The difference between China customs declaration and arrival card is simple: the arrival card is an immigration record of who you are and where you’ll stay, filed with the National Immigration Administration (NIA). The customs declaration is a separate baggage form, needed above set thresholds or when you carry restricted items.
This is an independent guide, not a government site, so confirm details on en.nia.gov.cn before you fly.
Difference Between China Customs Declaration and Arrival Card
Immigration comes before baggage claim, and customs comes after it. So each form goes to a different desk. For the full entry workflow, see our China Arrival Card requirements and entry workflow guide.
Health inspection
Fever and other symptoms checked before immigration, only with symptoms.
Border control desk
Hand in your passport with the arrival card.
Baggage claim
Collect your bags after immigration.
Red or Green Channel
Red if you declare goods; Green needs no written form.
| Form and authority | What it checks | Required? | When and where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arrival Card (NIA) | Identity, visa basis, stay, first address | Yes, for non-exempt foreigners | Border control desk, with your passport |
| Baggage Declaration Form for Incoming Passengers (General Administration of Customs, GACC) | Goods, cash, biosecurity | Only above thresholds or with restricted items | After baggage claim, via Red or Green Channel |
| Health screening (GACC) | Fever and other symptoms | Only with symptoms | Health and quarantine inspection, before immigration. |
Chinese customs also asks travellers to complete a health declaration within 24 hours before arrival. Check the current requirement on the China Customs portal before you fly.
If you’re walking the Green Channel, you need no written customs form, but you still file the arrival card.
How to Complete the China Arrival Card
File it online at en.nia.gov.cn before you travel. The card is free to file on the NIA portal, en.nia.gov.cn.
File the card online before you travel if you can. Paper cards and QR codes remain available at entry points. For a comparison, see digital vs paper China Arrival Card.
Foreign citizens are required to fill in an arrival card. Some traveller categories are exempt, so check the current NIA instructions on en.nia.gov.cn. For the full picture, read who is exempt from the China Arrival Card.
You’ll need:
- Passport details and your visa or visa-free entry basis
- Flight, train or ship number
- First night’s accommodation: name, Chinese address, phone
- Departure or onward journey details, and a contact where requested
Singapore passport holders are foreign citizens and file the arrival card, entering their visa-free entry basis. See our guide for Singapore citizens entering China visa-free.
The NIA has announced nationwide online accommodation registration for foreigners, so confirm how your first stay is registered. Check every field before you submit.
Red or Green Channel: Where Customs Steps In
After you collect your bags, take the Red Channel if you’re over any limit below. Otherwise the Green Channel needs no written form.
Declare these on the form:
- Cash over RMB 20,000, or foreign currency worth over USD 5,000
- Items worth RMB 5,000 or more for personal use
- Non-resident items worth over RMB 2,000 left in China
- Over 1,500 ml of alcohol above 12% ABV
- Over 400 cigarettes, 100 cigars or 500 g pipe tobacco
- Commercial goods, samples or separately shipped baggage
- Animals, plants, biological products, organs or blood products
Food, plant and animal products can be controlled differently. Some need a certificate, and some fresh produce is restricted, so check the General Administration of Customs guidance before you fly.
Declare symptoms such as fever or vomiting. Arriving from yellow fever areas, carry a vaccination certificate.
Undeclared goods can be confiscated and may lead to fines. Unsure? Use the Red Channel.
Common Mistakes and Related Entry Rules
- Assuming visa-free entry or a blank customs form replaces the arrival card. They go to different authorities, so file the card anyway.
- Misspelling your name or leaving the Chinese address blank. Enter your name as in your passport and your first night’s Chinese address and phone number before you land. Get the hotel and host address format for the China Arrival Card right.
- Some third-party sites charge a fee for a free form, and some imitate the government page. File on en.nia.gov.cn.
- Packing a power bank for a China domestic flight. Since 28 June 2025 it needs a legible CCC mark, or security may refuse it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do I need to fill out both the China arrival card and the customs declaration?
You file the arrival card unless you’re exempt. The written customs declaration is conditional: you need it only above the thresholds or with restricted items. Otherwise, walk through the Green Channel after collecting your bags, with no written form.
What is the difference between china customs declaration and arrival card in practice?
The NIA’s arrival card records who you are and where you’ll stay, and you hand it in with your passport. The GACC’s baggage form covers goods and cash, and you deal with it after baggage claim. Different authorities, different desks.
Who is exempt from filling out the China arrival card?
Some traveller categories are exempt, so confirm your status in the current NIA instructions on en.nia.gov.cn. Everyone else files.
Is the China health declaration QR code still required for tourists?
Chinese customs asks travellers to complete a health declaration within 24 hours before arrival. Check the current requirement on the China Customs portal before you fly. If you have symptoms such as fever or vomiting, declare them at the health inspection.
What happens if I carry more than 20,000 RMB in cash into China?
You declare it. Take the Red Channel and complete the Baggage Declaration Form. The same applies to foreign currency worth over USD 5,000. Cash within those limits doesn’t send you to the Red Channel if nothing else needs declaring.
Where do I submit the China arrival card, and does it cost anything?
Submit it online at en.nia.gov.cn; the NIA charges nothing. If you haven’t filed before flying, paper cards and QR codes are available at entry points. Keep your confirmation offline, and immigration takes the card at the border control desk.
Does the difference between china customs declaration and arrival card change for visa-free Singapore passport holders?
No. You still file the arrival card, and the same customs thresholds apply. Confirm the current visa-free terms on en.nia.gov.cn before you book.
What happens if I walk through the Green Channel without declaring dutiable goods?
You face the penalties described in the channel section above. If you’re unsure whether an item counts, such as a food or plant product that may need a certificate, use the Red Channel and ask the customs officer.
Sources and Further Reading
- NIA: en.nia.gov.cn, the arrival card service portal (external source).
Rules can change, so check the portal before you travel.
