The documents required to fill China arrival card (China Electronic Arrival Card) are a passport, a clear image of its data page, your inbound flight details and an accommodation address. Upload a photo of the passport data page through the NIA public portal.
This is an independent guide, not a government site. We don’t charge fees or file the form for you, so check every rule on the portal before you fly.
Who Must File the China Arrival Card
The arrival card is a free entry declaration, not a visa, and most foreign visitors complete one. The National Immigration Administration (NIA) runs it, online filing began on 20 November 2025, and you file one card per entry.
Some travellers are exempt:
- Holders of a Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card of the PRC
- Non-Chinese holders of a Mainland Travel Permit for HK/Macao residents
- Group visa or group visa-free travellers
- Airside transit passengers, including 24-hour direct transit
- Cruise passengers returning on the same ship
- Travellers using e-channels
- Foreign crew in international service
Not sure you’re in one of these groups? Assume you must file. Paper forms were offered during a transitional period, so availability depends on the port. For a full breakdown of exempt categories, see who is exempt from the China arrival card.
Documents Required to Fill China Arrival Card
Before you open the form, gather these items.
- Passport: for a visa application, the passport needs at least six months of remaining validity. Some guides count the six months from the end of your visit, so check the exact reference date. Keep the data page undamaged.
- Blank pages: visa applications need blank visa pages.
- E-ticket: the flight, train or vessel number, arrival date, entry port and city must match it.
- Onward ticket: 240-hour visa-free transit needs a ticket to a third country or region. A return ticket to the country you departed from does not qualify. Eligible countries for this transit policy can change, so check the current list before you book. For more on the rules for connecting passengers, read do transit passengers need the China arrival card.
- Accommodation: hotel name, full address and a contact phone number. If you’re unsure how to format the address, our guide on how to enter a hotel address in the China arrival card covers districts and multi-hotel itineraries.
- Visa number: only if you enter on a visa. An L (tourist) visa needs a round-trip ticket and a hotel reservation or invitation letter.
- Contact details: a phone number with international dialling code, plus an email address.
Applying for a visa from the UK? The visa application centre is at 12 Old Jewry, London, EC2R 8DU, open weekdays 09:00 to 15:00. Centres also operate in Belfast, Edinburgh and Manchester. The embassy’s consular hall reopened on 30 January 2023 and lists weekday hours of 09:00 to 12:00.
Passport Scan and OCR Upload Requirements
Upload a flat photo of your data page. The system reads your name, passport number, date of birth and expiry date from the data page.
Image format and file size
Follow the file type and size limit shown on the portal’s upload screen.
Avoiding glare and framing the page
Follow the guidance shown on the portal’s upload screen when you photograph the data page.
Fixing an MRZ scan that fails
If the scan fails, take a new photo of the data page and upload it again through the portal. If the upload itself keeps failing, our guide to fixing s.nia.gov.cn timeouts and upload errors may help.
Checking Every Field Before You Submit
Compare every auto-filled field with your printed passport, because a submitted card can’t be edited online.
The form also asks for entry policy (30-day visa-free, 240-hour transit or visa), visa number if held, mode of transport, flight number, entry port and city, purpose, arrival date, main destination city and an electronic declaration. Write the address in order: province, city, district, street, building number.
You can file on the PC site or the mobile site. The NIA 12367 app and WeChat or Alipay mini-programs also work.
Gather your documents
Passport, e-ticket, accommodation details and contact information
Upload the passport data page
A flat photo lets the system read your details by OCR
Check every field
Compare auto-filled data with your printed passport before submitting
Save the QR code
Screenshot it and keep an offline copy to show the immigration officer
Common Mistakes and What to Do After Submitting
If something is wrong, the fix is a new free card.
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Passport data page | Identity data read by OCR |
| E-ticket receipt | Flight number and arrival date |
| Hotel voucher | Accommodation address |
| Visa endorsement | Legal basis for visa entry |
- Filing one card for two entries. You need one per entry, so a Hong Kong round trip from the mainland means two submissions.
- Planning 240-hour transit with a return to your departure country. Book onward travel to a third country instead.
- Forgetting to save the QR code. Screenshot it and keep an offline copy.
Spotted a typo, or has your flight changed? Submitted forms cannot be changed, so fill in a new card and use its QR code. Show the QR code to the immigration officer. For detailed fixes, see what to do if you make a mistake on the China arrival card. For entry or visa questions, the immigration hotline is 12367.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What documents are required to fill China arrival card?
You need a passport, a clear image of its data page, your flight details and an accommodation address, plus a phone number and email. Add your visa number if you hold a visa.
What documents are required to fill China arrival card for a British citizen?
A British citizen completes the same card. Check the passport details the system reads against your printed passport. Add your entry policy or visa number if you hold one.
How many months of passport validity do I need for the China arrival card?
Commercial guides count six months from the end of your visit, so check the expiry date against your departure date.
What file format should I use for my passport scan?
Upload a clear, readable photo or scan of the data page through the portal, following the file type and size limit shown on the upload screen.
Why was my passport scan rejected on the China arrival card form?
Check the portal’s upload requirements and submit a clear photo of the data page. If the scan fails, take a new photo and upload it again.
Do I need an onward ticket for 240-hour visa-free transit to China?
Yes. You need an onward ticket to a third country or region and must leave within 240 hours. A return to the country you departed from does not qualify.
Can I edit the China arrival card after I get the QR code?
No. Submitted forms cannot be changed, so fill in a new card, which is free, and use its QR code.
Where do I fill in the China arrival card online?
Go to s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/ on a computer or s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPhone/ on a phone. You can also use the NIA 12367 app or a WeChat or Alipay mini-program.
Sources and Further Reading
- Chinese Embassy in the UK: visa application guidelines and UK centre details.
- visaforchina.cn: visa application centres and general information.
- Visa application materials FAQ: passport validity and supporting documents.
- Process and documents required for a Chinese visa (Medan centre page, dated 2023-12-07; not UK-specific).
Rules can change, so check the portal before you travel.
