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Arriving in China: online arrival card, border control and customs
Updated 9 November 2026
Arriving in China is quick if you prepare three things: your arrival card, your onward or return booking, and your first hotel's address in Chinese.
1. Fill in the arrival card online
Since 20 November 2025, foreigners can fill in the arrival card online before travelling, instead of on paper at the airport. Use the National Immigration Administration's official channels:
- The website: s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC
- The NIA 12367 app, or the NIA mini-program inside WeChat or Alipay
- Or scan the QR code on arrival, use the kiosks, or take a paper card at the border
You'll need your passport details, flight number, purpose of visit and address in China. Some travellers don't need a card at all — for example 24-hour direct transit passengers who stay airside, members of visa-free tour groups, and cruise passengers returning on the same ship.
2. Immigration (border control)
- Choose the right lane: "Foreigners". If you use 240-hour transit, look for the transit lane or tell the officer.
- Hand over your passport and, if asked, show your hotel booking and return or onward ticket.
- Fingerprints and photo: most foreigners aged 14–70 have their fingerprints scanned on entry.
- Get your stamp. Check the date and the entry type are correct before you walk away.
3. Customs
Walk through the green channel if you have nothing to declare, or the red channel if you do. Declare:
- Cash over USD 5,000 (or equivalent) or more than ¥20,000 in Chinese yuan
- Goods over your duty-free allowance, or commercial goods
Don't bring: fresh fruit and vegetables, meat and meat products, dairy, plants, soil, or seeds. Prescription medicine is fine in personal quantities — keep it in the original packaging with a copy of the prescription.
4. Leaving: tax refund
Shops displaying a "Tax Refund" sign can give you a departure tax refund form for qualifying purchases. Keep the form, receipt and unused goods, and get them stamped at customs at the airport before check-in. Some cities offer an instant refund in the shop.
Arrival checklist
- Arrival card submitted online (screenshot the confirmation)
- Return or onward booking saved offline
- First hotel's name and address in Chinese characters
- Alipay working and a little cash for the airport
- Phone data working on landing (roaming or eSIM)
FAQ
Is the online arrival card mandatory?
Filling it in online is the recommended way since 20 November 2025, but you can still complete it on arrival by scanning a QR code, at a kiosk, or on a paper card.
Does the China arrival card cost money?
No. The official arrival card is free. Avoid third-party sites that charge a fee.
Do I have to give fingerprints when entering China?
Most foreign visitors aged 14 to 70 have their fingerprints taken at immigration on arrival. It takes a few seconds at a scanner.