a China arrival card? | Most foreign travelers do, unless they fall within one of the seven official exemption categories below. |
| Should I fill it before flying? | Usually yes. Online pre-fill saves time, but official on-arrival alternatives remain available. |
| Which method is easiest? | Use an official NIA channel: the NIA website, NIA 12367 app, or its WeChat/Alipay mini-program. |
| Does it cost anything? | No. Official NIA arrival-card services are free. Avoid websites charging an “arrival-card processing fee.” |
| What if I forget? | Complete the card after arrival using an official QR code, smart device, or paper form at the port. |
TripChina Verdict: Fill it online before your flight if you can. Not because every traveler is legally required to pre-submit online, but because immigration paperwork is much easier to handle before a long flight than after one.
Are You Exempt From the China Arrival Card?
As of September 2026, the National Immigration Administration lists seven categories that may be exempt:
- Holders of a valid Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card of China
- Non-Chinese holders of a valid Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents
- Travelers holding a group visa or eligible for group visa-free entry
- Passengers making direct transit within 24 hours without leaving the restricted area of the port
- Cruise passengers entering and departing on the same cruise ship
- Travelers entering through designated fast-track / e-channel facilities
- Foreign crew members of entry-exit transportation vehicles
If none of these applies, plan to complete an arrival card.
Visa-free entry by itself is not one of the listed exemptions. Do not assume that entering China visa-free also means arrival-card-free.
For broader entry rules, see TripChina's China visa-application guide and China immigration and customs guide.
Which China Arrival Card Method Should You Use?
| Method | Effort Level | Best For | Main Advantage | Main Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NIA official website | Low | Desktop users | Large-screen official form | Requires internet before arrival |
| NIA 12367 app | Low | Repeat travelers | Mobile NIA services | Requires installation |
| WeChat / Alipay mini-program | Low | Most mobile users | No separate app installation | Interface can change |
| Port QR code | Medium | Travelers who forgot | Official on-arrival option | Adds time after landing |
| Port smart device | Medium | Travelers needing assistance | Staff-supported option at equipped ports | Availability varies |
| Paper arrival card | Medium | Travelers without usable devices | No smartphone required | Slower manual process |
For most first-time visitors, the official website or 12367 mini-program is the simplest choice.
How Do You Fill the China Arrival Card Online?
The process is similar across the official NIA website, app, and mini-program channels.
You will generally need:
• passport information
• entry date and arrival port
• flight or other transport information
• purpose of travel
• contact details
• accommodation or address information in China
• any additional information requested by the live form
Use the current official interface rather than following an old screenshot tutorial. The layout can change even when the underlying immigration rule does not.
Option 1: Use the Official NIA Website
The official arrival-card website is useful if you prefer a laptop or a larger screen.
Open the NIA arrival-card service, select Entry Declaration, complete the requested information, review every field carefully, and submit.
The official service supports multiple languages, including English.
Option 2: Use NIA 12367 on WeChat or Alipay
Open WeChat or Alipay and search for the official mini-program using these Chinese characters:
移民局12367
That means the official NIA 12367 service.
Locate the foreigner arrival-card filling function and follow the current prompts.
Pro Tip: Frequent Travelers
If you have entered China before, use the "移民局12367" APP. It can recall your personal filing records from the past year. You do not need to retype your basic information, just verify and update your flight number and address.
Can You Use 12367 Without a Chinese Phone Number?
The public NIA guidance I could verify does not state that a mainland Chinese mobile number is universally required to use the arrival-card service.
The official mobile arrival-card webpage itself supports numerous languages, including English, French, Spanish, Russian, Japanese and Korean.
However, account verification behavior inside WeChat or Alipay can depend on your account configuration.
Practical fallback: If the mini-program does not work with your overseas account or phone setup, use the official NIA web form instead. Do not create a Chinese phone number solely because an old tutorial tells you one is required.
What Should You Do After Submitting?
Check every field carefully before final submission.
When the system generates a receipt, QR code, or confirmation page:
Save a full screenshot or PDF locally on your device.
Make sure the entire QR code is visible in the screenshot. Do not crop it down to only the text or confirmation number.
