This arrival card filling pc china guide covers the China Arrival Card on a desktop browser. Go to s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/, switch to English, and complete the Entry Declaration tab in advance of your arrival. Then save the QR code. For the full entry workflow and current digital declaration rules, see our China Arrival Card 2026 overview.
We’re an independent guide, not a government site. The form itself is on the National Immigration Administration (NIA) portal linked above. We don’t charge fees or file anything for you, so check every date and rule on the portal before you fly from Changi.
Who Must File and When to Submit
Most foreign arrivals file the online entry declaration, and you should submit it in advance of your trip, once your flight and first-night address are settled. Online filing opened to foreign travelers on 20 November 2025. The paper Foreigner Arrival Card still exists as a fallback — you can read more in our comparison of the digital and paper arrival card.
Seven groups are exempt from filling in the form:
- Holders of a permanent residence permit in China
- Holders of the PRC travel permit for Hong Kong or Macau residents who aren’t PRC citizens
- People on a group visa, or eligible for group-visa exemption
- 24-hour transit passengers who don’t leave the designated port area
- Cruise passengers returning to the same ship
- Fast-track passengers
- Foreign crew of vehicles and vessels entering and leaving
Holders of border resident certificates from the DPRK, Mongolia, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Laos or Vietnam use a separate form. The full China Arrival Card exemption list explains who skips the form and what to show at the border instead.
The official notice only says to file in advance of your trip. File once your flight number and first-night address are final, and file a new card for every entry, even a return from Hong Kong. Our article on how early you can submit the China Arrival Card breaks down the timing in detail.
Arrival Card Filling PC China Guide: Portal Setup
Open the NIA desktop page at s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/ in your desktop browser.
The language menu offers 13 languages, English among them. Pick it before you type anything. Filing is free, and the NIA 12367 app and the WeChat or Alipay mini-program are alternatives we don’t cover here.
Have these ready before you start:
- Your passport
- Your flight number
- Your first-night address in China
- A phone number with its country code
- An email address that can receive the QR confirmation
Photograph only the passport photo page. Make sure the photo is clear and flat. Our sources don’t document file formats or size limits, so read the upload prompt on the page. If your photo won’t upload cleanly, our passport biodata page upload guide covers scan specifications and OCR troubleshooting.
Landing Page: Choosing the Right Tab
The page opens with two tabs: “Entry Declaration” and “Entry Declaration for Border Area Residents”. Tourists, business travelers, family visitors and transit passengers choose the first one.
Planning a trip from Singapore? Skip the second tab unless you hold a border resident certificate from one of the seven countries named above.
Arrival Card Filling PC China Guide: Each Field
Upload your passport photo page, then fill in the travel, address and contact fields.
Upload the passport photo page
It auto-fills name, passport number, date of birth and expiry date.
Check every auto-filled field
Verify each one against your passport before you continue.
Write your name as in the passport
No abbreviations, and confirm your nationality.
Choose your purpose of visit
Tourism, Business, Family or Transit.
Select your entry policy
Visa, 30-Day Visa-Free or 240-Hour Transit. It should match your real status.
Pick the arrival port and transport mode
Air, train, ferry or land, then enter the flight number.
Enter your accommodation address in order
Province, city, district, then street and number.
Add your phone number and email
Phone with country code; the QR confirmation goes to that email.
Tick the declaration acknowledgment and submit
Keep your booking confirmation open in a second window and copy the address from it. Make sure every detail matches your passport and booking. For hotel, host and multi-city entries, see our China Arrival Card hotel address format guide.
Saving the QR Code and Using It at Border Control
After you submit, the QR confirmation appears on screen and arrives by email. Save it before you close the tab: take a screenshot of the QR code and email a copy to yourself, then keep a copy stored on the phone so you can display it offline. Our guide on the China Arrival Card QR code walks through generating, storing and showing it at the border.
In China, show the saved code at immigration control. We can’t promise how long it takes.
Common Mistakes, Errors and Fallback Options
- Filing too early. Submit once your flight and first-night address are final, rather than months ahead.
- Have your passport, flight and address details ready before you open the form.
- Entering the address out of order. Use the order province, city, district, then street and number.
- Choosing the Border Area Residents tab by accident. Go back to “Entry Declaration”.
- Paying a third-party site. The NIA portal is free.
- Closing the page before saving the QR code. Screenshot it and email it to yourself first.
The sources we checked don’t describe how to correct a submitted declaration, so check the portal before you travel to see how changes are handled. If you spot a typo after filing, our article on correcting details in the China Arrival Card may help.
If online filing fails, fill in the paper card, use an airport self-service device, or complete the form on a smart device at the immigration checkpoint on arrival.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where is the portal address in this arrival card filling PC China guide?
The desktop address is https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/. It’s the NIA’s page, and it’s free to use. Check the address bar before you enter any passport details.
Which browser works best, according to this arrival card filling PC China guide?
Our research found no browser requirements documented for the portal. Use an up-to-date desktop browser, and pick English from the portal’s own language menu rather than relying on automatic translation.
How early can I submit the China arrival card online?
Submit in advance of your trip, once your flight number and first-night address are final. If your trip is further away, check the portal.
Is submitting the China arrival card online free?
Yes. Filing on the NIA portal costs nothing. A site that asks for payment is a third party, not the NIA portal. You enter your own details on the portal, and this guide doesn’t file anything for you.
Can I edit my China arrival card after submitting it?
Our research found no description of editing or cancelling a declaration after submission, so check the portal to see how changes are handled before you travel. Each entry requires a new card, even on a return trip.
Who is exempt from filling out the China arrival card?
Seven groups are exempt, and the full list appears in the section on who must file. If you hold a permanent residence permit for foreigners of the PRC, you don’t file. Check which group applies before skipping the form. Border-area residents holding border resident certificates from seven countries use a separate form instead.
How do I write my hotel address on the China arrival card?
A hotel name alone isn’t enough. Enter the full address, from province down to street and number. Copy the address line from your booking confirmation so the spelling matches.
Do I need a printed copy of the QR code at Chinese immigration?
The sources don’t say a printout is required. Take a screenshot of the QR code and email it to yourself so you can show it offline at immigration control. If you can’t use the QR code, fill in a paper card.
Sources and Further Reading
- NIA Arrival Card Filling (desktop): the portal itself, with the language menu and the two declaration tabs.
- Air China notice (19 Nov 2025): the announcement of nationwide online filing and the exempt groups.
Rules can change, so check the portal before you travel.
