China Travel Decisions · China Travel
How do I fill in China's arrival card online for free?
Find the free government form first. Check whether you must fill it, what to prepare, and how to finish at the border if online filing is unavailable.
Quick answer: Use the free NIA online arrival card at s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/ or an official NIA app or mini-program. If the site fails, fill it in on arrival using port smart devices or a paper card.
Where do I open the free official form?
NIA online arrival card system
Official domain: s.nia.gov.cn · Service fee: free. NIA also offers official government-service channels, the “NIA 12367” app and WeChat/Alipay mini-programs.
How to confirm it worked
The official NIA system shows your submitted arrival card record, which you can show at border control on entry.
If this does not work
If the official website fails, complete the arrival card on arrival at the port using on-site smart devices or a paper arrival card.
Ask port staff about the arrival card
请问入境卡在哪里填写？网上填报的页面打不开。
Where can I fill in the arrival card? The online page is not working.
Which situation applies to you?
| Situation | Do this |
|---|---|
| You want to submit the arrival card online before travel | Use only NIA's website, government service platform, the NIA 12367 app, WeChat/Alipay mini-programs, or the designated QR code. |
| You cannot submit online in advance or the official site does not work | Complete it at the port on arrival using on-site smart devices or a paper arrival card. |
| A website asks for a fee or card details for the arrival card | It is not the official free service; use only the official NIA channels. |
| You hold a Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card, a non-Chinese Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents, a group visa or group visa-free eligibility, are in 24-hour direct transit without leaving the port area, arrive and depart on the same cruise, use an E-channel, or are foreign crew of an exit-entry transport vehicle | You are listed as exempt from completing the arrival card. |
What should I have ready?
- Confirm the address begins with https://s.nia.gov.cn/ and not a lookalike site.
- Do not enter card details or pay a processing fee; the service is free.
- Check whether one of the seven exemption categories applies to you.
Have these ready
- Passport details
- Arrival flight, train or vessel number
- Address in China and contact details
How do I complete it?
- Check the exemption list to see whether you need an arrival card at all.
- Open the official NIA form at s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/ or an official NIA app or mini-program.
- Fill in your passport and trip details and submit.
- If the site fails, use on-site smart devices or a paper card at the port.
What if the official online form doesn't work?
The page will not open or my device cannot use it
Try an official NIA government-service channel, the “NIA 12367” app or the official mini-program. If online filing is still not possible, you can complete the card at your arrival port using a designated QR code, a port smart device, or a paper foreigner arrival card.
I cannot complete a field or select my port of entry
Use truthful details. If the live form does not let you describe your actual journey, ask staff at the entry port rather than selecting a false destination. See what to do when a land-border port is missing from the arrival-card list.
I submitted but cannot verify that it worked
Do not treat an unfinished screen or CTD checklist as an official confirmation. Recheck the government system where practical; otherwise tell immigration staff on arrival and ask to use the official port filing alternatives.
Show this to immigration staff if needed
我没能在网上确认入境卡是否提交成功。请问可以在这里用现场设备或纸质入境卡填写吗？
I could not confirm that my arrival card was submitted online. May I complete it here using an on-site device or a paper card?
Other questions
Is the official China Arrival Card free?
Yes. The NIA explicitly says its online foreigner arrival-card service is free and warns that fake websites may charge travelers for an imitation service. Do not enter payment details on a lookalike site.
Can I complete it when I arrive instead?
Yes. NIA and Chinese embassy guidance confirm that foreign visitors unable to file online in advance may use designated port QR codes, smart devices, or paper arrival cards. Allow time for the procedure.
Does completing the arrival card replace a visa?
No. Arrival-card filing and permission to enter are separate matters. Check whether you need a visa for your China trip; entry remains subject to the immigration officer's decision.
Is the arrival card also my accommodation registration?
No. For stays outside hotels, a separate accommodation-registration duty can apply after arrival. Read how to register a non-hotel stay.
Official sources
Official guidance checked 27 October 2026. Form fields, screen labels and confirmation messages can change.
- NIA — Beware of Fraudulent Websites for Arrival Card Filling (5 December 2025)
- Embassy of China in Canada — Foreign Arrival Card Online Filling Guidance (23 October 2026)
- NIA — How to Submit Your Arrival Card to China Online (22 December 2025)
Decision boundary: Filing is not an admission guarantee. Chinese border inspection officers decide entry at the port.
Rules, prices, operating routes and platform support can change. CTD is an independent travel resource. Recheck the linked official channel before paying or relying on a reservation.