Is the China digital arrival card free? Yes. Filing on the NIA portal doesn’t require any payment, and the NIA pages don’t ask for one. A site that asks you to pay is not the NIA portal, whatever its name. File directly at s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC on a computer or s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPhone on a phone.
This is an independent guide, not a government site. We don’t charge fees or file the declaration for you, so check details on the NIA portal before you fly. Below: exemptions, filing steps, scam signs and what to do if you’ve already paid.
Is the China Digital Arrival Card Free?
Yes: filing costs nothing on the NIA portal. The NIA pages don’t ask for payment at any step.
The digital card became operational in November 2025. It replaces the paper form given out on flights or at arrival. The paper form used on flights and at arrival was kept as a backup during a transition period, so read more about the digital vs paper arrival card if you’re unsure which format applies to your flight.
Some private sites offer to fill in the form for a fee. The NIA form itself is free. The NIA form is free to complete yourself, so there is no need to pay someone else to do it. Seen a paid banner? Use the NIA portal instead.
Who Files and Who’s Exempt
Almost all international visitors file, but seven groups are exempt. For the full breakdown, see who needs to fill out the China arrival card, including the rules for children.
| Category | Who qualifies |
|---|---|
| Permanent residents | Holders of the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card for China |
| Hong Kong or Macao permit | Non-Chinese citizens with a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong or Macao |
| Groups | Travelers in groups on collective visas or group visa-free entry |
| Airport transit | Transit passengers staying in the designated port area |
| Cruise passengers | Passengers entering and departing on the same vessel |
| Fast-track users | Travelers using fast-track entry lanes |
| Crew | Foreign crew of international transport vehicles |
Citizens of seven countries (DPRK, Mongolia, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam) who hold a border-resident certificate use a separate entry declaration, per the NIA service instructions.
The card doesn’t replace a visa or visa waiver. Visa-free transit travelers who leave the port area are not covered by the exemption, so check the NIA portal for your route or read the airside vs landside transit rules. Think you’re exempt? Check the list before paying anyone.
How to File the Arrival Card for Free
Fill in the form yourself on the NIA portal. The portal runs in 13 languages, including English, Chinese, French, Spanish and Arabic. For a detailed walkthrough covering the web portal, the 12367 app, and the Alipay and WeChat mini-programs, see our step-by-step guide to filling out the China arrival card online.
Open the NIA portal
Go to s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC on a computer or s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPhone on a phone.
Upload your passport
Upload your passport identity page and check the data pulled from it.
Enter travel details
Enter your travel details and lodging address.
Add contact details
Add your contact details and visa status.
Sign and submit
Sign digitally and submit.
Save your QR code
Save the QR code, keep an offline copy, and show it at immigration.
The 12367 app, WeChat and Alipay mini-programs, and port-of-entry kiosks are also available. Haven’t filed yet? You can complete it after you arrive — check the submission window and QR code validity so your declaration is still active when you land. Check every field before you submit.
What to Have Ready Before You Start
| Field group | What to enter | Common pitfall |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Name, gender, birth date, citizenship, passport number | Typos, or a name that differs from your passport |
| Travel | Transport mode, flight number, city and port of entry | A flight or date that doesn’t match your booking |
| Stay | Purpose, arrival date, destination city, lodging address | A missing exact lodging address |
| Other | Birth place, phone, email, visa status and number | The visa number applies only if you hold a visa |
Keep a passport page photo, flight confirmations and offline copies of hotel vouchers handy. Copy your address exactly from the booking. Review the data pulled from your passport, then complete or confirm each field. For the complete checklist, see what information you need for the China arrival card.
How Broker Scams Work
Some sites charge for a form that the NIA portal provides without payment.
- Check that the address is s.nia.gov.cn before you enter any details.
- A credit card prompt or a “service fee” note, with no free option.
- The NIA filing address sits on s.nia.gov.cn.
Does a page ask for your card before the form starts? Close it and type the NIA address yourself.
A broker may not submit your form to the NIA system, so check for a QR code after paying. Your passport photo and travel details go to a third party you cannot verify, so you cannot tell how they will be stored or used.
If You Already Paid a Broker
Call your bank first, then check whether you hold a QR code. If it’s missing or your details were mistyped, our guide on retrieving your China arrival card QR code explains how to fix passport typos and upload errors.
Gather evidence
Gather screenshots, the payment confirmation, emails and the broker’s page.
Contact your bank
Ask your bank about disputing the charge, and contact it as soon as you can.
Freeze the card
Freeze the card and watch for unauthorized charges.
Watch for phishing
Watch for phishing messages quoting your flight or hotel, since your passport data may be exposed.
File on the NIA portal
No QR code? File on the NIA portal at s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC, or use a digital kiosk at the port of entry, or the paper form if it is still offered.
Start with your bank, then contact the broker.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Is the China digital arrival card free to submit online?
Yes. Filing on the NIA portal doesn’t require payment, on a computer or a phone. Use s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC on a computer or s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPhone on a phone, and skip any page asking for payment.
Is China digital arrival card free if I fill it out after landing?
Yes. You can still file after you arrive, and the NIA portal doesn’t ask for payment. Digital kiosks at ports of entry are another option; check the NIA portal for current arrival options.
What is the direct link to the free government filing portal?
Use s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC on a computer or s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPhone on a phone. Both are on the government’s .gov.cn domain. The NIA service-instruction page lists 13 portal languages, including English and Chinese. Bookmark the address once you’ve checked the spelling letter by letter.
Why am I being charged for the China digital arrival card?
You’re probably on a private broker site, which sells processing or service fees for a form you can complete without payment. Close the page and go to the NIA portal at s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC instead. The NIA portal pages we checked don’t ask for payment.
Who is exempt from filing the China arrival card?
Seven groups are exempt: holders of the Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card for China, Mainland Travel Permit holders for Hong Kong or Macao, group travelers, airport transit passengers, same-vessel cruise passengers, fast-track lane users and foreign crew. Citizens of seven countries who hold a border-resident certificate use a separate declaration.
What should I do if I already paid a website for the arrival card?
Dispute the charge with your bank, freeze the card and check whether you received a QR code. If you didn’t, file on the NIA portal, before departure or after arrival, at no cost. No refund is guaranteed, so don’t wait.
Do transit passengers need to file the digital arrival card?
Transit passengers who stay in the designated port area are exempt. Other transit travelers should check the NIA portal before they travel.
Does paying a broker get me through border control faster?
No. The NIA form is free to complete yourself, so a paid broker adds cost without a documented benefit. If the broker never files your form, you could reach immigration without a valid QR code, so the free route is also the safer one.
Sources and Further Reading
- China consulate in New York: general consular notices, including a fraud warning.
- NIA arrival card service instructions: portal, languages, border-area residents.
Rules can change, so check the portal before you travel.
