China arrival card website not working? On the China Arrival Card (Foreigner Arrival Card, 外国人入境卡) portal at s.nia.gov.cn, reload the page and try again later. If nothing works, use a paper card on arrival.
This is an independent guide, not a government site. The NIA website, s.nia.gov.cn, is one of several official channels for filing, along with the NIA 12367 mini-program in WeChat and Alipay and the QR code at ports. Check details there before you fly. Below are fixes for slow pages, gateway errors, missing SMS codes and language resets.
Who Files and Where to Find the Portal
Foreign passport holders entering China file this card. Filing with NIA is free, says the NIA notice of 5 December 2025. Residents of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are excluded from online filing.
Check your address bar first. The portal is s.nia.gov.cn, and the desktop form sits at /ArrivalCardFillingPC/. If you prefer filling in the form on a bigger screen, our Arrival Card Filling PC walkthrough covers the whole process.
A page asking for payment isn’t the government form. Some sites charge a fee for this free form. See our guide on how to avoid paying for the China Arrival Card online and the red flags of unauthorized intermediaries.
Not sure you need to file? The NIA notice does not list exemptions, so check the current rules before you travel. Our article on who needs to fill the China Arrival Card breaks the rules down by passport type.
China Arrival Card Website Not Working or Slow
Blank screens and error pages can appear when the portal is hard to reach. These are common network fixes, not NIA guidance.
Open another website
If it fails too, your connection is the problem.
Switch networks
Switch between airport Wi-Fi and mobile data, then reload.
Clear cache and cookies
Clear them for that domain, then restart the form in a private window.
Wait and retry
After a 502 (broken server link) or 504 (no response in time), wait and try again later.
NIA encourages filing online before you arrive, so submit the card before you travel.
If Verification Fails
Using a Singapore number? Fill in the fields like this.
| Form field | Correct entry | Typical mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Country code | +65 | No prefix at all |
| Number | Your digits, no spaces or hyphens | Typing spaces or extra characters |
| Resend button | Wait before asking again | Clicking repeatedly |
| Phone state | Signal on, roaming and data working | Phone offline or out of coverage |
NIA lists the NIA 12367 mini-program in WeChat and Alipay among its filing channels. If a code does not arrive, it is an alternative worth trying. Our step-by-step WeChat and Alipay mini-program guide shows how to file that way on your phone.
Stopping Language Resets and Form Crashes
The portal has an English option. If the form flips back to Chinese, you can turn off browser translation for the site.
Turn off browser translation
If the form switches back to Chinese, you can turn off browser translation for the site.
Choose English
Choose English with the page’s own Language switch.
Your details should match your passport and travel arrangements.
China Arrival Card Website Not Working Before Flying
NIA says smart devices and paper cards are available at exit-entry ports, and it encourages filing online beforehand. Unsure? Ask your airline.
- Submit the card before you travel.
- At the port of entry, you can use a smart device or ask for a paper card.
Keep your passport, flight number and hotel details at hand. If the portal fails right before departure, our article on what to do if you forget to submit the China Arrival Card lists the contingency steps.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why is the China arrival card website not working on my phone?
If the form will not submit on your phone, try a computer at the desktop address, or use the NIA 12367 mini-program in WeChat or Alipay. Turning off browser translation for the site can also help the page behave normally.
What should I do if I get a 504 gateway timeout?
A 504 means the server did not respond in time. Try again later, and if the form keeps failing, file at a port of entry with a paper card or a smart device.
Why isn’t my SMS verification code arriving with a +65 number?
NIA’s notice does not describe how verification codes are sent. If the form asks for one and nothing arrives, the NIA 12367 mini-program or a port of entry are alternatives listed by NIA.
How do I stop the arrival card form from switching to Chinese?
Choose English from the portal’s language option. If the page switches back to Chinese, you can turn off browser translation for the site and try again.
Will I still be able to enter China if the China arrival card website is not working before my flight?
NIA says paper cards and smart devices are available at ports of entry. Bring your passport, flight number and hotel name and address so you can fill one in quickly. If you’re unsure, ask your airline before departure.
Is the China arrival card free, and what is the correct website address?
Filing with NIA is free. The address is s.nia.gov.cn. Sites that charge a fee are not NIA’s service. Some are intermediaries, and some impersonate the platform, so type s.nia.gov.cn yourself.
Can a VPN stop the arrival card portal from loading?
It can affect how the page loads on some connections. If the portal will not open, turn off your VPN and reload the page, or try the NIA 12367 mini-program in WeChat or Alipay instead.
Can I use WeChat or Alipay instead of the website?
Yes. NIA lists WeChat and Alipay mini-programs (NIA 12367, 移民局12367) among its filing channels, alongside its website and QR codes.
Sources and Further Reading
- NIA notice of 5 December 2025: Beware of Fraudulent Websites for Arrival Card Filling: the free-filing notice, filing channels and port options.
- NIA Arrival Card Filling portal: the form itself, with an English option.
Check the NIA portal before you travel, as rules can change.
