China arrival card vs SG Arrival Card (SGAC) comes down to format and scope. SGAC is fully electronic, filed up to 3 days before arrival, and includes a health declaration. China’s card covers immigration only and is filed at s.nia.gov.cn, with a paper fallback at ports.
This is an independent guide, not a government site. We don’t charge fees or file anything for you, so check details with the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and the National Immigration Administration (NIA) before you fly.
Does China’s Arrival Card Apply to Singaporeans?
Yes. Singapore passport holders entering visa-free still file the card, unless they fall into one of seven exempt categories.
It isn’t a visa and doesn’t change your stay. The embassy notice exempts:
- holders of a PRC Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card
- non-Chinese holders of a Mainland Travel Permit for HK and Macao residents
- group visa holders, or those eligible for group visa-free entry
- people in direct transit within 24 hours who don’t leave the port’s restricted area
- people entering and exiting on the same cruise ship
- people entering through fast lanes
- foreign employees of exit-entry transport vehicles
Transit passengers who leave the port’s restricted area don’t qualify for the direct-transit exemption, so they must file the card. SGAC covers Singapore citizens, permanent residents, long-term pass holders and visitors, except anyone who doesn’t pass immigration clearance.
China Arrival Card vs SG Arrival Card Compared
SGAC bundles immigration with a health declaration, while China’s card covers immigration only.
| Card | When you file | What it covers | How you file |
|---|---|---|---|
| China arrival card | Before arrival; the embassy notice gives no exact window, so check the NIA portal before you travel. | Immigration (entry form) | NIA portal, NIA 12367 app, mini-program; paper at port |
| SGAC | Three days ahead, arrival day included | Immigration plus Electronic Health Declaration | eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard or the free SG Arrival Card app |
| Malaysia MDAC | Within 3 days before arrival | Malaysia’s digital arrival card; Singapore passport holders are exempt | Online, then show registration and passport at immigration |
| Visit Japan Web | Before or on arrival | Immigration, customs, tax-free claim | QR code; paper customs may still be needed |
The embassy notice gives no exact filing window for China, so check the NIA portal before you travel. If you’re weighing the online form against the paper version, see our breakdown of the digital vs paper China arrival card.
How to Fill Out the China Arrival Card
Use the NIA portal or mini-program, enter data as in your passport, and save the confirmation before you fly. For a detailed walkthrough of every field, see our guide on how to fill the China arrival card step by step.
Choose your filing channel
Start at s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/, the NIA 12367 app, or the WeChat/Alipay mini-program.
Have your details ready
Your name, nationality and birth date as in your passport; passport number, issuing country and expiry date; flight or transport number, port of entry and arrival date; hotel name and address in China, or host details; purpose and planned length of stay. Check the live form for the exact order and fields.
File online before you leave
Filing online before you leave is the option the embassy describes first.
Save your confirmation
Save the confirmation before you fly.
Landed without filing?
Scan the QR code at the port, use the smart devices there, or fill in the paper card.
After Submission: Clearance, Customs and Registration
Filing is only one step: you still face border checks and local registration.
At border control, you show your confirmation or QR code. Foreigners must register their temporary residence with the Public Security Bureau (PSB); hotels usually handle this at check-in. Staying in a private rental? Ask your host. For more on how this differs from the entry form, read about the difference between the arrival card and PSB registration.
Common Mistakes and Fake Filing Sites
Common mistakes include mismatched data and filing at the wrong time.
- Name spelled differently from your passport: the name must match your passport exactly, so copy it from the passport page.
- Accommodation field: enter your hotel or host address in China, not in Singapore.
- SGAC submitted outside the three-day window: submit within the three days before arrival.
- No saved confirmation when offline: screenshot it before boarding.
Third-party sites charge service fees for help with the form, and you don’t need one. The NIA has warned about fraudulent filing sites; see its website for details. Learn how to avoid paying for the China arrival card online, and bookmark s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/ and eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard instead of clicking ads.
The embassy is at 150 Tanglin Road, Singapore 247969. For visa and legalisation questions, the Chinese Visa Application Service Centre can be reached at +65-63420128 (9:00 – 14:00, Monday to Friday, except holidays).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do Singaporeans need a China arrival card for a visa-free trip?
Yes, unless you fall into one of the exempt categories, such as direct transit within 24 hours without leaving the restricted area. The card is not a visa and does not change how long you can stay.
Does China have an arrival card I can fill out online before departure?
Yes. Fill it in online before you travel through the NIA website, the NIA 12367 app or the WeChat/Alipay mini-program; paper cards remain available at ports. The embassy notice gives no exact timing window, so check the NIA portal.
China arrival card vs SG arrival card: which one includes a health declaration?
SGAC does. Its full name is SG Arrival Card with Electronic Health Declaration. China’s card covers immigration only. Confirm the current health requirements on the ICA page before you file.
China arrival card vs SG arrival card: is either one free to submit?
Yes, the SG Arrival Card app is free to download. For the China card, file through the NIA channels; third-party services charge their own fees. If a site asks for payment, check that it is not posing as a government portal before you pay.
Is the SG Arrival Card necessary for Singapore citizens?
Yes. Citizens, PRs, pass holders and visitors all file SGAC. The exception is anyone who doesn’t pass immigration clearance. Foreign visitors who file online don’t need a paper arrival card.
How many days before arrival can I submit the SG Arrival Card?
You can file up to three days before arrival, counting arrival day itself. Go to eservices.ica.gov.sg/sgarrivalcard or use the free SG Arrival Card app on the App Store or Google Play.
Do I need to register with the police in China?
Yes, foreigners register temporary residence with the local PSB after arrival. Hotels usually handle the registration at check-in; ask the staff if unsure. In a family home, ask your host how.
Do Singapore passport holders need to fill out Malaysia’s MDAC?
No. Singapore passport holders are exempt from Malaysia’s arrival card. The MDAC itself is filed within 3 days before arrival, arrival day included, and you show the registration with your passport at immigration.
Sources and Further Reading
- ICA SG Arrival Card: SGAC rules and health declaration.
- PRC Embassy notice: online filling and exemptions.
- NIA: fraud warning.
- ICA: entering and transiting Singapore.
Rules can change, so check the portals before you travel. For a full overview of the entry process, see our China arrival card guide for 2026.
