China Online Arrival Card 2026: Visa-Free Entry Guide
Traveling to China? Ditch the paper forms! Learn how to fill out the mandatory online arrival card for a seamless, visa-free entry at immigration.
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Traveling to China? Ditch the paper forms! Learn how to fill out the mandatory online arrival card for a seamless, visa-free entry at immigration.
Traveling to China just got a bit more digital! Since November 20, 2025, filling out an online arrival card is mandatory before you land. No more scribbling on paper forms mid-flight—you now complete it digitally before you even take off.
I recently flew into Qingdao visa-free and went through the process myself. It might seem daunting at first, but it's actually super straightforward once you know the steps. Today, I'll walk you through exactly how to fill out the China online arrival card and share my personal experience breezing through Qingdao immigration! 🙌🏻
This is the official site for the China National Immigration Administration. You can complete the form on a desktop or mobile device. I personally used my phone, and it worked seamlessly.
*Note: The platform is available in English, which makes navigation a breeze.
Before you click that link and start your China online arrival card, make sure you have these three things handy:
Requirement | Necessary Info | Pro Tip |
Passport | Passport photo upload | Take a fresh pic or use your camera roll |
Flights | Round-trip itinerary | Must include onward/return flight |
Lodging | Confirmed hotel address | Must be entered in English |
The system is actually pretty smart! Once you upload a photo of your passport, it automatically extracts your name, passport number, and nationality. I just uploaded a clear photo I had saved in my gallery, and it auto-filled the most tedious parts for me.
Next, you'll enter your remaining personal details, purpose of visit, flight numbers, and your hotel address.
If you are entering China under the visa-free policy, make sure to select these exact options in the dropdowns:
Visa (VISA): NO
Entry Policy Selection: Visa-free Entry
This is all you need if you're visiting for standard tourism or a short-term stay.
Traveling with family or friends? You can register your companions all at once. By clicking to add a companion, you can input multiple people's information in a single session. I added my spouse and child's details right alongside mine.
Once every field is filled and you've provided your digital signature, the site will generate a QR code for you.
Crucial Step: Take a screenshot or save this QR code to your phone immediately! You will need to present it at the immigration checkpoint.
So, how does the actual arrival play out? Right after stepping off the plane in Qingdao, before you even reach the main immigration counters, you'll spot automated fingerprint kiosks. I scanned my passport and fingerprints, and the machine instantly printed out a small receipt with an "OK" status.
I took that receipt straight to the immigration officer. They checked my passport, verified my face and fingerprints, and let me through without asking a single question.
I had my online arrival card QR code ready and showed it to them. Interestingly, they didn't even ask to see my husband's or child's QR codes—they just stamped our passports and waved us through.
The whole process was incredibly fast, and we were done in no time.
Once we were stamped in, I immediately connected to the internet. I had already installed a China eSIM back home, so I could bypass the Great Firewall (no VPN needed!) right away.
While waiting at baggage claim, I was able to message our airport pickup driver to let him know we were heading out.
Pro tip: Having an eSIM ready for China is an absolute lifesaver. Even if your hotel or a restaurant has Wi-Fi, apps like Instagram, Google, and WhatsApp are typically blocked. An unlimited data eSIM keeps you connected stress-free.
After grabbing our bags, we walked out into the arrivals hall, and our driver was already there waiting for us.
We showed him our booking, and he helped us wheel all our luggage to the parking lot and loaded up the trunk. It was the perfect, relaxing start to our trip.
After a tiring flight, sinking into a comfortable car while someone else navigated the roads was exactly what we needed.
Honestly, the phrase "online arrival card" sounded intimidating at first, but it literally just takes a few minutes of tapping on your phone. Even if you're traveling visa-free, this form is a strict requirement. You can fill it out up to two days before your arrival in China, so definitely get it done early!
Thanks to this new digital system, the actual entry process is faster than ever. No more stressing over making mistakes on a tiny paper form. Follow these steps, save that QR code, and you'll be ready for an amazing trip to China!
The online China Arrival Card became mandatory from November 20, 2025. It replaces the traditional paper arrival card and must be completed online before entry.
Before completing the online arrival card, you should prepare three items: a passport photo, round-trip flight information, and the English address of your reserved hotel. The passport photo can be taken instantly or uploaded from your gallery, and all flight details, including your return flight, must be entered.
If you are entering China visa-free, you should select 'NO' for the VISA item and 'Visa-free Entry' for the Entry Policy Selection item. These options are for simple tourism or short-term stay purposes.
It is advisable to capture or save the QR code generated after completing the online arrival card. In my case, I showed the QR code to the immigration officer, but accompanying family members sometimes passed through without presenting it.
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