The hotel address format for China arrival card entries is simple: write the full mainland address of your first night, including province, city, street and hotel name. You’ll enter it on the foreigner arrival card form (外国人入境卡填报) on the NIA portal at https://s.nia.gov.cn/.
This is an independent guide, not a government site. Check the rules on the NIA portal before you fly. You’ll see how hotel and host addresses match 24-hour police registration.
What the Accommodation Field Asks For
The card asks for the address of your first night in mainland China, not your final destination.
You can submit the card up to 3 days before your arrival date, and every traveller, children included, needs one. For the timing details, read when to submit the China arrival card and how long the QR code stays valid, and for family groups see the China arrival card rules for minors and children.
The accommodation field is mandatory. Enter the full address, not just the hotel name. Flying from Singapore? Keep your booking confirmation open, and see the Changi departure guide for Singaporean travellers. The card doesn’t grant entry, so a visa or visa-free eligibility is still needed.
Hotel Address Format for China Arrival Card
Copy the full address from your booking confirmation, including province or municipality, city, street and hotel name.
| Address part | Chinese term | Pinyin pattern |
|---|---|---|
| Province or municipality | 省 / 直辖市 | [Name] Sheng |
| City | 市 | [Name] Shi |
| Street or road | 路 | [Name] Lu |
| Hotel name | 酒店 | [Name] Jiudian |
The patterns above show the order, so copy your real address from the confirmation. The card accepts Pinyin or Chinese characters.
If you stay with friends or family, use their home address.
Filling and Submitting the Card Step by Step
Use only the NIA portal, the NIA’s “移民局” mobile app or the “移民局12367” WeChat and Alipay mini-programs, and check every field before you send. For a full walkthrough, see the step-by-step China immigration arrival card online guide.
Open an official channel
Go to https://s.nia.gov.cn/, open the NIA’s “移民局” mobile app, or use the “移民局12367” WeChat or Alipay mini-program.
Choose the arrival card option
Select 外国人入境卡填报, the arrival card filling option.
Photograph your passport
Photograph your passport data page with the machine-readable zone fully visible.
Enter your travel details
Enter transport mode, flight, train or ship number, port of entry, phone, e-mail and your accommodation address.
Check every field, then send
Check every field before you send – you can’t edit the card afterwards.
Save the QR code
Save the QR code, screenshot it and e-mail yourself a copy. See the China arrival card QR code generation process for what the receipt contains.
Filling in the form is quick, and the NIA service is free. The NIA service is free, and sites that charge for it are intermediaries, not the NIA. Use the .gov.cn portal, the NIA app or the verified WeChat and Alipay mini-programs.
Hotel Address Format and 24-Hour PSB Registration
Hotels handle the 24-hour registration for their guests automatically. Private stays must be registered at the local police station within 24 hours of arrival.
| Question | Hotel | Private host |
|---|---|---|
| Who reports you? | The hotel | You |
| When? | Automatically | Within 24 hours of arrival |
| What do you do? | Present your passport | Present your passport at the police station |
Some cities offer online registration, so confirm locally. Registration is separate from the card, so the address on both should reflect where you sleep.
Multi-City Trips, Late Landings and Changed Hotels
Declare where you sleep first, and if plans change after you submit, file a new card instead of editing the old one.
| Scenario | What you enter | Watch out |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-city route | Your first night’s hotel only | Later hotels don’t go on the card |
| Landing late, checking in next morning | The accommodation booked for that night | Keep your dates consistent with your bookings |
| Sleeper train straight from the airport | Your first night’s accommodation address | Don’t leave the field empty |
| Hotel changed after submitting | File a new card online, or complete a new card on arrival at a kiosk or by scanning the QR code at the checkpoint | A sent card can’t be edited |
| Land entry from Hong Kong or Macao | Your mainland address | Procedures differ at these crossings; see the guide on entering China via the Hong Kong high-speed rail arrival card |
Common Mistakes and Related Requirements
An incomplete address is one of the most common reasons for delays at immigration, and an unreadable passport photo can also cause problems. For fixing other fields after sending, read about China immigration arrival card mistakes and corrections.
- Writing only the hotel name. Give the full address from your booking confirmation.
- Assuming a private stay registers itself. It doesn’t; see the police steps above.
- Cutting off the machine-readable zone in your passport photo. Retake it.
Related requirements:
- A valid passport, plus a visa or visa-free eligibility. Whether you can enter without a visa depends on your nationality, so check the current list on the NIA portal.
- Flight, train or ship number and port of entry.
- Transit: passengers in direct 24-hour transit who stay airside with a confirmed onward ticket are exempt from the card.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the correct hotel address format for China arrival card entries?
Give the full address from your booking confirmation, including province or municipality, city, street and hotel name. You can use Pinyin or Chinese characters, and give your first night’s hotel.
Can I write only the hotel name in the accommodation field?
No. Enter the full address from your booking confirmation, including province or municipality, city and street. If you don’t have one yet, make a cancellable hotel booking to get it.
Do I need a postal code for the accommodation address?
The form asks for the address details from your booking confirmation rather than a postal code. If your voucher lists one, you can include it with the address.
Which script suits the hotel address format for China arrival card: Pinyin, English or Hanzi?
The card accepts Pinyin or Chinese characters, so use the form that matches your booking confirmation.
What if I change hotels after submitting the digital card?
File a new card, because a sent card can’t be edited. File a new card online, or complete a new card on arrival at a kiosk or by scanning the QR code at the checkpoint.
Does hotel check-in complete the 24-hour PSB registration?
Yes. Hotels handle the 24-hour registration for their guests automatically, so you don’t need to visit a police station yourself. Private stays work differently, as explained above.
Which documents do I need to register after staying with a private host?
Private stays must be registered at a local police station within 24 hours of arrival. Bring your passport, and check with the police station or the NIA portal for any documents they ask for.
Where do I submit the China arrival card, and does it cost anything?
Use https://s.nia.gov.cn/, the NIA’s “移民局” mobile app or the “移民局12367” WeChat and Alipay mini-programs. The NIA service is free, and sites that charge a fee for it are intermediaries, not the NIA. Submit only through the .gov.cn portal, the NIA app or the verified mini-programs.
Sources and Further Reading
- National Immigration Administration, Arrival Card Filling: where you file the card and find the accommodation registration menu.
Rules can change, so check the portal before you travel.
