China arrival card website not working? You can complete the card on arrival instead. If the portal still fails, you can fill in a paper card at the port of entry.
This is an independent guide, not a government site. The National Immigration Administration (NIA) runs the filing portal at https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/. We don’t charge fees or file anything for you, so check dates and rules on the portal before you fly.
Who Needs to File, and Where
Most foreign visitors file an entry declaration, and online filing launched on 20 Nov 2025. Exempt? The Longhua district guide names seven exemptions:
- Foreign permanent resident ID card holders
- Non-Chinese holders of a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao residents
- Group visa holders and groups eligible for group visa-free entry. The group must hold a group visa or qualify; traveling in a group alone isn’t enough
- 24-hour direct transit passengers staying within the designated port area
- Cruise passengers arriving and leaving on the same ship
- Travelers entering through the E-channel
- Foreign crew of exit-entry transport vehicles
Filing is free of charge. Use the web portal at s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/, the NIA 12367 app, or the 移民局12367 mini-program on WeChat or Alipay. Fraudsters set up fake sites that charge fees while posing as the official platform, and filing through NIA channels is free. Avoid any site that asks you to pay for the form — see our guide to spotting unauthorized agencies. You can fill in the form online before you arrive in China, and you can also complete the card in WeChat or Alipay if the website keeps failing.
China Arrival Card Website Not Working
If the web portal is hard to reach, you have other ways to file, and the official sources don’t list portal maintenance times. Our general arrival card guide covers all the filing channels in detail.
| Situation | Likely reason | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Portal page won’t load | The web portal may be busy or unreachable | File through the NIA 12367 app or the 移民局12367 mini-program on WeChat or Alipay |
| You can’t finish the form online before landing | The form can’t always be completed online in advance | Foreigners who cannot fill in the information online may complete the process at the immigration inspection site |
| No device or connection at the border | Online filing isn’t always possible | Scan the on-site QR code with a mobile phone or use the smart devices on site |
| Nothing else works at the port | Electronic options may not suit every traveller | Fill in a paper card at the port of entry |
Passport Photo and Auto-Filled Details
If the form asks for a passport photo, upload a clear photo of the photo page. Check every auto-filled name and passport number against your passport. If you spot a mistake after submitting, follow our steps to fix errors on a submitted China arrival card.
Then screenshot the QR code and email it to yourself, so you have a copy. For more ways to keep it accessible, read how to save your China arrival card QR code offline.
China Arrival Card Website Not Working: Fallbacks
Flying from Changi with the portal down? You can still complete the card on arrival.
Try the digital channels
Try the web portal, the NIA 12367 app or the mini-program.
Complete the card at the port
At the port of entry, scan the on-site QR code, use a self-service device or fill in a paper card.
On arrival you can scan the on-site QR code with a mobile phone, use the smart devices on site or fill in a paper card. Paper arrival cards remain available at ports of entry. Our walkthrough of arrival hall steps, kiosks and dead-phone backup explains what happens at the airport when you haven’t filed online.
Common Mistakes and Fake Sites
Most problems come from fake sites and misunderstandings about what the card is.
| Mistake | Result | Better move |
|---|---|---|
| Paying a site for the form | Intermediaries may charge for a form that NIA channels provide free of charge | File through the NIA web portal, the 12367 app or the mini-program |
| Using a counterfeit site | Fraudsters pose as the official platform and take your money and data | Use the NIA address s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/ and check the address before you enter details |
| Treating the card as a visa | The card is an entry declaration, not a visa, so wrong expectations at the border | Check your visa status separately and file the card as an entry declaration |
Does visa-free entry replace the card? No, those rules are separate. The arrival card is an entry declaration, not a visa — see our comparison of the difference between a China visa and the arrival card, and our rules for visa-free travelers and the arrival card.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
China arrival card website not working before my flight?
If the portal won’t load, you can still complete the card on arrival. Foreigners who cannot fill in the information online in advance may complete the process at the immigration inspection site, by scanning the on-site QR code, using a self-service device or filling in a paper card.
China arrival card website not working on my phone?
Use the web portal at s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/ on a computer, or switch to the NIA 12367 app or the 移民局12367 mini-program on WeChat or Alipay. If you still can’t complete the form online, you may finish it at the immigration inspection site.
Why isn’t the form reaching my phone?
Connection problems can interrupt the form, so the portal and the app are the channels to try. If none of them works for you before you land, complete the process at the immigration inspection site with the on-site QR code, a self-service device or a paper card.
Why does the form keep restarting?
If the form keeps restarting, try the NIA 12367 app or the 移民局12367 mini-program on WeChat or Alipay instead of the web portal. You can also complete the process at the immigration inspection site when you arrive.
When can I file at the earliest?
You can fill in the form online before you travel to China, as the NIA portal allows. Check the portal for the current filing window before your trip.
What is the web address of the NIA portal?
It’s https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/. You can also file in the NIA 12367 app, or in the 移民局12367 mini-program on WeChat or Alipay. The form is offered in English and other languages.
What if I land without completing it online?
You can complete it at the port of entry: scan the on-site QR code, use a self-service device or fill in a paper card.
Is filing free, and can I pay a service?
Yes, filing is free of charge. A site that asks you to pay for this form is not one of the NIA channels. Stick to the NIA web portal, the 12367 app or the WeChat or Alipay mini-program.
Sources and Further Reading
- Longhua district guide: filing steps, exemptions, fee
Rules can change, so check the portal before you travel.