This matters because you do not want to depend on airport Wi-Fi, roaming, or access to the original page when you reach immigration.
What If You Notice a Mistake After Submitting?
Do not immediately submit several new versions.
Use this order:
- Check whether the current official interface provides an edit, modify, cancel, or correction function.
- If it does, follow the instructions shown there.
- If no correction option is visible, contact 12367 or ask immigration staff what to do.
- Avoid creating multiple speculative submissions without guidance.
Public NIA guidance does not clearly document a universal rule saying that every new submission automatically deletes or overrides an earlier record.
When Should You Fill the China Arrival Card?
Complete it close enough to departure that your flight and accommodation details are unlikely to change, but early enough that you are not typing passport information while boarding begins.
For long-haul travel, a layover before your final China-bound flight can be convenient.
For shorter flights from elsewhere in Asia, completing it on travel day is usually practical.
If your confirmation displays a validity period, follow the validity shown by the live official system.
Do not rely solely on old blog posts claiming that every arrival-card QR code nationwide follows an undocumented fixed expiry rule.
What Address Should You Enter on the China Arrival Card?
Enter accurate accommodation information for where you plan to stay.
If you already have a hotel booking, keep the hotel name and address available before opening the form. Saving your booking confirmation is useful because Chinese addresses can be difficult to reproduce from memory.
If your first-night accommodation has not been finalized, do not invent an address just to complete the form.
Check what the current official interface allows. If your itinerary does not fit the form clearly, contact 12367 for guidance.
For accommodation planning, see TripChina's guide to how foreigners book hotels in China.
What If Your Flight Is Delayed or Changed?
A delay does not automatically mean your declaration has become invalid.
First compare the submitted information with your actual journey.
If the flight number, arrival port, or another material detail changes, check whether the official interface allows you to update the declaration.
If the correct action is unclear, contact 12367 or ask immigration staff when you arrive.
Do not repeatedly generate new submissions simply because your flight is delayed by a few hours.
Do Babies and Children Need a China Arrival Card?
Do not assume that minors are automatically exempt because of age.
The NIA's published seven-category exemption list contains no general exemption for babies or children.
Parents should therefore follow the instructions shown in the official arrival-card system for accompanying minors.
Public NIA notices do not clearly establish a universal online procedure for every family situation, so I would not rely on a travel-blog claim that one specific “accompanying traveler” workflow always applies.
If the form is unclear for your child, use 12367 or ask immigration staff at the port.
What If You Cannot Fill It Online Before Flying?
Not completing the card online before departure does not automatically mean you will be refused entry.
The NIA explicitly retains several official on-arrival options.
Can You Scan a QR Code After Arrival?
Yes.
Immigration inspection areas can provide an official arrival-card QR code. Scan it on your phone, complete the form, and follow the instructions displayed.
Can You Use an Immigration Smart Device?
Yes, at ports equipped with them.
These devices allow travelers who did not pre-fill to complete the arrival information after landing.
If you are unsure how to proceed, ask immigration staff rather than guessing.
Can You Still Fill a Paper Arrival Card?
Yes.
The NIA continues to state that paper foreigner arrival cards remain available at ports of entry for people who cannot complete the online process.
Paper is therefore a valid backup, not an outdated system that disappeared when online pre-filling launched.
Operational arrangements can differ between ports. If you know you will enter through a smaller land crossing, completing the form online beforehand is still the safer and faster approach than deliberately relying on a paper form.
What Are the Most Common China Arrival Card Mistakes?
| Mistake | Better Approach |
|---|---|
| Assuming online pre-fill is mandatory before departure | Online is convenient, but official on-arrival alternatives exist |
| Assuming visa-free travelers are exempt | Check the seven actual exemption categories |
| Using a paid third-party website | Use only official NIA channels; the official service is free |
| Guessing an accommodation address | Enter accurate information and check the official form if plans are incomplete |
| Submitting before checking passport details | Review every field carefully before final submission |
| Saving an incomplete screenshot | Make sure the full QR code and confirmation are visible |
| Creating multiple correction submissions blindly | Use the current correction function or ask 12367 |
The main fraud warning is simple: official NIA arrival-card services are free. If a third-party website asks you to pay merely to submit the card, leave it and return to an official channel.
