China Online Arrival Card

China's official online arrival-card service is free. The National Immigration Administration introduced online filling for foreign travelers on 20 November 2025 and later warned about counterfeit websites charging travelers for a service that does not require a fee.

Use the official NIA page or another channel expressly identified by NIA. Paper arrival cards remain available at ports, and travelers unable to submit in advance may use on-site devices where provided.

Official starting point

The official web address is:

https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/

Check the domain carefully. Do not follow a sponsored result or message merely because it copies government colors or logos. Never pay a website to “approve” an arrival card.

What the card is—and is not

The arrival card supplies information for entry inspection. It is not:

• a Chinese visa application;
• proof that you qualify for visa-free entry or transit;
• a Customs baggage declaration;
• a paid fast-track service;
• a guarantee of admission.

You must still hold the travel document and entry permission required for your nationality, passport type, purpose, dates, and itinerary.

Information to prepare

Use the official form's current field labels. Common travel information may include passport details, journey details, purpose of visit, accommodation or address in China, and contact information. Enter facts exactly and truthfully. Keep your passport and booking records beside you rather than relying on memory.

If a surname, document number, flight, accommodation, or travel date changes, check the official service for the correct way to update or resubmit. Do not knowingly present an outdated confirmation.

Step-by-step

1. Open the official NIA link.
2. Read the current instructions and privacy notice.
3. Enter passport details exactly as printed.
4. Enter the actual arrival and stay information requested.
5. Review every field before submission.
6. Save the confirmation or reference in a form accessible offline.
7. Carry the same passport and supporting booking information to inspection.

The form interface can change, so screenshots in this article would age quickly. Follow the live official labels rather than a third-party tutorial that asks for different information.

If you cannot complete it online

Do not panic and do not pay an unofficial service. NIA says online filling can be completed on smart devices offered at exit-entry ports, and paper cards remain available. Allow extra arrival time and ask immigration staff for the correct channel.

Fraud warning

Warning signs include:

• a domain that is not an official NIA or government channel;
• a mandatory processing fee;
• a promise to approve entry;
• pressure to upload more identity documents than the official form requests;
• support conducted only through an unverified messaging account.

If you have already submitted passport and payment information to a suspicious site, contact the card issuer, secure affected accounts, and obtain guidance from official channels.

This is an independent explanation of the NIA service, not an official form or entry decision.

Official sources

• NIA warning about fraudulent arrival-card websites: https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147463/c191530/content.html
• Official NIA arrival-card service: https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/

Last reviewed: 17 July 2026.