China Arrival Card for US Citizens

Since November 20, 2025, foreign nationals entering mainland China have had the option to submit their arrival information online in advance, instead of filling out a paper form on the plane or at a kiosk after landing. This guide walks US Citizens through exactly what the China Arrival Card is, who needs one, and how to fill it out correctly the first time.

Did you know? US Citizens aren't on China's unilateral visa-free list, but they can still enter without a visa in one specific case: continuing on to a third country within 240 hours (10 days) through an eligible port — a round trip that starts and ends in the US doesn't qualify. — Do US Citizens Need a Visa for China? — Hidden China Travel

This is an independent guide, not an official government website. Below, you'll find everything American citizens need to know about the Arrival Card, plus how we can help you get it right.

What Is the China Digital Arrival Card?

The China Arrival Card — officially the "Arrival Card" under NIA's e-filing service — is a digital entry form that collects your personal, travel, and accommodation details before you land in China. You may see it referred to online as the "China Digital Arrival Card" or "CDAC," but these are travel-industry shorthand rather than official government terms.

Launched on November 20, 2025, the online service gives US Citizens a digital alternative to the paper arrival card travelers used to fill out on the plane. You can submit your information in advance through the official NIA website, the "NIA 12367" app, or a WeChat/Alipay mini-program (searchable as "移民局12367") — and receive a QR code to show immigration officers on arrival. If you don't file in advance, the paper card, an on-site QR scan, or a self-service kiosk at the port of entry are all still available, so no one is forced into filing online — but doing it ahead of time is faster and skips the queue for the paper form.

Is the China Arrival Card a Visa?

This is one of the most common points of confusion, so let's clear it up: the China Arrival Card is not a visa, and it doesn't replace one. It's an information-collection step — mandatory for essentially every foreign entrant, as the paper card always was — that sits alongside whatever visa status you already have.

If you're traveling on a Chinese visa, you'll still need that visa — the Arrival Card is simply where you'll enter your visa number. If you're entering under one of China's visa-free arrangements (including many transit policies), you'll still need to complete the Arrival Card too, unless you fall into one of the exemption categories below.

Do US Citizens Need a Visa to Enter China?

This is the one place where US Citizens' experience differs sharply from South Korean, Japanese, and Russian Citizens covered elsewhere in this guide: the United States is not on China's unilateral visa-free list, so a standalone trip to China requires a visa arranged in advance, typically a tourist (L) visa.

There is one notable exception. If you're continuing on to a third country or region — not returning directly to the US — you can use China's 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit policy through an eligible port, provided you hold a confirmed onward ticket and stay within the designated area for that port (the permitted area varies by port — Shanghai Pudong, for instance, allows travel within Shanghai Municipality). A round trip that starts and ends in the US does not qualify for this transit exemption.

Here's the part that catches people off guard regardless of your visa situation: even once your visa or transit question is settled, the Arrival Card is still required. It's a separate, non-negotiable step in your travel prep, on top of — not instead of — whatever visa process applies to you.

Who Must Complete the China Arrival Card

The requirement is broad. If you're an American citizen entering mainland China by air, land, or sea — whether on a visa or visa-free — you'll almost certainly need to provide arrival-card information, and completing it online in advance is the quickest way to do that. This includes travelers using short-term visa-free transit policies (like 24-, 144-, or 240-hour transit windows) if you plan to leave the airport or port and clear immigration.

Entering via Hong Kong, Macao, Myanmar, Vietnam, or Taiwan

Land border crossings have their own wrinkles worth knowing about. US passport holders connecting through Hong Kong or Macao before entering the mainland should pay close attention to which port of entry they list on the form — it should reflect your actual mainland crossing point (for example, a Shenzhen port), not just "Hong Kong." The same care applies to overland crossings from Myanmar or Vietnam, where port names and border checkpoints can be easy to enter incorrectly. If you're transiting through Taiwan on your way to the mainland, make sure your itinerary and entry details are consistent across every form you submit, since discrepancies between documents are exactly the kind of thing immigration officers tend to flag.

Who Is Exempt From the Arrival Card

You won't need to complete an Arrival Card if you fall into one of these categories:

• Holders of a valid Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card of the People's Republic of China
• Holders of a valid Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (non-Chinese citizens)
• Holders of a group visa, or travelers eligible for group visa-free entry
• Passengers in 24-hour direct transit who stay within the restricted port area and don't clear immigration
• Cruise passengers who enter and depart China on the same vessel
• Travelers using an eligible E-channel or fast-track lane
• Foreign crew members of exit-entry transport vehicles (aircraft, ships, trains)

For most US Citizens visiting China as tourists or for business, none of these exemptions will apply — so plan to submit the form.

