China Entry Card Online (Arrival Card): Requirements & How to Fill [2026]

Learn what the China Entry Card Online is, who needs it, China’s entry requirements, and a step-by-step guide to filling it out.

What is the China Entry Card Online Online?

The China Entry Card Online or China Digital Arrival Card (CDAC) is an electronic immigration declaration form that international travelers must submit before passing through Chinese border control.

Implemented to modernize border management and slash waiting times at airport queues, the system takes your personal data, travel itinerary, and basic customs details and turns them into a scannable acknowledgment QR code. When you land, you simply scan this code at the immigration checkpoint.

Do I Need a China Entry Card Online?

Yes. If you are a foreign national traveling to mainland China by air, land, or sea, you are required to submit an arrival card—even if you qualify for China's expanded visa-free policies (such as the 30-day unilateral visa waiver or the 144/240-hour transit visa).

Who is Exempt?

According to the NIA, you do not need to fill out the digital arrival card if you fall into these specific categories:

• Holders of a valid Chinese Permanent Resident ID Card.
• Passengers in direct 24-hour transit who do not leave the restricted airport transit area.
• Cruise passengers entering and departing on the exact same vessel.
• Foreign crew members of operating international transport vehicles or group visa travelers.
• Travelers registered to enter via automated E-channels (Fast Lanes).

China Entry Requirements & Documents Needed

To ensure a smooth arrival, you must have your paperwork fully organized. Border officials check these documents carefully.

Important Note on Health Forms: The old, separate "Customs Health Declaration Form" (introduced during the pandemic) has been abolished. Health and biosecurity screening queries are now seamlessly handled through standard immigration vetting.

How to Fill Out the China Entry Card Online (Website)

When to Apply China Entry Card Online

You can complete the China Digital Arrival Card up to 72 hours (3 days) before your scheduled arrival in China. Do not try to submit it weeks in advance; the system requires timely travel information.

Where to Find the Official Links

Avoid scam sites charging hidden processing fees. Only use the official channels:

• Desktop Portal:Official NIA Arrival Card Desktop Site
• Mobile Web:Official NIA Arrival Card Mobile Site
• Mobile Apps: Search for “NIA 12367” (移民局 12367) on the Apple App Store, Google Play, or via mini-programs inside WeChat or Alipay.

Step-by-Step Submission Guide

1.Upload Passport Data Page:

Take a clear, unglared photo of your passport's identity page and upload it. The system uses optical character recognition (OCR) to automatically fill in your name, date of birth, and passport number. Always double-check the auto-filled text for errors.

2.Enter Your Travel Details:

Input your mode of transportation (e.g., plane, train, ferry), your specific flight or vehicle number, and your exact entry port city (e.g., Shanghai Pudong International Airport).

3.Provide Contact & Stay Information:

Select your purpose of visit (Tourism, Business, or Transit). Input your phone number (including country code) and email. Crucially, write out the complete hotel address or your host's exact physical address—vague responses like "Hilton Beijing" without a street address can trigger manual delays.

4.Review, Sign, and Save QR Code:

Check the legal declaration boxes confirming your information is accurate, electronically sign the digital form, and hit submit. The system will instantaneously generate an acknowledgment QR code. Take a screenshot immediately and save it to your phone's photos so it is accessible completely offline.

How to Fill out China Entry Card via NIA 12367 (App)

Here's how to use the official NIA 12367 App / Mini-Program shown in your screenshots to submit your entry declaration.

Step 1: Access the Foreigner Service Portal

1. On the app home screen (left image), tap Foreigner Service (the blue section with the globe icon).
2. This opens the Foreigner Service Platform dashboard (middle image).

Step 2: Navigate to the Arrival Card Section

1. Under the Business Processing heading (middle image), tap the yellow folder icon labeled Arrival Card.
2. This takes you to the Arrival Card Filling page (right image).

Step 3: Select Your Entry Form Type

1. For standard international tourists, business travelers, or transit passengers, tap Entry Declaration (top banner, right image).
2. (Note: Do not select the bottom "Border Area Residents" option unless you hold a specific border resident certificate from one of the listed neighboring countries).

Step 4: Fill and Generate Your QR Code

1. Follow the on-screen prompts to upload or scan your passport data page.
2. Enter your flight/travel details and your full, exact hotel address in China.
3. Review your data, tap submit, and take a screenshot of the final QR code to show border officials upon arrival.

💡 Tip: If you need to edit or reuse your declaration details later, tap the Register or Login links at the bottom of the final screen before you start filling out the form.

China Entry Card Online vs. Other Travel Documents

It is easy to get confused by the names of various travel forms. Let’s clear up exactly how the Digital Arrival Card differs from Visas and E-Visas.

• China Entry Card Online (China Digital Arrival Card): This is an immigration declaration log detailing where you are staying and when you are leaving. It is NOT a visa. It does not grant legal permission to enter the country; it simply registers your arrival details. It is 100% free of charge.
• Chinese Paper Visa / E-Visa: This is the legal entry clearance granted by an embassy or via an official online E-Visa portal. You must pay a consular fee for a visa, which verifies that you have been vetted to enter the country for work, study, or long-term tourism.
• Visa-Free Waiver: If your country is part of China's unilateral visa exemption list, you skip the visa entirely—but you still must fill out the Digital Arrival Card.

China Entry Customs and Declarations 🔴 Red Channel vs. 🟢 Green Channel

When you exit the baggage claim area at a Chinese airport or port, you must choose between two lanes:

• The Green Channel (Nothing to Declare): Choose this lane if your luggage contains only personal effects that fall within duty-free allowances and you are not carrying any restricted or prohibited goods.
• The Red Channel (Goods to Declare): You must enter this lane if you exceed your personal allowances, are carrying commercial samples, or have items that require a customs declaration.

⚠️ When in Doubt: Always choose the Red Channel. Proactively declaring an item that turns out to be over the limit usually just results in paying a duty or having the item held. Failing to declare an item in the Green Channel can be treated as smuggling, resulting in heavy fines or confiscation.

China Entry Duty-Free Allowances & Cash Limits (Per Person)

Allowances are strictly per individual and cannot be pooled together among family members or travel companions.

China Entry Banned and Prohibited Items (Do Not Bring)

China enforces a zero-tolerance policy on specific categories. Attempting to bring these through customs can lead to immediate seizure and legal consequences.

🚫 The "Big Three" Bans

1. Addictive Drugs & Psychotropic Substances: This includes all narcotics. Note on Cannabis: Even if cannabis or CBD gummies/oils are legal or medicinal in your home country, they are strictly illegal in China.
2. Weapons and Ammunition: Includes firearms, explosives, fireworks, and "controlled knives" (like long hunting blades). Highly realistic toy or replica guns are also prohibited.
3. Political & Contra-Culture Media: Printed material, films, storage drives, or books deemed detrimental to China’s political, economic, cultural, or moral interests are prohibited. (For example, bringing 1-2 religious books like a Bible for personal use is fine, but carrying a suitcase full of them for distribution is illegal).

🌾 Animal, Plant, and Biosecurity Restrictions

To prevent the spread of diseases, you cannot bring the following in your luggage:

• Fresh Fruits and Vegetables: Completely banned.
• Meat and Egg Products: Raw or cooked meats, sausages, bacon, and even items containing egg yolks (like traditional mooncakes).
• Dairy Products: Raw milk, fresh milk, and un-heat-treated yogurts or cheeses.
• Soil and Living Organisms: Unprocessed seeds, plants, and soil are banned.
• Endangered Wildlife Products: Items made from ivory, rhinoceros horn, shark fin, or tiger bones.

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