Official System: China Online Foreigner Arrival Card (Entry Declaration / 外国人入境卡网上填报)
2026 Quick Answer
All foreign nationals entering Mainland China by air, land, or sea under regular visas, unilateral/mutual visa-free entry, Hainan 30-day visa-free entry, ASEAN tour groups, emergency/port visa entry, or 24-hour / 72-hour / 144-hour / 240-hour Visa-Free Transit (TWOV) when leaving the port restricted area. Travelers must submit the China Online Foreigner Arrival Card (Entry Declaration / 外国人入境卡网上填报) (Up to 3 calendar months (90 days) before arrival). This digital declaration replaces: Paper Foreigner Arrival Card (外国人入境卡) and Temporary Entry Foreigner Arrival Card (临时入境外国人入境卡).
Follow this exact countdown schedule before arriving in China so your QR code is ready prior to airline check-in.
| Timing Before Arrival | Window Status | Required Traveler Action |
|---|---|---|
| Before 90-day official window | Too Early | Prepare your passport and itinerary, or pre-submit early with NomadicMart (from $29) so our queue files automatically as soon as the window opens. |
| Up to 3 calendar months (90 days) before arrival | Window Open | Ideal submission window. Complete your China Online Foreigner Arrival Card (Entry Declaration / 外国人入境卡网上填报) with passport, transport, and accommodation details to receive your digital confirmation. |
| 24 hours to 3 hours before departure | Priority Window | Submit immediately before airline check-in closes and save a screenshot or PDF of your NIA Entry Card confirmation offline. |
| At departure gate / China arrival | Final Cutoff | Airlines and border control officers verify NIA Entry Card completion prior to boarding or at the port of entry. |
Compliance tip: Launched nationwide on November 20, 2025 by the National Immigration Administration (NIA / 国家移民管理局) across all air, land, and sea ports in Mainland China.
Compliance tip: Unifies the standard Foreigner Arrival Card and the Temporary Entry Foreigner Arrival Card across 9 declaration types (`sblxdm`: `01` Ordinary Visa, `02` Border Resident, `03` 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit, `04` 72-Hour Visa-Free Transit, `05` 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit, `06` Emergency Entry, `07` 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit, `11` Visa-Free Entry, `12` Hainan 30-Day Visa-Free).
Compliance tip: The portal date picker allows entry dates (`rjrq`) from the current date up to 3 calendar months (approx. 90 days) in advance.
Compliance tip: Requires uploading an ID/Passport bio-data page photo (`zjzppic`, auto-compressed to <= 100 KB) which triggers OCR extraction, and an electronic handwritten signature (`qmzp`) at submission.
Eligible Passports: Foreign nationals pre-enrolled for China's biometric Fast Track E-Channels (such as holders of Chinese residence permits valid >= 6 months who registered fingerprints/facial biometrics with the NIA) are completely exempt from submitting the Foreigner Arrival Card.
How Airport Clearance Works: Foreign nationals pre-enrolled for China's biometric Fast Track E-Channels (such as holders of Chinese residence permits valid >= 6 months who registered fingerprints/facial biometrics with the NIA) are completely exempt from submitting the Foreigner Arrival Card.
| Code | Port of Entry | Mode | 2026 Operational Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| PEK | Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK) & Beijing Daxing International Airport (PKX) | Air | Full NIA online Arrival Card QR integration & 240-hour Visa-Free Transit hub |
| PVG | Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) & Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport (SHA) | Air | Full NIA online Arrival Card QR integration, self-service declaration kiosks, and 240-hour TWOV hub |
| CAN | Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) | Air | Full NIA online Arrival Card QR integration & 240-hour TWOV hub |
| SZX | Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport (SZX) | Air | Full NIA online Arrival Card QR integration & 240-hour TWOV hub |
| TFU | Chengdu Tianfu (TFU) & Shuangliu (CTU) International Airports | Air | Full NIA online Arrival Card QR integration & 240-hour TWOV hub |
| HGH | Hangzhou Xiaoshan (HGH), ChongQing Jiangbei (CKG), Xi'an咸阳 (XIY), Kunming Changshui (KMG), Wuhan Tianhe (WUH), Xiamen Gaoqi (XMN), Nanjing Lukou (NKG), Qingdao Jiaodong (TAO) & Tianjin Binhai (TSN) Airports | Air | All Mainland China international airports support the NIA online Arrival Card and 240-hour TWOV |
| HAK | Haikou Meilan (HAK) & Sanya Phoenix (SYX) International Airports, Hainan | Air | Supports both standard entry and Hainan 30-Day Visa-Free (`sblxdm = 12`) digital declarations |
| CN-8 | West Kowloon Station (Hong Kong Express Rail Link), Lo Wu (Luohu), Lok Ma Chau (Futian/Huanggang), Shenzhen Bay, Gongbei (Zhuhai) & Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Land Ports | Land | All Mainland China land & rail boundary control points (`rjjtfsdm`: Train `3`, Auto `4`, Foot `5`, Auto+Foot `9`) support the NIA online Arrival Card |
| CN-9 | Shanghai International Cruise Terminal, Wusongkou, Tianjin Cruise Home Port, Shekou (Shenzhen), Nansha (Guangzhou), Xiamen & Qingdao Seaports | Sea | All Mainland China passenger ferry and cruise terminals (`rjjtfsdm = 1`) support the NIA online Arrival Card |
Up to 3 months before arriving in Mainland China, upload your passport bio-page for OCR pre-fill and indicate whether you hold a Chinese visa or are entering under Visa-Free, Hainan 30-Day, or 24h/72h/144h/240h Visa-Free Transit (TWOV).
