China Arrival Card Helper
A free preparation assistant for China's official arrival card. Answer a few questions, get your checklist, then file on the government's own channels — the filing itself is always free.
Step 1 · Do you even need to file?
Tap Yes or No for each statement. Any Yes points to an official exemption.
I hold a Chinese Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card (the five-star card).
I hold a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (non-Chinese).
I'm entering with a group tour (group visa or group visa-free arrangement).
I'm in direct transit within 24 hours and won't leave the port's restricted area.
I arrive and leave China on the same cruise ship.
I'm entering through an E-channel (fast lane).
Likely exempt — you probably don't file
Your answers match an official exemption category. Officers decide on the spot — if your trip doesn't fit the category exactly, expect to file. The 12367 hotline answers questions before you travel.
You'll most likely need to file
Nothing here suggests an exemption, so plan to file the arrival card. Reminder: individual visa-free entry and 240-hour visa-free transit are not exemptions — you'll select that policy inside the form.
Exemptions per the official NIA notice effective November 20, 2025.
Step 2 · Your trip
Step 3 · Your filing checklist
Full page, flat, no glare — the form reads it automatically.
A short code like CA982 or MU540 — it's on your booking confirmation.
Hotel: name, address and phone from the booking. Friends or family: ask them now, in Chinese characters if possible.
Visa-free or 240-hour transit? You won't have a number; you'll pick the policy in the form.
240-hour transit needs confirmed onward travel within 10 days — keep the booking handy.
One person can file for companions in the same submission; each gets their own declaration.
The five mistakes that slow you down
- Name typed differently from the passport's machine-readable zone — no nicknames, no reordering.
- An old flight number after rebooking — file again; it's free and takes a minute.
- First-night address that doesn't match the booking you'll show anyway.
- 240-hour transit travelers skipping the transit-policy selection in the form.
- Paying a lookalike website — the official service is free; check for .gov.cn.
Scam alert: the official filing is free
NIA warned on December 2, 2025 that imitation filing sites charge travelers. Only s.nia.gov.cn and the official NIA 12367 app / WeChat & Alipay mini programs are real.
Opens s.nia.gov.cn in a new tab. Not affiliated with ChinaNeighbor.
This helper runs entirely in your browser — nothing you tap or type is sent anywhere or stored.
Preparation help only. ChinaNeighbor is not a government website and does not file the card for you.
Arrival card questions
Do visa-free travelers need to file the China arrival card?
Yes. Individual visa-free entry (such as the 30-day schemes) and 240-hour visa-free transit are not on the exemption list — you file like everyone else and select the entry policy in the form instead of a visa number. Only group tours on a group visa or group visa-free arrangement are exempt.
How early can I file the arrival card?
The official notice sets no deadline — file once your flight number and first-night address are final. Border-checkpoint reports describe the QR code as valid for 24 hours, so refresh it on travel day if you filed early; the app keeps your details for reuse.
Can I file for my family?
Yes — one traveler can file for companions in the same submission, and each traveler still gets their own declaration and QR code. Children are filed the same way by an adult.
What if I can't file before the trip?
Nothing happens — you can scan the arrival-card QR code or use the smart devices at the border, or fill a paper card. Filing early is a convenience, not a requirement.