What Happens If You Arrive Without Completing the Card?
Usually, the practical consequence is extra processing—not automatic denial of entry.
Immigration staff can direct you to complete the required declaration using an official QR code, smart device, or paper arrival card.
That may mean waiting longer after your flight, which is the main reason online pre-filling is worth doing.
Providing false information or refusing to comply with immigration requirements is different and can have more serious consequences.
Always give truthful information and follow the instructions of immigration officers.
How Can You Contact China Immigration if Something Goes Wrong?
Use the China Immigration Service Hotline 12367.
As of September 2026, the hotline provides multilingual support, including English. NIA's online service ecosystem also provides multilingual interfaces for foreign travelers.
Use 12367 when:
• you are unsure whether you qualify for an exemption
• your itinerary does not fit the form clearly
• you find a material error after submitting
• you are unsure how to handle a changed flight or arrival port
• a child or assisted traveler does not fit the displayed workflow
This is more reliable than trying to reconcile conflicting advice from travel forums.
What Should You Prepare Before Landing in China?
Before boarding, keep four things accessible:
• passport and required entry documents
• arrival-card confirmation, if completed
• first-night accommodation details
• a working internet plan for China
The internet point matters immediately after immigration. Hotel communication, maps, payment apps, and ride-hailing are far easier when your phone already has data.
See TripChina's China travel eSIM & SIM-card guide before departure.
For the full landing sequence, use the complete first-60-minutes China airport arrival guide for foreign visitors.
This article is part of the China Basics Travel Guide Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Official China Arrival Card Free?
Yes. All official NIA arrival-card services are free.
If a website demands a processing fee simply to submit the arrival card, leave it and use an official NIA channel.
Can I Fill the China Arrival Card for Someone Else?
Public NIA notices do not provide one universal rule covering every assisted-travel situation.
Follow any accompanying-traveler or family functionality displayed in the current official form. For minors or travelers who cannot complete the form independently, ask 12367 or immigration staff if the correct procedure is not clear.
Do I Need to Print the China Arrival Card?
Generally, the purpose of the online system is electronic submission rather than producing a paper document.
Follow the instructions generated by the official system and keep the electronic confirmation accessible offline if one is issued.
Is the Arrival Card the Same as a China Visa?
No.
The arrival card records immigration entry information. It does not replace a visa when your nationality and travel circumstances require one.
Check visa eligibility separately before traveling.
Conclusion: Should You Fill the China Arrival Card Before Flying?
Yes—online pre-fill is the easiest option for most travelers, even though it is not the only legal way to complete the arrival declaration.
Use an official NIA channel, check your information before submitting, and keep the complete confirmation accessible offline.
If you cannot complete it beforehand, don't panic. Official QR-code, smart-device, and paper-form alternatives remain available at ports of entry.
The goal is simple: arrive with accurate information and use the official system—not outdated forum advice or paid imitation websites.
Sources & References
National Immigration Administration — Online Arrival Card Announcement
National Immigration Administration — Fraud Warning & Official Arrival Card Channels
National Immigration Administration — Official Arrival Card Service
International Services Shanghai — Immigration Service Hotline 12367
Research Note
Updated September 7, 2026. This guide was checked against current National Immigration Administration announcements, the live official arrival-card platform, and government immigration-service guidance. Official sources confirm the November 20, 2025 launch date, seven exemption categories, free official service, online channels, and on-arrival alternatives. Where public guidance does not clearly establish correction behavior, mobile-number requirements, minor-traveler workflows, or universal QR-code expiry rules, this article avoids presenting third-party claims as national rules. It also addresses common travel-forum misinformation about automatic entry denial and QR-code timing.
TripChina.me creates practical China travel guides shaped by real local experience, helping independent travelers navigate transport, payments, food, neighborhoods, and the cultural details that make traveling in China easier and more meaningful. Find the guide for your destination at tripchina.me.
