China Arrival Card to Go Digital From Nov 20

Katie Coy, Managing Editor | Nov 3, 2025 12:30 pm | Add a comment | 3187 reads

Today (Nov 3), the National Immigration Administration (NIA) announced that it will be introducing online arrival cards from Nov 20. The move is one of ten new immigration and exit-entry management service policy initiatives implemented to “support and facilitate high-level opening-up and high-quality development.”

From Nov 20, rather than filling out the usual paper form when foreigners arrive in China, they will instead be able to fill out the form online in advance via the NIA's official website, Government Service Platform, “NIA 12367” APP and WeChat or Alipay mini programs.

If you're unable to fill in the online arrival card in advance, the process can also be completed on arrival by scanning a QR code with your phone, using a smart device at the port of entry or filling in a paper arrival card.

The platform won't launch until Nov 20, but you can save the QR code below to access the online arrival card platform once it goes live. Alternatively, the website address to access the portal is https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/.

From official photos released by the NIA, there will be two “Entry Declaration” forms, one for the majority of foreign arrivals and then one for “Border Area Residents,” which includes foreigners from these seven countries: DPRK, Mongolia, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam.

Once you click on the appropriate form, you'll then be asked to upload a picture of your ID document page, and then you will need to fill in the same information as required on the usual paper arrival card, such as personal details, flight details, the address you'll be staying at when you arrive etc.