Flying from London Heathrow to China arrival card rules come down to one free form. You file the Foreigners’ Arrival Card (China Arrival Card) at s.nia.gov.cn before you leave, or on paper. Airline staff check your documents before boarding.
This is an independent guide, not a government site. It’s for British travellers leaving Heathrow, Gatwick or Manchester. We don’t charge fees or file anything for you, so check dates on the Chinese Embassy notice before you travel. For a full overview of the form, see our complete guide to the China Arrival Card.
Who Needs a China Arrival Card?
British passport holders flying from Heathrow, Gatwick or Manchester need the arrival card, unless they’re in one of seven exempt groups:
- Foreign permanent resident ID holders
- Non-Chinese Hong Kong or Macau permit holders
- Group visa travellers
- 24-hour direct transit passengers in the designated area
- Same-ship cruise passengers
- Travellers who enter through the e-Channel (fast-track channel)
- Transport crew
The National Immigration Administration (NIA) has run the card since 20 November 2025, per the embassy notice. It’s free, it isn’t a visa, and each entry needs a new card. For the full list of exempt categories, see who is exempt from the China Arrival Card.
You need visa-free status as well. Ordinary UK passports get up to 30 days from the day after arrival, for business, tourism, family or friends, exchange or transit. The waiver applies to arrivals until 31 December 2026. Our guide on visa-free travel and the arrival card explains why the waiver still needs a declaration.
Work, study and journalism are excluded, and emergency or temporary travel documents don’t qualify, per the embassy FAQ. The border officer decides on entry.
Flying from London Heathrow to China Arrival Card
Go to https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/, or use the NIA 12367 app or the WeChat and Alipay mini-programs. You can file before you travel or at immigration. For a walkthrough of every field, see our step-by-step guide to filling out the China Arrival Card online.
Open a channel and enter your passport details
Use the website, the NIA 12367 app or the WeChat and Alipay mini-programs.
Check auto-filled fields
Verify any auto-filled fields against your passport.
Add trip details
Transport mode, flight number, arrival city, contact details and your address in China.
Submit the form
Submit the form before you travel.
The card is free, so skip any site that charges a fee. If mobile data fails at the airport, use a terminal, scan the QR code or take a paper card. If you spot an error after submitting, our guide on fixing a mistake on the China Arrival Card explains what to do.
| Common slip | What to do |
|---|---|
| Wrong flight number on a connection | Use the flight that lands in China |
| Error found after submitting | If you spot an error after submitting, call the NIA helpline on +86-10-12367 for guidance |
Check-in and Boarding Checks
Airline agents run a pre-boarding document check before they issue your boarding pass. Airlines check your documents before boarding and may apply stricter passport rules than China. For a checklist of what to have ready, see documents required to fill the China Arrival Card.
Agents may ask for:
- Your passport
- A return or onward ticket and a first-night booking, which are recommended as proof of your trip
- The Chinese Consulate-General in Manchester is listed among the Embassy’s offices.
Power Bank Rules
| Rule | What to know |
|---|---|
| Certification | Air China’s rule requires a 3C mark on power banks for domestic flights within China from 28 June 2025 (2025 source). Check your airline’s power bank rules for your UK – China flight. |
Landing in China: Immigration and Registration
After landing at your port of entry, you show your passport and your arrival card, filed online or on paper, to National Immigration Administration inspectors.
Hotels register foreign guests at check-in. For a private home, the visitor or host normally has 24 hours to register. See our guide on hotel temporary residence registration for the details.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Flying from London Heathrow to China arrival card: where do I file it?
At s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/, in the NIA 12367 app or in the WeChat and Alipay mini-programs, and it costs nothing. Questions about the form? Call the NIA helpline on +86-10-12367.
Flying from London Heathrow to China arrival card: do you get one on the plane?
If you haven’t filed online, you can scan the QR code on arrival, use an on-site self-service terminal, or fill in a paper arrival card at immigration.
Do you need a visa to go to China from the UK?
Not if you hold an ordinary UK passport and travel for a visa-free purpose. You need no electronic authorisation or advance declaration, and visa-free entry also works if you depart for China from a third country.
How long must my British passport be valid?
China requires an ordinary passport valid for at least your whole stay. Check GOV.UK’s China travel advice for any stricter requirements.
Do you need an arrival card for transit in China?
Not for 24-hour direct transit if you stay in the designated area. Ten more airports joined this exemption on 5 November 2025: Tianjin, Dalian, Nanjing, Fuzhou, Qingdao, Wuhan, Nanning, Haikou, Chongqing and Kunming. A 240-hour transit does need the card.
Can I transit through China without a visa for 240 hours?
Travellers from eligible countries can transit through China for up to 10 days (240 hours) without a visa, with an onward ticket, at designated ports. Per a November 2025 report, 65 ports in 24 provinces qualify. Check whether British passport holders are eligible before you book.
Is the arrival card a customs or health declaration?
No. It’s an immigration entry declaration. Customs is a separate check, and it is not the same as the arrival card.
Can I stay longer than 30 days?
Not on visa-free entry. Apply for a visa in advance, or request a stay permit at an exit-entry office before day 30.
Sources and Further Reading
- Notice on Online Completion of Foreigners’ Arrival Card: channels, exemptions and helpline
- Frequently Asked Questions on Visa-free Entry into China: stay length and exclusions
- GOV.UK homepage (search for China travel advice): entry requirements
Rules can change, so check the official portals before you travel.
