China digital arrival card vs paper arrival card: you can file online for a QR code or fill in the blue and yellow paper slip. Filling in the card online means you don’t have to write it at the airport, and paper cards are still available at ports as a backup. For the full entry workflow, see our China Arrival Card 2026 guide.
This is an independent guide, not a government site. File at https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/. We don’t charge fees or file for you, so check the rules there before you travel.
China Digital Arrival Card vs Paper Arrival Card
The digital card is an online entry declaration, the Arrival Card for Foreigners, run by the National Immigration Administration (NIA). Online filing opened on 20 November 2025. It isn’t a visa, so visa-free travellers file too — you can read more in our article on the arrival card vs the Chinese visa.
The paper card is a long blue or yellow rectangle. It’s handed out in flight, near immigration counters or at terminal desks, and stays as a backup.
These travellers don’t need to file:
- Permanent residence ID holders
- Direct airside transit within 24 hours
- Non-Chinese Mainland Travel Permit holders from Hong Kong or Macao
- Group visa or visa-free groups
- Cruise passengers returning on the same ship
- Fast-track or e-channel users
- Foreign crew of aircraft, trains and ships
We explain each of these categories in our China Arrival Card exemption list.
Singapore passport holders can enter visa-free under China’s visa-exemption rules, but they still need to file the arrival card. Check the NIA portal before you fly, or read our guide for Singaporeans entering China visa-free.
Digital vs Paper Arrival Card Compared
Your details are submitted before you land, so there’s less to write at the counter.
| Criterion | Digital QR card | Paper blue/yellow slip |
|---|---|---|
| At the border | Data pre-submitted, so there’s less to write at the counter | Handwritten, handed to officers |
| Filling in | Passport page OCR; you verify it | Every field by hand |
| No battery or network | Needs a saved screenshot or printout | Works without either |
| Mistakes | Check every field before you submit | Correction rules aren’t documented |
The online form comes in 13 languages: Chinese, English, Russian, French, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Lao, Mongolian, Burmese, Thai and Vietnamese, per the NIA portal. No source we checked gives official clearance times or a QR validity period.
How to File Online Before You Fly
Filing is free, and you can do it before you travel. Sources disagree on the exact window, so check the current one on the portal — we cover what’s known about how early you can submit the China Arrival Card.
Use the PC portal at https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/, the NIA 12367 app (移民局12367) or the WeChat and Alipay mini-programs. Ignore sites that ask for a fee for this free form.
Prepare your documents
Have your passport data page, flight number, entry port, purpose and entry date ready.
Upload the passport page
Upload the passport page, then check name, number, birth date and expiry.
Enter your visa number
Enter your visa number, or type VISA-FREE if you’re visa-free.
Type the full accommodation address
Hotel name, district, street and building number. “Shanghai” alone isn’t enough. For a private host, include their full address.
Add contacts and sign
Add your phone with international code and email, then sign.
Save the QR code
Save the QR code as a screenshot or print it.
No device? Scan the QR code at the port and fill in on site.
You’ll also need a valid passport and an onward or return ticket. First-time visitors give fingerprints on arrival. Hotels register foreign guests at check-in.
Paper Cards in Flight and Phone Failures
Paper cards are usually handed out during the flight. Treat one as a spare.
Save your QR code
Save it before you board
Take the paper card
Take it if it’s offered
Visit the biometric kiosk
After landing, if it’s your first trip
Show your QR code
Or a smart-kiosk printout, to the officer
Airports differ, so verify the local practice before you travel. If you’re flying into the capital, see our page on Beijing Capital Airport arrival card procedures.
Phone dead or no roaming? Save the QR offline before you leave home. If the code won’t scan, ask staff for a paper card at the port. Our guide on saving and showing your QR code walks through the offline options.
Common Mistakes and Special Cases
- Typo or wrong flight date: file a new card before you travel.
- No saved QR code: take a screenshot before you leave home.
- Choosing Air for a land arrival: at Shenzhen land ports, pick the walking or rail mode. This matters if you cross from Hong Kong.
- Reusing an old card: each entry needs its own card, so file a new one for every trip.
- Mixing up documents: the arrival card, customs declaration and departure slip are different forms.
- False information: providing false information can lead to an entry ban, and hosts who issue false invitations can face fines. Verify current regulations.
- Filing for family: we found no confirmed rules for filing on someone else’s behalf, so check the portal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the difference between a China digital arrival card vs paper arrival card?
The digital card is filed online and gives you a QR code to show at immigration. The paper card is the blue and yellow slip you fill in by hand. Both are accepted, and filing online means you skip the handwriting at the airport.
China digital arrival card vs paper arrival card: which is safer if my phone dies?
Paper doesn’t need a battery or network, so it’s safer on that point. With the digital card, save the QR offline before you travel. If your phone still fails, ask staff for a paper card.
Can I still use the paper arrival card if I already filed online?
Yes, paper is accepted as a backup. The sources we checked don’t say you need both, so treat the paper card as a spare. Your saved QR code is the digital route. Practice can differ by airline and airport.
Where do I file the card, and is it free?
Go to https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/ on a computer, or use the NIA 12367 app or the WeChat and Alipay mini-programs. Filing on these channels costs nothing.
Do Singapore passport holders still need an arrival card if they’re visa-free?
Yes. Visa-free entry doesn’t remove the requirement to file. Check the NIA portal for current visa rules.
Can I edit my digital arrival card after submitting it?
Once submitted, a record may not be changeable, so check every detail before you send it. Do this before you travel. Paper correction rules aren’t documented in the sources we checked, so ask staff for a blank card.
Do I need a new arrival card every time I enter China?
Yes, each entry needs its own card, so file a new one every time you enter China. Check the NIA portal before each trip, because rules can change.
Is the arrival card the same as the China customs declaration?
No. The arrival card is an entry declaration filed through NIA channels, not a visa. The customs declaration and the departure slip are separate forms, so complete them separately.
Sources and Further Reading
- Arrival Card Filling (PC): the online form.
- NIA arrival card service: channels and interface languages.
- NIA English site: general information.
