Wondering how to enter hotel address in China arrival card fields? List your first night’s hotel by province, city, district, street and property name, copied from your booking voucher. Filing is free on the National Immigration Administration (NIA) portal, s.nia.gov.cn.
This is an independent guide, not a government site. It doesn’t file cards or charge fees, so check the portal’s current rules before you fly.
Who Files, Where, and What to Prepare
Most foreign arrivals, including visa-free travellers, must file the China Arrival Card, either online before travel or on arrival. The online arrival card launched on 20 November 2025, so check the portal for current rules. In 2025, paper cards were described as temporarily available during the rollout, so check the portal for current options.
Seven groups of foreign travellers are exempt:
- Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card holders
- Non-Chinese holders of the Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents
- Group visa or group visa-free travellers
- Transit of up to 24 hours inside the port’s restricted area
- Cruise passengers entering and leaving on the same ship
- Fast-track or E-channel users
- Foreign employees or crew of entry and exit vehicles
File at s.nia.gov.cn: the pages are s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC (computer) and s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPhone (phone). The NIA service instruction lists 13 languages and a separate declaration for border residents of DPRK, Mongolia, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. The NIA 12367 app and the WeChat and Alipay mini-programmes are official channels listed on the NIA homepage, and kiosks and QR-code scans are available at the port. Some third-party sites charge for this free form, so use the NIA portal directly to avoid paying for it.
Have these ready:
- Passport valid for 6 months or more
- Arrival flight, train or vessel number
- Hotel voucher or booking confirmation
- Onward or return ticket
- Health declaration information
How to Enter a Hotel Address on the Card
Here’s how to enter hotel address in China arrival card fields: it all goes in the “Address in China” field, one of the mandatory fields on the digital arrival card.
Pick the province, city and district
Select each level step by step from the dropdowns
Type the street and building number
Copy the spelling from your voucher
Enter the property name
Use the name as printed on your voucher, including an English brand name
Address levels differ between a municipality and a province:
| Level | Municipality example | Province example |
|---|---|---|
| Province / Municipality | Beijing | Sichuan |
| City | Beijing | Chengdu |
| District | Chaoyang District | Chenghua District |
| Street and number | From your voucher | From your voucher |
Copy the hotel name and street spellings exactly as your voucher prints them, including an English brand name, rather than guessing at a translation.
Multi-Hotel Trips and Staying With a Host
Enter the address of your first night’s hotel in the address field. Put the city where you’ll stay longest under “Destination Cities in China”, and list planned transit cities in the “Cities of Transit in China” field — see our guide to the meaning of Cities of Transit on the arrival card for multi-stop routes.
If you are staying with a friend, the card asks whether you have any inviting entities or inviters in China, which you answer yes or no. Private residences also need Temporary Accommodation Registration with the local police station — read more about the difference between the arrival card and hotel residence registration.
Common Mistakes, Corrections and Border Checks
Check every field before you send. You will show the QR code at immigration, and it is valid for a single entry.
| Mistake | How to fix it |
|---|---|
| Hotel name only | Add the street and building number from your voucher |
| District left out | Select the province, city and district step by step |
| Address copied loosely | Use the full address exactly as your booking confirmation prints it |
If something on your submitted card doesn’t match your documents, follow the instructions shown in the portal or ask at the port, and keep your booking confirmation to hand. For more on correcting errors, see what to do if you make a mistake on the China arrival card.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How to enter hotel address in China arrival card if my booking confirmation is only in English?
Copy the hotel name and address from your voucher as printed, including an English brand name, and use the same street and district spellings.
How to enter hotel address in China arrival card when I’m staying with a friend or relative?
Answer the inviting entities or inviters question. If you stay in a private residence, you or your host must complete Temporary Accommodation Registration with the local police station.
Which hotel should I write if I visit three cities in China?
Write only your first night’s hotel in the address field. Put the city where you will stay longest in “Destination Cities in China” and planned transit cities in “Cities of Transit in China”.
What should I do if my hotel’s district is missing from the dropdown menu?
Take the district from the address on your booking confirmation and enter the spellings exactly as printed there. If the form still doesn’t offer it, follow the guidance shown in the portal or ask at the port.
Can I edit my arrival card after I have generated the QR code?
Check every field before you submit. The QR code must be shown at immigration and is valid for a single entry.
Do I need to visit a police station if I stay in a commercial hotel?
No. Hotels usually handle guest registration with the police. Only private residences need Temporary Accommodation Registration, which is separate from filing the card.
Where can I fill in the China arrival card online for free?
Go to s.nia.gov.cn, the NIA’s Arrival Card Filling portal, and read its service instruction page. It has separate pages for computers and phones. Filing costs nothing.
What address do I enter if I take an overnight sleeper train on my first night?
Enter the address of the first hotel you have confirmed on your route, using the details from your booking confirmation, and keep the ticket and confirmation to hand at inspection.
Sources and Further Reading
- NIA Arrival Card Filling: the start page for filing online.
- NIA service instruction: languages and the border resident declaration.
Rules can change, so check the portal before you travel. For the full filing process, see our step-by-step guide to filling out the China arrival card online.