Provide your arrival flight/train/vessel details, port of entry, hotel or residential address in China, inviting contact (if any), and departure itinerary (mandatory for TWOV), then sign on screen.
Receive your official NIA Arrival Card QR Code (`ewm`) and confirmation PDF by email. Present the QR code and your passport at the China Immigration Inspection (边检) counter upon arrival.
Regional & Border Corridor Advisory (Asia-Pacific):
Launched nationwide on November 20, 2025 by the National Immigration Administration (NIA / 国家移民管理局) across all air, land, and sea ports in Mainland China. Unifies the standard Foreigner Arrival Card and the Temporary Entry Foreigner Arrival Card across 9 declaration types (`sblxdm`: `01` Ordinary Visa, `02` Border Resident, `03` 24-Hour Visa-Free Transit, `04` 72-Hour Visa-Free Transit, `05` 144-Hour Visa-Free Transit, `06` Emergency Entry, `07` 240-Hour Visa-Free Transit, `11` Visa-Free Entry, `12` Hainan 30-Day Visa-Free). The portal date picker allows entry dates (`rjrq`) from the current date up to 3 calendar months (approx. 90 days) in advance. Requires uploading an ID/Passport bio-data page photo (`zjzppic`, auto-compressed to <= 100 KB) which triggers OCR extraction, and an electronic handwritten signature (`qmzp`) at submission. Under Entry Information, 'Do you hold a valid visa or other entry permit?' (`sfmq`) uses inverted codes in the NIA backend (`'0'` = Yes holds visa, `'1'` = No visa / entering under visa-free or TWOV). For 24-hour (`03`), 72-hour (`04`), 144-hour (`05`), and 240-hour (`07`) Visa-Free Transit (TWOV) travelers, Departure Information (`isChuJingInfo = '1'`: departure date, transport mode, flight/vessel/train number, departure city, and departure port) is strictly locked to 'Yes' and mandatory, along with the passport loss/theft declaration (`zjsfcysbd`). Up to 3 intermediate transit cities inside China (`jtcs`) and up to 5 destination accommodations (`mddxx`) can be declared; Permanent Residence travelers (`rjsydm = '01'`) are exempt from departure details and only enter a single residential address. Upon submission, the system generates a QR Code (`ewm`) and Receipt Image (`hdtp`) and sends a confirmation PDF to the traveler's email (`sendReceiptMail`).
The National Immigration Administration (NIA) online system allows you to select an entry date up to 3 calendar months (approximately 90 days) in advance, or right up until you reach the border inspection hall.
The NIA exempts 8 groups: (1) PRC Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card ('Five-Star Card') holders, (2) Non-Chinese Mainland Travel Permit for HK/Macao Residents holders, (3) Group Visa or Group Visa-Free tour members, (4) 24-hour direct airside transit passengers who do not leave the restricted port area, (5) cruise passengers staying on and departing with their original cruise ship, (6) Fast Track / E-Channel users, (7) international transport crew, and (8) courtesy delegations.
Yes! If you are applying for a temporary entry permit to leave the port restricted area under China's 24-hour, 72-hour, 144-hour, or 240-hour Visa-Free Transit policy, you MUST complete the online declaration (which replaces the paper Temporary Entry Foreigner Arrival Card) and provide your confirmed onward departure ticket details.
Yes. The NIA system covers all air, land, rail, and sea ports across Mainland China, including West Kowloon High-Speed Rail Station, Lo Wu/Luohu, Lok Ma Chau/Futian, Shenzhen Bay, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, and all international seaports.
Yes. Visa-free travelers must still complete the Foreigner Arrival Card. On the form, select 'No' to holding a visa, then select 'Visa-Free Entry' (or 'Hainan 30-Day Visa-Free' if applicable) under the entry policy prompt.