File the China digital arrival card free of charge at https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/ before you land at Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN). Save the QR code as a screenshot. After filing, you scan your QR code or passport at a self-service kiosk to print your entry card, then go to immigration.
This independent guide for UK travellers isn’t a government site. We don’t charge fees or file the card for you, so check details and timings on the NIA portal before you fly.
Who Needs the China Digital Arrival Card
Foreign nationals, including UK passport holders, must complete the arrival card before entering China, unless they fall into an exempt group.
Foreign nationals can complete the arrival card online through the National Immigration Administration (NIA) system, which opened on 20 November 2025.
You file if you’re:
- a visa holder or visa-free visitor
- a transit passenger who leaves the airside zone
You’re exempt if you’re:
- a permanent residence card holder
- in direct airside transit within 24 hours
- a Mainland Travel Permit holder
- a collective-visa group member, a cruise passenger on the same ship, or foreign crew
- a traveller using a pre-approved fast-track entry lane
Border residents with a border residence certificate file a separate form. Each entry needs a new card.
Guangzhou Baiyun Airport Digital Arrival Card Steps Online
Filing is free. Use the NIA portal on a laptop or the 移民局 12367 mini-program in WeChat or Alipay.
Have your passport, visa number, flight details, hotel address and a phone number that works in China ready before you start. Our pre-declaration checklist of mandatory fields helps you prepare each answer in advance.
| Field | What to enter | Common slip |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | As printed in your passport | Abbreviating it |
| Visa number | Red number at the top right of your China visa page, or VISA-FREE if you are visa-free | Leaving it blank |
| Entry port | Guangzhou Baiyun Airport (CAN) | Choosing Shenzhen or Hong Kong |
| Address | Hotel name and full address | Leaving it empty |
Screenshot the QR code right after filing, since it works offline once saved. If you need more detail on saving and presenting it, see our guide to the China arrival card QR code.
Arrival Card Steps on Arrival in China
Print your entry card
Scan your QR code at a self-service kiosk. Kiosks can also start from a scan of your passport.
Go to immigration
Show your passport and printed entry card at immigration.
For a closer look at how the kiosks work at Chinese airports, read our self-service terminal step-by-step guide.
| Problem | What you do |
|---|---|
| No data or Wi-Fi | Show your saved screenshot or printout |
| QR code won’t scan | Let the kiosk scan your passport instead |
| No smartphone | Ask for a paper form at an immigration counter and sign it to match your passport |
Connecting Flights, Transit and Customs
Connecting through Guangzhou? Transit passengers who leave the airside zone must file the card. Direct airside transit within 24 hours is exempt. For a fuller comparison of airside transit and the 240-hour entry option, see whether transit passengers need an arrival card.
| Your trip | Card needed? | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| International to international, airside, 24 hours or less | No | |
| International to international, leaving airside | Yes | Immigration and declaration |
Confirm your transit arrangements on the portal before you travel.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where do I submit the China digital arrival card online?
Use the NIA portal at https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/ on a laptop, or search for 移民局 12367 (NIA 12367) in WeChat or Alipay on your phone. This guide isn’t the operator and can’t file the form for you. Open either one yourself before you fly.
What are the Guangzhou Baiyun airport digital arrival card steps on landing?
Scan your QR code or passport at a self-service kiosk to print your entry card, then go to immigration with your passport and printed card. Keep your QR code screenshot ready in case the kiosk cannot read it.
What are the Guangzhou Baiyun airport digital arrival card steps with no phone data?
Save the QR code as a screenshot before you fly, because it works offline, and carry a printout as well. If the code still won’t scan, ask for help or let the kiosk scan your passport instead.
How far ahead can I submit the China arrival card?
Submit the form before you arrive in China. The NIA notice encourages online submission before arrival, but it does not set a fixed window, so check the portal when you file.
Is the China digital arrival card free?
Yes. Filing on the NIA portal or the 移民局 12367 mini-program costs nothing. Paid third-party services exist, but they are not the official channel, so use the portal link in this guide.
Do I need an arrival card if I only transit through Guangzhou?
Not if you stay airside on a direct transit within 24 hours. If you leave the airside zone, you file the card and enter your first accommodation’s full name and address.
Can I edit my arrival card after submitting it?
The sources do not describe editing a submitted form, so check all details before you submit. Compare your name with the passport and check the entry port and dates.
Should I select Guangzhou Baiyun or Shenzhen as my entry port?
Select Guangzhou Baiyun Airport (CAN) as your entry port. Check this field before you submit, because a wrong entry port is a common error and means filing again with a new QR code.
Sources and Further Reading
- EVA Air, Notification on the Update of the China Online Arrival Card Website, 19 November 2025
Rules can change, so check the portal before you travel.
