Here’s how to fill out China arrival card online: open the National Immigration Administration (NIA) portal at https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/, enter your passport, travel and address details, then submit. The China Digital Arrival Card is free and gives you a QR code.
This is an independent guide, not a government website. We link to the Chinese government’s NIA portal as an external source, and we don’t charge fees or file the card for you. Check dates and rules there before you travel. If you’re flying from the UK, this walkthrough covers the steps of the form.
Who Needs to Complete the Arrival Card?
Most foreign travellers do, and that includes British citizens entering visa-free. The online system launched on 20 November 2025, and the Chinese Embassy in the UK has published a notice explaining who must complete it. The card is an entry declaration, not a visa application.
The embassy lists seven exempt groups:
- Holders of a Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card
- Non-Chinese holders of a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao residents
- Travellers on a group visa or group visa-free entry
- Passengers in direct transit for up to 24 hours who stay in the designated area
- Cruise passengers who enter and leave on the same ship
- Travellers using the e-channel
- Foreign crew of aircraft, trains and ships
Think you’re exempt? Check this list first, especially the e-channel group. For the full breakdown of each exemption and the documents to carry, see who is exempt from the China arrival card. British citizens can currently enter visa-free for 30 days for tourism, business, family visits or transit, until 31 December 2026 – and our guide for UK citizens explains why a 30-day waiver still needs a declaration. Rules can change, so check before you travel, and see gov.uk for the current entry requirements.
Cost, Timing and Where to Access the Form
Filling in the form through the official channels is free of charge. You can file it before you travel, or on arrival before immigration, so filing at home is the easier choice. For the timing rules in more detail, see when you can fill out the China arrival card online.
| Channel | Where to find it | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Desktop web | https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/ | Has an “English” link |
| NIA app (移民局) | Download via the QR code on the NIA portal | Chinese name: 移民局 |
| Mini-program | WeChat or Alipay: 移民局12367 | Opens inside WeChat or Alipay |
| At the border | Self-service terminals, QR code, paper form | Listed by the embassy as on-the-spot options |
Never pay for the card or enter bank card details. Type the portal address yourself or follow a link from a government page, not an advert. Copycat sites do exist – our piece on China arrival card scam websites shows how to spot them.
What to Prepare Before You Start
Gather six things before you open the form.
- A passport valid for at least 6 months after your arrival date, with 2 blank pages, as gov.uk advises.
- Passport details: full name exactly as it appears in your passport, number, date of birth, nationality and expiry date.
- Optionally, a photo of the passport data page, in even light with no glare.
- Transport details: the number of the flight that enters mainland China, your arrival date and the port of entry.
- A full mainland address: province, city, district, street, building number and hotel name, plus a contact phone number.
- Your email address and a phone number with its international dialling code.
Copy the address from your booking confirmation, in the same language. For help with formatting, districts and multi-hotel trips, see how to enter a hotel address in the China arrival card.
How to Fill Out China Arrival Card Online
The form generally asks for these details in this order.
Open the portal
Open https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/ and click “English”.
Upload your passport data page
Upload a photo of the passport data page.
Check the auto-filled fields
Check each auto-filled field against your passport and correct it.
Enter your personal details
Enter name, sex, date of birth, nationality, passport number and expiry date.
Choose your entry category
Select the category that matches your stay.
Add contact details
Add your phone number and email address.
Enter transport and destination
Enter transport type, flight number, entry city and port, purpose of entry and arrival date. Choose your main destination city and type your mainland address.
Review and submit
Read the declaration, review every field and submit.
Check the auto-filled details against your passport:
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Given names merged into one word | Split them to match your passport |
| Accents missing | Type them by hand |
| 0 and O swapped in the passport number | Compare each character with the original |
| Glare on the laminate | Retake the photo in soft light, no flash |
The category menu typically offers 30-day visa-free, 240-hour transit and visa. If you qualify for the British visa-free policy above, choose visa-free. Hold a visa? Choose visa and enter its number. The 240-hour option appears in the menu, but nothing official confirms UK eligibility, so check before you travel.
For the address, enter the province, city, district, street, building number and hotel name. Enter the flight that lands in mainland China, not your first leg from London. Your destination city can differ from your port of entry.
