Is China digital arrival card free? Yes. The form carries zero government fees. NIA describes online arrival card filling as free of charge. Sites that charge for the form are either commercial intermediaries or counterfeit sites that impersonate NIA’s platform.
This is an independent guide, not a government site. The NIA portal is at https://s.nia.gov.cn/. We don’t charge anything and we don’t file the form for you, so check your details and dates on the portal before you fly. Below, you’ll see how to file free from Singapore and spot copycat sites.
Is China Digital Arrival Card Free of Charge?
The government fee is zero: NIA describes the service as free of charge. The system launched on 20 November 2025. It’s an entry declaration, not a visa.
| Element | NIA channel (free) | Third-party site (may charge) |
|---|---|---|
| Form submission | Free of charge | May add a service fee |
NIA has warned that fake sites charge fees for the free form.
Stuck on a payment page right now? Close it before you type any card number.
Is China Digital Arrival Card Free for Singaporeans?
Yes, it costs you nothing, and visa-free entry doesn’t skip it. Foreign travelers, with or without a visa, file the form unless an exemption applies. If you’re flying from Changi, our guide for Singapore citizens entering China visa-free walks through the whole process.
Seven groups are exempt: holders of a Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card; non-Chinese holders of Mainland Travel Permits for Hong Kong and Macao; group travelers on a collective visa or group visa-free entry; transit passengers who stay in the designated port area; cruise passengers who enter and leave on the same ship; travelers using fast-track entry lanes; and foreign crew of exit-entry transport vehicles. See the full China arrival card exemption list for what to show at the border instead.
| Document | Cost | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival card | Zero government fee | You file it unless an exemption applies |
How to Submit the Card Without Paying
NIA’s channels are free of charge. Use https://s.nia.gov.cn/ on a computer — our desktop walkthrough of the PC filing portal covers every screen. The 移民局 (NIA) mobile app and the 移民局12367 WeChat and Alipay mini-programs work too.
Open an NIA channel
Use the portal, the 移民局 app or the 移民局12367 mini-programs.
Choose the foreign national filing
Select the filing option for foreign nationals.
Enter your passport and trip details
Fill in the required passport and trip information.
Check every character for typos
Compare your entries with your passport.
Submit the form
Finish the free submission on the NIA channel.
You can file before your trip or on arrival at port devices. NIA hasn’t published a filing window, QR validity, edit rules or processing time, so check the portal. For what’s known about how early you can submit the card before your flight, see our separate timing guide.
Smart devices at ports can be used to file online on arrival, and NIA says paper arrival cards remain available at these ports.
Spotting Copycat Sites and Getting Money Back
A site that asks you to pay for the arrival card is not NIA. It may be a commercial intermediary or a counterfeit site. NIA’s notice warns that counterfeit sites charge fees for the free form. Watch for these red flags:
- A payment page for the form
- A web address other than s.nia.gov.cn
- Claims of government affiliation
Paid already? Work through these steps:
- File again free on s.nia.gov.cn if you are unsure.
Common Mistakes When Filing the Arrival Card
Before you tap submit, check your passport number and address once more.
- Paying a copycat site for a free form. File on s.nia.gov.cn instead.
- Typos in the passport number or address. Compare them with your passport.
- Assuming a visa-free stay skips the card. Check who needs to fill the China arrival card.
- Paper arrival cards remain available at ports, and smart devices there support online filling on arrival.
- Trusting QR validity or deadline claims on commercial sites. NIA hasn’t published them.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is China digital arrival card free for first-time visitors?
Yes. NIA charges nothing for the form, and first-time visitors file it the same way as anyone else. Start at https://s.nia.gov.cn/. If a page asks for card details before the form appears, close it.
Is China digital arrival card free to submit through WeChat or Alipay mini-programs?
Yes. NIA lists WeChat and Alipay mini-programs (移民局12367) among its filing channels, and the form carries no government fee. If a mini-program asks you to pay, stop and check that you opened NIA’s own.
Does it cost anything to generate the China arrival card QR code?
No. NIA’s sources describe scanning a designated QR code to access the service on a mobile device, and smart devices at exit-entry ports for filling in online on arrival. NIA has not published how long a code stays valid.
Do Singaporeans need to fill in a China arrival card?
Yes, unless an exemption applies. Foreign travelers, with or without a visa, file the form. Check the exemption list on s.nia.gov.cn before you fly, because lists on other sites may be out of date.
Can I fill in a paper arrival card at the airport for free?
Yes. NIA says the paper arrival card remains available at ports. NIA has not said how long paper cards will remain available. Smart devices at ports are another option for filling in online on arrival.
Which website should I use to fill in the China arrival card?
Use https://s.nia.gov.cn/ to file the form. On a phone, you can also use the 移民局 app or the 移民局12367 WeChat and Alipay mini-programs. Type the address yourself rather than following an advert, because counterfeit sites impersonate NIA’s platform.
What should I do if I already paid a third-party website for the arrival card?
If you already paid a third-party site, file the form free on s.nia.gov.cn and keep your payment receipt.
Who is exempt from the China digital arrival card?
Seven groups are exempt: holders of a Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card; non-Chinese holders of Mainland Travel Permits for Hong Kong and Macao; group travelers on a collective visa or group visa-free entry; transit passengers who stay in the designated port area; cruise passengers who enter and leave on the same ship; travelers using fast-track entry lanes; and foreign crew of exit-entry transport vehicles. Lists on other sites may be out of date, so check s.nia.gov.cn.
Sources and Further Reading
- NIA Arrival Card Filling: the filing portal.
- Beware of Fraudulent Websites for Arrival Card Filling: NIA’s warning about fake sites that charge fees.
Rules can change, so check the portal before you travel.
