When to fill arrival card China: plan to submit within 24 hours before your scheduled arrival in China, arrival day included. Official notices don’t set a filing window, so confirm the timing on the NIA portal before you fly. Fill in the China Arrival Card (entry declaration) at https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/, then screenshot the QR code. New flight date or number? File again.
This is an independent guide, not a government site.
Who Must Complete the China Arrival Card
Foreign travellers file the card unless an exemption applies. Singapore passport holders file too, even when entering visa-free. You need a new card for every entry, including re-entry from Hong Kong or Macau. For the full breakdown of eligibility rules, see who needs to fill the China Arrival Card.
Online filing has been available at all ports nationwide since 20 November 2025. Seven groups are exempt:
- Holders of a Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card of the PRC
- Non-Chinese holders of a Mainland Travel Permit for HK/Macao residents
- Group visa holders, or those eligible for visa-free group entry
- Direct transit within 24 hours without leaving the port-restricted area
- Cruise passengers entering and exiting on the same vessel
- Travellers using eligible fast-track channels
- Foreign crew members on cross-border transport vehicles
Leaving the terminal on a layover? Then you file.
When to Fill Arrival Card China: 24-Hour Rule
Count the 24 hours back from your scheduled arrival in China. No official Chinese notice sets a filing window, so treat 24 hours as the conservative choice and check the NIA portal before you fly.
| Where you file | What it means | Our advice |
|---|---|---|
| Home or Changi | Submit before you travel and save the QR code offline | Best choice |
| On landing | QR scan or smart service terminals | Possible at the port; a weak connection can slow it |
| Inspection area | Scan the QR code or use a smart terminal, or fill in a paper card | Fallback only |
The QR code appears after you submit the form. Singapore and China both use UTC+8, so direct flights have no clock shift. If your trip routes through Hong Kong, count from your scheduled arrival in mainland China — see our guide to arrival card procedures from Hong Kong and Macau.
How to Submit the Arrival Card Online
Filing is free. Go to https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/, or use the NIA 12367 app or the WeChat or Alipay mini-program. For a screen-by-screen walkthrough, read our guide on how to fill out the China Arrival Card.
Open the portal or app
Upload a clear image of your passport biodata page.
Check the pre-filled fields
Check each field the system pre-fills.
Enter your travel details
Enter arrival date, flight number, port of entry, purpose of travel, contact details and full China accommodation address.
Submit the form
Submit the form to get your QR code.
Save your QR code
Screenshot the code and save it offline.
Copy the address from your booking confirmation, and match the flight number and date to your ticket. Some sites charge for this free form. NIA has warned about fraudulent sites that impersonate the official service, so check the web address before you upload your passport — learn how to avoid paying for the China Arrival Card.
When to Fill Arrival Card China Again
A new arrival date or flight number means a new declaration. Check whether the portal lets you edit first; if not, submit again and keep the latest confirmation. If you’ve already submitted with a mistake, see how to fix an error on a submitted China Arrival Card.
| Situation | What you do |
|---|---|
| Flight number, itinerary or port of entry changes | Submit again |
Arrival Card vs PSB Registration and Visa Rules
| Document | Purpose | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Arrival card | Entry declaration | Within 24 hours before arrival; checked at immigration |
| Visa or visa exemption | Permission to enter; Singapore passport holders may travel visa-free | Doesn’t replace the card |
| PSB accommodation registration | Temporary accommodation registration | Within 24 hours of arrival; your accommodation can usually complete it at check-in |
Filing the card doesn’t complete the PSB registration, so ask your hotel at check-in whether it handles it. For the details, read our guide to 24-hour PSB registration after arrival in China.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When to fill arrival card China if I’m flying from Singapore?
Submit within 24 hours of your scheduled arrival in China, arrival day included, and keep the QR screenshot saved offline so you can show it at immigration. Count the window from your arrival time, not from check-in or departure.
Is the arrival card window 24 or 72 hours?
Plan on 24 hours. Some aggregators cite 72 hours, but no official regulation supports that. Filing within 24 hours of your scheduled arrival, arrival day included, is the conservative rule, so check the NIA portal before you fly and treat anything longer as unconfirmed.
How long is the QR code valid?
The official sources in this guide don’t state how long the QR code stays valid. Keep it until you clear immigration. If your arrival date, flight number or port of entry changes, submit a new declaration and keep the latest confirmation.
What’s the latest time to submit before immigration?
No cut-off time is published in the official notices. You can submit online before travel, or at the port by scanning the QR code on a mobile, using smart service terminals in the inspection area, or filling in a paper card. Don’t leave it that late, because a weak connection can slow the digital options.
Can I fill it out after landing?
Yes, but treat it as a fallback. At the port you can scan the QR code on a mobile, use smart service terminals, or fill the paper Arrival Card for Foreigners. A weak data connection can slow the digital routes.
Do Singaporeans need one for visa-free travel?
Yes. Singapore passport holders can travel visa-free, but the arrival card is separate from the visa exemption. Only the seven exemption categories listed above skip it, so everyone else files one for each entry. Check that list first.
Where can I fill it in online for free?
Go to https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/ or use the NIA 12367 app or the WeChat or Alipay mini-program. Filing costs nothing. Save the QR code to your phone afterwards, and keep it available offline in case your connection is weak.
When to fill arrival card China for a connecting flight via Hong Kong?
Count 24 hours from your scheduled arrival in mainland China, not from leaving Singapore. Re-entering the mainland from Hong Kong or Macau also needs a new card for that entry. File again if your connection changes.
Sources and Further Reading
- NIA Arrival Card Filling: the online form
- NIA service instruction: filing guidance
- Embassy notice, November 2025: online completion guidelines
Rules can change, so check the portal before you travel.
