Entry & Visa \u00b7 Arrival card fields
What Do I Put for City of Entry vs Port of Entry on My China Arrival Card?
Which Arrival-Card Field Should I Choose?
Use your actual mainland immigration checkpoint for the first two fields. Your hotel or onward destination belongs in a different part of the form.
The NIA city grouping associated with the checkpoint where you enter mainland China. It may differ from your final destination.
The specific checkpoint where mainland border officers inspect your passport — an airport, land crossing, railway border point or passenger port.
The city or cities for your planned stay. This is not the same field as your immigration port.
View the full original screenshot ↗
Open the free official NIA arrival-card form Official domain: s.nia.gov.cn. No fee.
What If Port of Entry Says “No Data” or Is Missing?
Check Entry Transportation Mode. Set the travel mode shown by your actual flight, train, road crossing or ferry.
Recheck City of Entry. The port list depends on the selected city grouping. Your hotel or final railway stop may belong to a different city.
Confirm the real immigration port. Check your transport operator's instructions. Never select an unrelated port just to submit the form.
Success: the live form lets you choose your real checkpoint and proceed with accurate details. Still blocked? Use the free official port-of-entry fallback below. A selected dropdown is not proof of a completed submission; check the NIA confirmation screen.
Which Port Applies to My Route?
Use the airport where you first clear mainland immigration, not a domestic connecting airport or the city of your hotel.
Mainland immigration for the Hong Kong-to-mainland high-speed train takes place at West Kowloon Station, before boarding, according to MTR's official departure guide. Do not enter Shenzhen North or Guangzhou South just because your train stops there.
Select the exact checkpoint where mainland immigration processes you, such as your actual Luohu/Futian crossing or passenger port. Nearby checkpoints are not interchangeable.
West Kowloon: why do travelers mention Guangdong → Shenzhen?
Travelers in May 2026 and August 2026 reported seeing West Kowloon under a Guangdong → Shenzhen grouping in the dropdown. This is an unofficial traveler observation, not a guaranteed selection sequence. Follow the current form and match the actual checkpoint.
Nanning vs Pingxiang: how do I avoid the wrong land port?
At the China–Vietnam border, the onward city of Nanning is not automatically your immigration port. A July 2026 traveler discussion reflects this confusion. Confirm the precise crossing with your bus or train operator rather than guessing a NIA dropdown label.
Can I Finish My Arrival Card at the Border?
The Chinese Embassy in Canada, 23 October 2026 confirms official free alternatives at the entry port: a designated QR code, a smart device or a paper arrival card. Allow additional time and ask border staff for the appropriate option.
Official online form · NIA warning about fraudulent paid sites
我持外国护照，网上入境卡里找不到正确的入境口岸。请问这里在表格里叫什么？我可以在这里用现场设备或纸质入境卡填写吗？
I cannot find the correct Port of Entry online. What is this checkpoint called in the form? Can I use an on-site device or paper arrival card?
Frequently Asked Questions
Is City of Entry my destination or hotel city?
Not necessarily. The entry-city grouping identifies the actual border checkpoint, while your planned destination is a separate travel-information field.
Can I choose a nearby port when the right one is absent?
No. Do not make up a border crossing to get past the form. Recheck travel mode and city grouping; if the real port remains unavailable, use the official border fallback.
Does the arrival card replace a visa or guarantee entry?
No. It is a separate immigration-information filing. Check whether you need a visa or the China transit entry rules; border officers decide admission.
Official Sources and Related Guides
Official: NIA arrival-card portal · NIA announcement and exemptions · October 2026 embassy instructions · MTR West Kowloon border procedure.
Related CTD guides
Guidance checked 28 October 2026. The interface image is an older real screenshot, not a live 2026 capture. Use current official instructions; submitting an arrival card does not guarantee entry.
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