Hong Kong, Overland and Connecting Entries
Entering mainland China from Hong Kong? Register the train, ferry or flight that crosses into the mainland, not your London flight to Hong Kong. The card covers entry into mainland China only, not Hong Kong or Macao. For the border-crossing screens in order, see our West Kowloon to mainland arrival card walkthrough. These examples come from those guides:
| Journey | Transport to enter | Port of entry |
|---|---|---|
| High-speed train, Hong Kong to Shenzhen | The train number on your ticket | Futian Port |
A trip from the mainland to Hong Kong and back needs two cards, one per mainland entry. Each later trip needs a new card.
A group visa is a separate exemption, not a family option. Prepare one set of passport details per traveller and ask the NIA hotline before you go (details in the last section).
Submitting, Saving and Showing Your QR Code
Save your QR code before you leave home, and keep a screenshot or emailed copy available offline. The embassy says the code is used at the port of entry. For the full retrieval and renewal process, see our guide to the China arrival card QR code.
- Take a screenshot of the confirmation page.
- Email the code to yourself.
- Check the code is sharp and readable before your flight.
Re-check your code shortly before you fly.
Paper cards are also available at immigration desks.
Fill Out China Arrival Card Online: Common Mistakes
Most problems come from five slips.
- Typo in the passport number or dates. Submitted forms cannot be changed, so file a new form if you spot a mistake. For the full correction process, see what to do if you make a mistake on the China arrival card.
- Wrong transport leg. Enter the flight that arrives in mainland China, not an earlier leg. File a new card with the leg that enters mainland China.
- Empty entry category. Pick the option that matches your stay.
- Incomplete address, or one that differs from your booking. Copy it from your confirmation.
- Changed hotel or flight after submitting? File a new form with the new details.
Other Entry Requirements Beyond the Card
The arrival card sits alongside four other requirements, and none replaces another.
- Visa status: stays beyond 30 days, or for other purposes, need a consular visa.
- Customs rules: you must declare anything that may be prohibited or subject to tax or duty.
- Accommodation registration: hotels register you at check-in. For a private stay, register at the local police station (PSB) within 24 hours, according to gov.uk.
- Border checks: fingerprints and photos may be collected on entry, and medical screening is possible. Refusing to cooperate can lead to refused entry.
Staying with friends? Leave time for that police registration. For problems with the form, call the NIA hotline: 12367 in China or +86-10-12367 from abroad.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do British citizens entering China visa-free still need to fill out the arrival card?
Yes, in most cases. The card is an entry declaration, not a visa. Most foreign travellers must complete it, including those entering visa-free. Only the seven groups listed above are exempt, so check that list before you decide to skip it.
How to fill out China arrival card online in English?
Click the “English” link on the NIA portal, then work through the screens in order: passport details, entry category, transport and port of entry, then your mainland address. You can upload a photo of your passport data page, then check the details the system reads.
What is the website address for the China digital arrival card?
The NIA portal is at https://s.nia.gov.cn/. The desktop form is at https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/. Type the address yourself or follow a link from a government page, because lookalike sites exist. Use the desktop page on a computer.
Can I edit my China arrival card after submitting it?
A submitted card cannot be changed, so you file a new one with the corrected details and show the latest QR code. Before you submit, you can still fix auto-filled passport fields. Check the review screen against your passport first.
How far in advance can I submit the China arrival card?
The embassy says you can file before you travel, or on arrival before immigration. Submit once your flight and hotel details are confirmed.
What happens if I land in China without completing the card beforehand?
The embassy lists three on-the-spot options at the port of entry: self-service terminals, a QR code that leads to the online form, and paper cards at immigration desks. Filing before you fly is easier.
How to fill out China arrival card online if I am travelling via Hong Kong?
Fill it in for your entry into mainland China only, since Hong Kong and Macao aren’t covered. For a high-speed train to Shenzhen, enter the train number and the Shenzhen port of entry, not your London flight. A mainland, Hong Kong, mainland trip needs two cards.
Is the China arrival card free, and how do I avoid paying a third-party site?
Yes, filling in the form through the official channels is free of charge. If a site asks for payment or bank card details, close it. Go to the NIA portal at https://s.nia.gov.cn/ by typing the address yourself.
Sources and Further Reading
- Chinese Embassy in the UK: notice on online completion of the Foreigners’ Arrival Card, with exemptions and timing.
- NIA Arrival Card Filling portal: the form itself, with an English link.
- gov.uk China entry requirements: passport validity, visa-free stays, registration and border checks.
Rules can change, so check the NIA portal before you travel.
