Go digital. The China Digital Arrival Card (CDAC), live since 20 Nov 2025, is free and gives you a QR code for immigration. Submit it within three days (72 hours) before you arrive. On the China digital arrival card vs paper question, paper is only a backup.
This is an independent guide, not a government site. The National Immigration Administration (NIA) runs the service at s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPhone/service-instruction. We don’t charge fees or file for you, so check rules and dates there before you fly. Below: what to fill in, what to save on your phone and what happens at the desk.
China Digital Arrival Card vs Paper Compared
Every foreign national entering by air, land or sea files their own declaration, children included, with a visa or visa-free. The NIA issues it, as its service page shows. It doesn’t replace a visa or visa-free status. For a full breakdown of who must file and who is exempt, see our guide to China Arrival Card eligibility and exemptions.
Until recently, the paper card was filled in on the plane. Paper forms remain available at selected entry terminals as a backup during a transitional period, as reported in November 2025.
| Format | Where to fill in | Proof at border | Offline handling |
|---|---|---|---|
| Digital declaration | NIA website, 12367 app, WeChat or Alipay | QR code the officer scans | Save QR, download it or email a copy |
| Paper slip | Selected entry terminals | Paper form presented at the entry point | No digital copy |
Flying from Singapore? Treat paper as insurance, not your main plan. Our entry guide for Singapore passport holders flying from Changi covers the specifics.
What to Fill In, When and Where
Submit online inside the 72-hour window, or complete the paper form at a selected entry terminal. If you’re unsure about deadlines, read our article on submission windows, cut-off deadlines and validity.
The system reads passport data by OCR, so double-check every auto-filled field.
| Field | Digital form |
|---|---|
| Passport bio-data page | Photo upload, OCR fills it in |
| Flight, train or ferry number | Typed in |
| Accommodation address in China | Typed in |
| Purpose of entry | Typed in |
| Visa status and visa number | Typed in |
Enter your accommodation address in China. The destination-city field asks for the city where you’ll stay longest. For formatting tips, see our guide to writing the hotel address correctly.
Start on the NIA service page, the NIA 12367 app, or the WeChat or Alipay mini-program. The form comes in 13 languages: Chinese, English, Russian, French, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Lao, Mongolian, Burmese, Thai and Vietnamese. Digital completion takes 5 – 10 minutes.
Photograph your passport
Photograph your passport’s bio-data page and check what OCR fills in.
Add your itinerary
Add your itinerary and full accommodation address in China.
Submit the form
Submit the declaration online.
Save your QR code
Save the QR to your gallery, download it and email yourself a copy.
If you haven’t filed before arrival, complete the declaration at a self-service terminal.
China Digital Arrival Card vs Paper at Immigration
You show your QR code at the desk, after any biometric capture at the kiosk. For more on saving it offline, see our article on the China Arrival Card QR code.
Give fingerprints and a photo
At the biometric kiosk, only on your first visit or with a new passport.
Use a self-service terminal
If you haven’t completed the declaration.
Go to the matching lane
Choose the lane that matches your entry type.
Show your documents
Show your passport, return or onward ticket and QR code.
Get your passport stamped
The officer scans the QR, verifies your identity and stamps your passport.
Ask your airline whether it still provides paper forms.
Exemptions and Related Entry Requirements
Several categories of travelers are exempt, including:
- Foreign Permanent Resident ID card holders
- Non-Chinese citizens holding a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao
- Group travelers with a collective visa or visa-free group entry
- Direct transit under 24 hours inside the port’s restricted zone, without clearing immigration
- Cruise passengers who arrive and depart on the same ship
- Travelers eligible to use the e-channel
- Transport vehicle crews, drivers and employees
- Individuals eligible for centralized submission of entry and exit documents
Transit passengers who plan to leave the airport must file. Border-area residents of 7 countries use a separate form on the NIA service page. Filing is separate from visa rules: you still need a visa or visa-free eligibility. For airside rules, see our article on transit passengers and the 24-hour TWOV rules.
Common Mistakes, Corrections and Scam Warnings
You can’t edit a submitted declaration, so any change means filing a new one.
- Passport details that don’t match your document: use the photo upload and compare every field.
- False data: it risks refusal of entry or transit, so check every answer.
If your flight or hotel changes, submit a new declaration, because a submitted one can’t be edited. For help with typos and reversed names, read our guide on fixing errors on a submitted China Arrival Card.
The declaration is free on the NIA portal. Paid intermediaries that charge a fee for submitting it are not the NIA, and the NIA has publicly warned about scam websites that charge a fee; see the NIA portal at en.nia.gov.cn.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
China digital arrival card vs paper: can I still use the paper slip on arrival?
Yes, as a backup. Selected entry terminals still keep paper forms. If you’ve already filed online, your saved QR code is what you show. Rules can change, so check the NIA portal before you fly.
Which is better from Singapore: China digital arrival card vs paper?
Digital is the better main plan, because you can file before the flight and keep the QR code on your phone. Keep the paper form only as a backup.
Where do I fill in the arrival card on the NIA website?
Go to s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPhone/service-instruction. The NIA 12367 app and the WeChat and Alipay mini-programs are the other ways in. Choose your language first, then photograph your passport’s bio-data page when the form asks. Have your itinerary and lodging address ready before you start.
Sources and Further Reading
- NIA Arrival Card Filling: instructions, languages and the border-area form.
- NIA: Beware of Fraudulent Websites for Arrival Card Filling: the warning about paid copycat sites.
