China's Digital Arrival Card for Visa-Free Travelers
Yes. The arrival card is separate from your visa, so visa-free travelers still complete one when entering mainland China. Since 20 November 2025 the National Immigration Administration has run a free digital arrival card, and every foreign traveler fills it out unless they fall into a narrow exempt group, for example people entering under a group visa-free arrangement. Treat it as its own requirement, not something your visa-free status covers.
Fill it in online before you fly. The form opens up to 72 hours before arrival, takes only a few minutes, and lets you skip slow or missing airport Wi-Fi while you are tired in the queue. When you submit, the system generates a QR code, so save a screenshot to your phone; you show it offline at immigration with no internet needed. If you arrive without one, staff direct you to complete a digital or paper version before you reach the booths, which costs you time.
At the checkpoint an officer scans the QR code along with your passport and stamps you in. You complete a fresh card for each entry, and each traveler needs their own, though a group can fill it together so shared flight and hotel details copy across, which helps families and tour groups. Border procedures change, so confirm the official National Immigration Administration arrival card page within a few days of travel, complete it early, and keep the QR code saved on your phone in case you are asked to show it.
- Visa-free travelers still complete the digital arrival card; it is separate from your visa.
- Fill it in online up to 72 hours before arrival to save time and skip airport Wi-Fi.
- Save a screenshot of the QR code; you show it offline at immigration.
- If you arrive without one, staff make you complete it before you reach the booths.
- Do a fresh card for each entry, and confirm the official arrival card page near your travel date.
How this works
Open the official arrival card page
Within 72 hours of arrival, go to the National Immigration Administration's official digital arrival card service, reachable on a phone browser or through its mini program.
Enter your details
Fill in your passport data, flight number, arrival date, and your first hotel address. A group can fill together so shared flight and hotel details copy across travelers.
Submit and save the QR code
Submit the form, then screenshot the generated QR code to your phone so you can show it offline if the airport network is down.
Show it at immigration
At the checkpoint, present your passport and the QR code together. An officer scans the code, checks your details, and stamps you in.
Why this is different for foreign visitors
Since 20 November 2025 China requires a free digital arrival card from incoming foreign travelers, administered through the National Immigration Administration's official system and replacing the old paper card. The form opens up to 72 hours before arrival and generates a QR code that an officer scans at the checkpoint. A few narrow groups are exempt, including travelers entering under group visa-free arrangements. Airport Wi-Fi can be slow or unavailable, so completing the form in advance and saving the QR code offline is the safer approach.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Assuming visa-free entry means the arrival card is not required.
- Waiting until the airport and relying on slow or missing Wi-Fi.
- Not saving a screenshot of the QR code to show offline.
- Forgetting you need a fresh card for each separate entry.
Frequently asked
Yes. The card is separate from your visa status, so visa-free travelers still complete the digital arrival card when entering mainland China.
Up to 72 hours before arrival. Do it online before you fly so you skip the airport Wi-Fi and avoid filling a form in the queue.
Staff route you to fill out a digital or paper version before you reach immigration, which is slower than having the QR code ready in advance.
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