Your China Arrival Card record starts with the details you enter on the form. A china arrival card online check works through s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC, the NIA 12367 app (also listed as Immigration Bureau 12367) or the WeChat and Alipay mini-programs. Lost QR code? Try your email for a Send to Email message, then re-submit before leaving Changi.
This is an independent guide, not a government site. It doesn’t charge fees or file anything for you, so confirm details on the NIA portal before you fly. It’s for travelers flying from Singapore to China.
Who Files and Where Your Record Lives
Foreign travelers, with or without a visa, file the digital card unless exempt — see the full exemption list below. Filing channels include:
- PC: s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC
- NIA 12367 app
- WeChat and Alipay mini-programs
Online filing opened on 20 November 2025. Confirm details on the National Immigration Administration (NIA) portal. For channel-specific walkthroughs, see the desktop filing guide, the NIA 12367 app tutorial and the WeChat and Alipay mini-program guide.
Seven groups are exempt:
- Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card holders
- Non-Chinese citizens holding a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao
- Group travelers (collective visa or visa-free group)
- Transit passengers who remain within the designated port area
- Cruise passengers entering and leaving on the same vessel
- Fast-track travelers
- Foreign workers on cross-border transport vehicles
China Arrival Card Online Check, Step by Step
Log in to the channel you used and save the card with Download to Local or Send to Email when it is generated. For tips on storing the code for offline use, read how to generate, screenshot and store your QR code.
Open your filing channel
Open s.nia.gov.cn, the NIA 12367 app or the mini-program you used
Enter the requested details
Check them against the passport identity page
Confirm the QR code
Check the card shows the QR code
Save the card
Use Download to Local or Send to Email when it is generated
Also check nationality, flight number and entry date. If nothing appears, recheck the details and the channel you used.
Flying tomorrow? Check today.
If Your China Arrival Card Online Check Fails
Try these in order.
Search your email
Look for a Send to Email message
Download the card
Use Download to Local on the card screen
Re-submit a new declaration
Only as a last resort
Before you re-file, recheck the passport spelling. Don’t file repeatedly.
Editing a submitted card isn’t documented — our article on correcting typos and changes in your China Arrival Card covers what travelers have reported. Confirm on the NIA portal before you fly.
The QR code may have a 24-hour validity limit, so generate the card close to departure. Confirm the current rules on the NIA portal.
Changi Check-In, Border Fallbacks and SG Arrival Card
Save a copy of the QR code before you fly.
Show the QR code at immigration in China. Does the record not load? Use a self-service kiosk, scan the QR code on arrival, or ask for a paper form — see our comparison of the digital and paper arrival card options. If you never filed at all, read what to do if you forgot to submit your China Arrival Card.
| Document | Who runs it | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| China arrival card | NIA | Entry to China; file before leaving Singapore |
| SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration | ICA | Entry to Singapore; submit in the 3 days before you arrive (GOV.UK guidance for British passport holders) |
Skip third-party sites that ask for fees or card numbers. Singapore government links end in .gov.sg.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I do a china arrival card online check if I no longer have my QR code?
Sign in through the channel you filed with and enter the details requested on the form. If the card appears, save the QR code again. If it doesn’t, check your email for a Send to Email message before re-filing.
Is checking or retrieving my China arrival card free?
Private companies offer to prepare and submit the form for a fee, but the form itself is on the NIA channels. This guide doesn’t charge fees or file anything for you either.
What should I do if I lost my China arrival card QR code before my flight from Singapore?
Try your email first, then re-file only if that fails. Doing it before you leave Singapore means you have the new QR code ready at the airport. Save a copy of the card before you fly.
What is the web address for the China arrival card portal?
On a computer, go to s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC. Before you enter passport details, check that the address bar shows s.nia.gov.cn.
How long is the China arrival card QR code valid?
The QR code may have a 24-hour validity limit, which the NIA portal doesn’t confirm in the sources reviewed. Generate the card close to departure, and confirm the current rules on the portal before you fly.
My china arrival card online check shows no record. Can I submit again?
Yes, after rechecking the passport number and trying the channel you originally used. Then file one fresh declaration and save the QR code at once rather than filing several.
Does the China arrival card replace the Singapore SG Arrival Card?
No. They are separate systems run by different agencies — see our full comparison of the China Arrival Card and the SG Arrival Card. The SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration is for entering Singapore through the ICA, while the China card is for entering China through the NIA.
Can I still use a paper arrival card if the digital one will not load?
Paper forms were offered as a temporary alternative when the system launched in November 2025; ask airport staff which option applies. Keep your saved QR code ready in case the digital record loads later, and confirm current options on the NIA portal before you fly.
Sources and Further Reading
- ICA: SG Arrival Card
- GOV.UK: Singapore entry requirements
- Singapore Customs: .gov.sg links
Rules can change, so check the NIA portal before you travel.
