This is an independent guide, not a government site. Check details on the National Immigration Administration (NIA) portal, en.nia.gov.cn, before you fly. For a broader overview of the entry declaration process, see our China Arrival Card requirements and entry workflow guide. The NIA materials we were able to review don’t describe the card’s individual fields, so the formatting notes below are our interpretation of general flight and contact conventions; if the instructions printed on the card or shown on the kiosk differ, they are the ones to follow.
China Arrival Card Flight Number Format
Flight numbers generally consist of a two-letter airline code followed by one to four digits. Your boarding pass, e-ticket and the airline’s app all show the number for your booking, so the card’s field description and the documents you travel with are what to rely on. If you want a walkthrough of every field on the form, our step-by-step guide to filling the China Arrival Card covers each one, from biodata to the border clearance QR code.
| IATA (write this) | ICAO (skip this) |
|---|---|
| Airline code | Two letters at the start of the flight number, as printed on your boarding pass |
| Flight digits | Usually one to four digits after the airline code |
| Spacing | The NIA materials we reviewed don’t state the card’s spacing rules, so follow the instructions on the card or at the kiosk |
| Letter case | Copy the number exactly as your travel documents show it |
If anything about the field is unclear, the NIA portal, en.nia.gov.cn, is the place to confirm what the card expects.
China Arrival Card Flight Number for Connecting Trips
The NIA materials we reviewed don’t specify which leg of a connecting trip to enter, so follow the instructions printed on the card or shown on the kiosk screen. If your journey includes a stopover in China, our article on layover and transit rules for the China Arrival Card explains when transit passengers need to complete the declaration.
| Your trip | What you write |
|---|---|
| A single flight to mainland China | The flight number on your boarding pass |
| A trip with connections | Follow the card’s field description; if it’s unclear, confirm before you fly |
| A codeshare ticket | Your documents may show more than one airline code, so check them against the card’s instructions |
| A change of aircraft at another airport | The NIA portal, an external government source, can confirm what the card expects |
Booked through a partner? A codeshare ticket may show the partner’s code rather than the operating carrier’s, so compare your documents with the instructions on the card before you complete it.
Phone Numbers, Names and Emergency Contacts
Phone. If the card asks for a phone number, the materials we reviewed don’t state a required format. Follow the example or description printed in the field itself, and confirm anything unclear on the NIA portal before you travel.
Names. The materials we reviewed don’t describe how the card handles individual letters, so copy your name exactly as your travel documents show it and follow the instructions on the form.
| You see | Write |
|---|---|
| Accented letters | Follow the card’s printed instructions; the NIA materials we reviewed don’t cover them |
| Umlauts | Check the field description on the card or kiosk before you write |
| Hyphens and apostrophes | Keep the spelling from your travel document as the card instructs |
| Long names | If the field has a limit, confirm what’s accepted before you submit |
| Characters outside the Latin alphabet | The NIA portal is the place to confirm what the card accepts |
Emergency contact: the NIA materials we reviewed don’t describe this field, so follow the instructions printed on the card or shown on the kiosk screen, and confirm anything unclear on the NIA portal before you fly. If you’re completing the form at the airport instead, our guide to the China airport kiosk process, biometrics and smart gates walks you through what to expect.
Arrival Date, Mistakes and Related Rules
- If you spot a mistake on a paper card before inspection, or on a kiosk entry before you submit, you can usually correct it there; otherwise mention it to the border officer. For typos and flight changes after submission, see our guide on how to correct details in your China Arrival Card.
- Visa-free transit rules are on the NIA site, an external government source.
- Sites charging a fee to complete the card may be intermediaries or scammers posing as the authority. Check the address on the NIA portal before you pay, and read our tips on avoiding China Arrival Card fees and scams.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the correct China arrival card flight number format?
For the China arrival card flight number format, the NIA materials we reviewed don’t give field-level rules, so follow the instructions printed on the card or shown at the kiosk. Flight numbers generally pair a two-letter airline code with up to four digits, and the NIA portal, en.nia.gov.cn, is the place to confirm current requirements.
Do I use the IATA or ICAO code?
The materials we reviewed don’t say which code the card expects. Your boarding pass and e-ticket show the code the airline uses for your booking, and the card’s own field description takes precedence over anything else.
What flight number do I write for a connecting flight?
The materials we reviewed don’t specify which leg to enter on a connecting trip. Follow the instructions on the card, and if the field description is unclear, check the NIA portal before you fly.
Should I leave a space, like SQ 830?
We couldn’t confirm spacing rules for the card’s fields in the materials we reviewed. Type the flight number exactly as the field on the card or kiosk describes, and confirm on the NIA portal if you’re unsure.
How do I write a Singapore phone number?
The materials we reviewed don’t state a phone format for the card. Follow the example or description printed in the field, and if the field is unclear, check the NIA portal before you travel.
Can I use accents or umlauts in my name?
The materials we reviewed don’t describe how the card handles accented letters. Follow the instructions printed on the card, and if your name includes diacritics, confirm what’s accepted on the NIA portal.
Who can I list as emergency contact?
The materials we reviewed don’t describe this field. Follow the instructions on the card or ask at the counter before you submit; the NIA portal is the place to confirm what the form accepts.
Where can I check the China arrival card flight number format requirements?
The NIA materials we reviewed don’t describe the card’s fields. Check the instructions on the card or on the NIA portal, en.nia.gov.cn, an external government source; if they differ from this guide, the card’s instructions are the ones that apply.
Sources and Further Reading
- National Immigration Administration portal: en.nia.gov.cn (an external government source).
