Digital arrival card China vs Singapore arrival card SGAC: the big difference is timing. The Singapore Arrival Card (SGAC) goes in within 3 days before arrival, including landing day. China’s card can be filed before travel; the exact window is not fixed across sources, so check the NIA portal. Both are free.
This is an independent guide, not a government site. We don’t charge fees or file anything for you. The ICA e-Service is at eservices.ica.gov.sg; the NIA form is at s.nia.gov.cn. Confirm both addresses on the government sites before use, and check the details there before you fly.
Who Files a China or SGAC Card
Transit passengers who do not clear immigration do not need an SGAC.
China’s card launched on 20 November 2025 and is issued by the National Immigration Administration (NIA). Paper stays as a fallback at ports. SGAC comes from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA). It’s a pre-arrival declaration, not a visa. Its health declaration falls under the Infectious Diseases Act.
These seven groups don’t file a China card:
- foreign holders of a China permanent residence card
- non-Chinese holders of a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong or Macao
- group visa or group visa-free travellers
- transit passengers staying up to 24 hours in the port zone
- cruise passengers boarding and leaving on the same ship
- travellers in biometric fast-track or e-channel lanes
- crew of international transport
For SGAC, citizens and PRs file the health declaration only. Long-Term Pass holders add arrival details, and foreign visitors complete the full form. Transit without immigration clearance needs no SGAC. You can read more about who is exempt from the China arrival card and how that differs from the rules for transit passengers.
Digital Arrival Card China vs Singapore Arrival Card SGAC: Windows
| System | Window | Where you file | What you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| SGAC | Within 3 days before arrival, including landing day | ICA e-Service website or MyICA app | Confirmation email, then an e-Pass after clearance |
| China | Before travel. Sources disagree on the exact window, so check the NIA portal for the current rule. | NIA website, NIA 12367 app, WeChat or Alipay mini-programs, port QR code | A confirmation to save |
Sources give different windows for China, from any time before travel to within 24 hours of arrival. You don’t need WeChat, because the NIA website and app also work. The support line is 12367. We cover the China submission window and QR code validity in a separate guide.
Flying overnight? Count the arrival date at your destination, not your UK departure date. Figures from earlier years may be outdated.
Data to Prepare and Filing Steps
China’s form takes 10 – 15 minutes. Have your passport, flight and first-night address ready. Our documents checklist and the guide to entering your hotel address correctly cover these in more detail.
Check your passport validity
Valid for 6 months from arrival (SGAC rule).
Open the government portal or app
For SGAC, pick Foreign Visitor/IPA.
Enter your personal details
Name as it appears in the passport MRZ, plus passport number, nationality and birth date (YYYY-MM-DD for China).
Add travel and arrival details
Flight, train or ship details and your arrival date.
Give your first-night address and phone
Full address with postcode, and a phone number with international code.
Add visa details
China: your visa number or “VISA-FREE”, and purpose code L (tourism), M (business) or transit.
Upload your passport data page
China: upload a photo of your passport data page. The system reads it.
State your stay and health declaration
SGAC: state your length of stay and answer the health declaration.
Save your confirmation offline
Save the QR code or confirmation as an offline screenshot or printout, because roaming can fail.
After Filing: Edits, Proof and Fallbacks
Made a mistake? Singapore lets you amend a filed card through the Update SGAC option on the ICA e-Service. China doesn’t allow edits to a submitted card, so you file a new one — see our guide to correcting mistakes on a China arrival card.
China wants one card per entry, so Hong Kong to the mainland and back counts as two submissions. Check Hong Kong’s own rules separately, or read our step-by-step guide to entering mainland China from Hong Kong West Kowloon.
Singapore emails an e-Pass after clearance. In a private home, you register within 24 hours at the PSB police; hotels normally handle this.
Paper cards remain available as a fallback at some border crossings. One source describes this as a short transition period, so do not plan around it. Singapore has no paper, but Changi kiosks allow late filing, with delays. Don’t plan around either.
Common Mistakes, Scams and Penalties
- Passport number typo or a name that doesn’t match the MRZ: compare both before you submit.
- Incomplete first-night address: add the full address with postcode.
- No update after a health change: use Update SGAC.
- Filing through the official channels is free. Third-party sites may charge for their services, and the ICA has flagged over 60 fake sites, so use only the official addresses. Learn how to spot China arrival card scam websites.
Submitting false documents or statements can lead to an entry ban. Check the current penalty rules on the NIA site before you travel.
Related rules: visa-free transit rules depend on nationality and change over time; check the current rules before you travel.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the China digital arrival card free to submit?
Yes. The NIA doesn’t charge a fee. Official channels are free. Some third-party services charge for help, but they are not government channels, so check the web address before you start.
What is the difference between a digital arrival card China vs Singapore arrival card SGAC?
Mostly timing and edits. SGAC has a 3-day window, an Update SGAC option and an e-Pass emailed after clearance. China’s card is filed before travel and cannot be edited after submission. Paper survives only in China.
Which has the stricter deadline: digital arrival card China vs Singapore arrival card SGAC?
Singapore. An SGAC filed earlier than 3 days before arrival is rejected. China has no single fixed window in the sources; check the NIA portal.
Can I edit my Singapore arrival card after submitting it?
Yes. Use the Update SGAC option on the ICA e-Service. Do it whenever your flight, address or health situation changes, since a missed health update is a typical SGAC error. China works differently: you file a new card instead.
Do I need a separate China arrival card for each entry from Hong Kong?
Yes. China wants one card per entry, so Hong Kong to the mainland and back to Hong Kong counts as 2 filings. Every later mainland re-entry needs its own card too, including land crossings at Shenzhen.
Is a paper arrival card still accepted in China?
Yes, paper cards remain available as a fallback at some border crossings. One source describes this as a short transition period, so file online beforehand. Singapore is different: paper hasn’t been accepted since March 2020. For a planned trip, save your confirmation.
Can I complete the China arrival card without WeChat?
Yes. You can use the NIA website or the NIA 12367 app. At the port you can scan a QR code, and airports have self-service machines. If you enter a UK phone number, include the international code.
What happens if I make a false declaration on a China or Singapore arrival card?
Both countries take it seriously. In Singapore, undisclosed symptoms risk quarantine or prosecution under the Infectious Diseases Act. In China, false documents can bring an entry ban. If you spot an error, correct it before you travel.