When and Where to Submit

NIA's own guidance simply advises filing "before coming to China," without stating a strict cutoff. That said, many travel guides recommend submitting your card somewhere in the 24–72 hours before arrival, once your flight, accommodation, and itinerary details are locked in. Filing too far in advance increases the chance that something changes (a flight delay, a hotel swap) before you land — so a day or two out tends to be the practical sweet spot.

Official Channels: Website, App, and WeChat/Alipay Mini-Program

You can complete your Arrival Card through:

• The official NIA website (a `.gov.cn` domain — always double-check this)
• The "NIA 12367" mobile app, available on iOS and Android
• A WeChat or Alipay mini-program, searchable as "移民局12367"
• A QR code posted at your airline's check-in counter or at the port of entry

If you don't manage to file in advance, you can still complete the process on arrival using on-site smart devices, a scannable QR code, or a paper form at the immigration checkpoint.

Information and Documents US Citizens Need

Before you start, gather the following:

• A photo of your passport's identity page
• Full name (exactly as it appears on your passport), date of birth, nationality, and passport number/expiry date
• Your flight, train, or vessel number, and mode of transport
• The specific city and port of entry
• Your visa number, or your applicable visa-free/transit category
• Purpose of visit (tourism, business, family visit, transit, etc.)
• Phone number (with country code) and email address
• A complete, specific accommodation address in China — not just a city name

Note that each traveler, including children, needs to submit their own individual card — there's no group or family filing option outside the group-visa exemption above.

How to Complete the China Arrival Card Step by Step

1. Choose your channel — website, app, or mini-program — and select your preferred language.
2. Upload a photo of your passport's identity page and check any auto-filled details for accuracy.
3. Enter your personal, passport, and travel information, including transport mode and entry port.
4. Add your contact details, purpose of visit, and full accommodation address.
5. Review your declaration carefully before submitting.
6. Save your confirmation QR code as a screenshot or emailed copy — you'll need to show it on arrival.

Accuracy Matters: Why False Information Can Mean an Entry Ban

Double-checking your entries isn't just good practice — it matters. A State Council regulation tightening China's exit-entry rules, which took effect on September 15, 2026, confirms that foreign nationals who submit false materials or make false statements — whether applying for a visa abroad or at the port of entry, which includes the Arrival Card — can face an entry ban of one to five years. Given how straightforward the form is to complete honestly, there's little reason to risk it. Take an extra minute to confirm your accommodation address, port of entry, and passport details before you hit submit — a fresh submission, not an edit, appears to be your only fallback if you spot a mistake afterward.

Avoiding Unofficial and Paid Look-Alike Websites

The China Arrival Card is completely free. NIA has issued its own warning about fraudulent websites that impersonate the official filing platform and charge unsuspecting travelers a fee for a service that costs nothing through official channels. The safest way to protect yourself is simple: only use the official `.gov.cn` domain, the "NIA 12367" app, or an official WeChat/Alipay mini-program. If a site asks you to pay before you can submit your Arrival Card, close the tab.

Common Mistakes US Citizens Make

• Assuming online filing is the only option. It isn't — a paper card, on-site kiosk, and QR scan all remain available at the port of entry, though filing online in advance is faster.
• Entering the wrong port of entry when connecting through Hong Kong or Macao. List your actual mainland crossing point, not just "Hong Kong" or "Macao."
• Filing the form far too early. Submitting before your flight, accommodation, or itinerary details are finalized increases the risk of a mismatch at the border.
• Assuming visa-free entry means no Arrival Card is needed. It doesn't — the Arrival Card applies to every entrant regardless of visa status, with only a handful of narrow exemptions.
• Paying a third-party website to "process" the form. The Arrival Card is free through official channels — any site charging a fee is not official.
• Assuming the 240-hour transit rule covers a round trip home. It doesn't — the visa-free transit policy only applies when you're continuing on to a third country or region, not on a round-trip US–China–US itinerary.

How TravelDeclaration.com Can Help American Citizens

You're always welcome to complete the Arrival Card yourself directly through the official channel. Where we come in is everything around the process: reviewing your entries for the mistakes covered above, coordinating multiple passports and travelers in one household, and making sure nothing gets missed before you're standing at the gate.

We know there are other assisted-filing services out there — what we're focused on is being the most accurate and transparent one, not the only one.

More China Arrival Card Guides by Nationality

• China Arrival Card for Japanese Citizens
• China Arrival Card for Mongolian Citizens
• China Arrival Card for Russian Citizens
• China Arrival Card for South Korean Citizens

FAQ for US Citizens

Sources & Further Reading

• Do US Citizens Need a Visa for China? — Hidden China Travel