China Online Arrival Card 2026: Official Form, Link and Airport Steps

Quick answer: China’s online arrival card is free and optional to complete before travel. Use only the official National Immigration Administration portal; airport kiosks and paper cards remain available if you arrive without submitting it online.

China introduced online arrival-card filing on November 20, 2025. It does not replace a visa, visa-free eligibility, or immigration inspection. It replaces the job of writing the same entry details on paper at the airport. Most short-term foreign visitors still need to provide the information, including many travelers entering under a 30-day visa waiver.

Where is the official China arrival card form?

The official computer portal is s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC. The National Immigration Administration also lists its government service channels, the NIA 12367 app, and WeChat or Alipay mini-programs. The form costs ¥0. A site that asks for a processing fee is not the official service.

Prepare these details before starting:

1. Passport identity and document number
2. Arrival flight, train, ship, or land-port details
3. Planned date of entry and departure
4. First accommodation address in mainland China
5. A reachable phone number or contact, when requested

The portal may create a submission record or code for reference. Save a screenshot, but do not post it publicly because it can contain travel or identity data. You should never need to pay an agent just to file this card.

Who does not need to fill in the card?

The Chinese embassy notice lists seven exempt groups: holders of a Chinese foreign permanent resident ID card; holders of the mainland travel permit for non-Chinese permanent residents of Hong Kong or Macao; group-visa holders or travelers using a qualifying group visa waiver; passengers in 24-hour direct transit who remain inside the port’s restricted area; cruise passengers arriving and leaving on the same ship; travelers using an approved e-channel; and foreign transport crew.

Do not assume that visa-free entry creates an exemption. A tourist using the 30-day unilateral visa waiver normally still completes an arrival card unless one of the listed exemptions applies. Read our China visa-free countries list for 2026 separately because eligibility and arrival-card filing answer different questions.

What happens if you did not submit it before flying?

You can complete the form after reaching the port. Official notices say travelers may scan the designated code, use a smart device at immigration, or fill in a paper arrival card. Airlines should not sell this as a paid travel authorization because it is not one.

At a busy airport, keep your passport, flight number, and hotel address available offline. Hotel names in English can be hard to match, so save the Chinese address from the booking page too. After immigration, follow the separate customs channel rules in our China entry and customs guide.

Common mistakes

• Paying a lookalike website. The NIA warned in December 2025 that counterfeit sites were charging travelers for a free form.
• Treating the arrival card as a visa. It records entry information but grants no permission to enter.
• Entering a hotel nickname instead of its full address. Copy the official booking address and keep a Chinese version.
• Uploading a submission screenshot to social media. It may expose passport or itinerary details.
• Assuming every transit passenger is exempt. The stated exemption is for 24-hour direct transit passengers who remain in the port’s restricted area.

Who this is for

This guide is for tourists, business visitors, family visitors, and visa-free travelers who want to reduce form-filling after landing. It also helps anyone worried about fake arrival-card sites.

It is not a visa guide and does not confirm your right to enter China. Travelers planning work, study, journalism, or a stay beyond their permitted period need the appropriate immigration permission. Check your visa or waiver first, then complete the card.

A five-minute pre-flight checklist

• Open the official NIA domain directly, not a sponsored search result.
• Confirm the price shown is zero.
• Enter passport and transport details exactly as booked.
• Save the first hotel’s full Chinese address offline.
• Keep the paper-card option in mind if the portal fails.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Is the China online arrival card mandatory in 2026?

Most foreign entrants provide arrival information, but online pre-filing is not the only method. Official notices keep airport smart devices and paper cards available, and seven groups are exempt.

How much does the China arrival card cost?

It is free. The NIA has warned about counterfeit websites that charge a fee.

Can I complete the card at the airport?

Yes. You can use designated digital facilities or a paper card at the port if you did not submit the information in advance.

Do visa-free travelers complete an arrival card?

Usually yes. Visa-free status is separate from arrival-card filing unless the traveler fits one of the official exemption groups.

Is the online arrival card a China e-visa?

No. It is an entry-information form, not a visa or electronic travel authorization.