China Digital Arrival Card 2026: NIA 12367, 72-Hour Rule & QR Guide
Border entry · NIA · 2026
China Digital Arrival Card (2026): NIA 12367 & QR Guide
Most foreign air, land, and sea arrivals to mainland China should file a digital arrival card before immigration—usually within 72 hours of landing. The form is free on NIA channels; paid third-party sites are scams.
Bottom line: file the China digital arrival card on an official NIA channel after you know your hotel address and flight details, screenshot the QR code, and show it at border inspection. Visa-free travelers are not automatically exempt.
What the digital arrival card is
China’s Digital Arrival Card (also called the online foreigner arrival card or entry declaration) is an immigration form that collects basic travel data: passport details, flight or vessel information, purpose of visit, and your first address in China (usually your hotel).
The National Immigration Administration (NIA) rolled out online filing to replace much of the old blue paper card process. According to NIA-related reporting cited in industry press, usage passed 15 million submissions within roughly six months of wider rollout—airports report shorter queues when travelers arrive with a QR code ready.
This form is separate from the health declaration QR used at some airports. Our entering China airport guide covers the full sequence: health QR, arrival card, border inspection, baggage, customs.
Who must file (and who is exempt)
Most foreign nationals entering mainland China should complete the digital arrival card—including travelers using:
- 240-hour visa-free transit
- 30-day unilateral visa-free entry
- Tourist (L) visas and other standard entry types
Visa-free status does not remove the arrival-card requirement by itself.
| Typical exemption categories (per NIA guidance summarized by official-adjacent travel sources) |
|---|
| Foreign permanent residents of China holding valid permanent residence ID |
| Certain Hong Kong / Macao travel document holders as specified by NIA |
| Group visa or group visa-free arrangement travelers (as defined by NIA) |
| Direct airside transit under 24 hours without leaving the restricted transit area |
| Crew on international transport vehicles in defined categories |
Evidence note: exemption wording comes from NIA announcements and summaries on nia.gov.cn and partner help pages. If your status is unusual (crew, diplomat, cross-border resident), confirm with your employer or embassy before travel.
When to file: the 72-hour rule
Official guidance states you may submit the form up to 72 hours (3 days) before your scheduled arrival in China—not weeks in advance.
- Confirm your first-night hotel address (or host address) in Chinese or English as the form requests.
- File the evening before departure once flight details are final.
- Screenshot the QR code immediately—immigration halls may have weak Wi-Fi.
- Keep a power bank; officers may ask to scan your phone screen.
Official filing channels (free)
Use only channels operated or published by the NIA. The service has no fee.
- Desktop web:
s.nia.gov.cnarrival-card pages (NIA government services subdomain) - Mobile web: the phone-optimized NIA arrival-card URL on the same domain
- NIA 12367 app: search “NIA 12367” or the Chinese name 移民局12367 in your app store
- WeChat mini program: search for the NIA 12367 arrival-card service inside WeChat
- Alipay mini program: same NIA service inside Alipay if you already use it for China travel prep
- On arrival: paper forms and airport kiosks remain available if you cannot file online
Some airlines embed the NIA link in online check-in flows—if your carrier offers it, that is still routing you to the same government form.
What happens at immigration
- Land and follow Arrival / 入境 signs to the border hall.
- Complete or show your health declaration if the airport still uses that checkpoint.
- Present passport, boarding pass, visa (if required), and your arrival-card QR (or paper form).
- Pass border inspection, collect baggage, and choose the correct customs channel.
First-time visitors may need fingerprint capture. Allow extra time at PEK, PVG, CAN, and SZX during peak hours—including around Golden Week and Spring Festival travel peaks.
Scam websites and paid “filing services”
nia.gov.cn / s.nia.gov.cn, the NIA 12367 app, or QR codes at the port—not through search ads.Red flags: requests for payment by card, claims of mandatory agency filing, or forms that ask for unrelated banking passwords.
FAQ
Do visa-free travelers need the digital arrival card?
Yes, unless you fall into one of the narrow NIA exemption categories. 240-hour transit and 30-day visa-free entrants should still file.
Can I file more than 72 hours before arrival?
Official guidance limits online filing to within 72 hours of scheduled arrival. File closer to departure once hotel and flight details are locked.
Do I need WeChat or Alipay?
No. Browser access via NIA web pages is an official route. WeChat and Alipay are optional convenience paths if you already use them.
What if my phone dies before immigration?
Show a printed QR if possible, charge your phone in the terminal, or complete a paper arrival card on site—paper remains available at ports according to NIA guidance.
What address should I enter?
Use your first overnight stay in China—hotel name, street, and city. If plans change after filing, follow officer instructions at the desk; keep booking confirmation handy.
This page has no commercial booking links. For the next steps after immigration—payments, VPN, and apps—see our first-hour app setup guide.
