Here’s how to retrieve China arrival card details: check your gallery, cloud backup and email for the saved QR code. There is no documented way to reopen a submitted declaration on the National Immigration Administration (NIA) portal, https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/, or in the NIA 12367 app. No passport lookup is documented. Paper is the fallback option at the port of entry. If you haven’t submitted yet, our step-by-step online guide explains how to file and save the code properly.
This independent guide for Singapore travelers isn’t a government site. We don’t charge fees or file anything for you, so check details on the portal before you fly.
Who Must File and What to Prepare
Foreign nationals must complete the arrival card. They may file it online before travel, or on arrival by scanning the QR code, using self-service devices, or filling in a paper card, according to the embassy launch notice. It started on 20 November 2025, and the paper Foreigner Arrival Card is now a fallback at immigration desks. For the full breakdown of who must file, see our guide to China arrival card requirements and exemptions.
These seven groups are exempt, according to the embassy notice:
- Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card holders
- Mainland Travel Permit holders for Hong Kong/Macau residents who are non-Chinese citizens
- Group visa holders, or those eligible for group visa-free entry
- 24-hour direct transit passengers who remain in the designated port area
- Cruise passengers entering and exiting on the same ship
- Travelers entering through e-Channel (fast-track)
- Crew members of transport vehicles entering or exiting China
Flying from Changi? Save the QR code in two places. Have your passport biodata page, flight number and China address ready. If you’re unsure where the code comes from, see our walkthrough of the China arrival card QR code generation process.
How to Retrieve China Arrival Card QR Code
Three steps, in this order:
Search your saved copies
Check your Screenshots album, cloud photos, confirmation email and any printout.
Confirm before you fly
Make sure the QR code is saved – there is no documented method for recovering a lost code.
Use the fallback
Use the paper card or kiosk fallback below.
One caveat: the embassy notices list access channels and fallbacks, not a passport-number lookup. Passport details are what you entered in the form; nothing says they retrieve a record.
Once you submit the card, screenshot the QR code and email it to yourself. Officers scan the QR code at inspection, so keep a copy on your phone.
Phone Dead? How to Retrieve China Arrival Card
Phone dead? Two fallbacks, per the embassy notice:
- Look for a self-service terminal or on-site QR scan device at the port of entry — our guide to the China immigration self-service kiosk procedure explains how these terminals work.
- Ask the immigration desk for a paper card and fill it in by hand; see our tutorial on completing the paper arrival card.
| Option | What you need | Main risk |
|---|---|---|
| Digital QR code | Phone with charge | Battery or connectivity |
| Self-service terminal or on-site QR scan device | Passport details | Not documented |
| Paper card | Pen and passport details | Not documented |
If the QR code doesn’t load on your phone, the paper card and the self-service options at the port are the documented fallbacks.
Common Mistakes and Scams to Avoid
Filing on the official channels carries no fee. A third-party site that charges for the form is not the government service, so file directly. For more on zero-cost filing, see our guide on completing the China arrival card online for free.
- The card itself has no fee. The main risk is fake sites that pose as the immigration authority and ask for payment. Use only the NIA portal, the NIA 12367 app or the hotline number from the embassy notice.
- Expecting an edit: there is no documented way to edit a submitted card.
- Common form errors include a wrong port of entry, a vague address, a missing QR code, an expired passport and undeclared cash. For how typos are handled in practice, see our article on arrival card mistakes and corrections.
Arrival Card vs Other Entry Requirements
The arrival card is a separate declaration for each entry and doesn’t replace visa or transit rules. If you’re unsure how the two differ, read our explainer on whether the China arrival card is the same as a visa.
| Requirement | How it relates to the card |
|---|---|
| Visa-free entry | You still file the card |
| 24-hour direct transit | Exempt only if you stay in the port area |
Check current rules on the NIA portal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How to retrieve China arrival card if I lost my screenshot?
Start by checking your screenshots, cloud backups and confirmation email for the saved QR code. There is no documented way to recover a lost code online, so save a copy as soon as you submit. At the port of entry, officers can scan the QR code, and a paper arrival card is available at the immigration desk.
Can I look up my China arrival card by passport number?
No passport-number lookup is documented. Officers scan the QR code at inspection, so keep the saved code on your phone. If it is missing, you can fill in a paper card at the immigration desk.
How to retrieve China arrival card if my phone dies at the border?
Your saved QR on a charged phone is still the first choice. If the battery stays dead, at the port of entry, two fallbacks are available: a self-service terminal or on-site QR scan device, and a paper card at the immigration desk.
What is the website for submitting the China arrival card?
Use the NIA portal at https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/. The NIA 12367 app and the WeChat or Alipay mini-programs are other filing channels, and scanning a QR code is listed too, according to the embassy notice.
Can I edit or reuse my China arrival card QR code?
There is no documented way to edit a submitted card, so check your details carefully before you submit.
Is the arrival card free, and who can I call?
Filing through the official channels carries no fee. For further information, the embassy notice gives the number +86-10-12367. The sources don’t give its opening hours or languages. It’s the only support number we found, so save it before you fly.
Can I fill out a paper arrival card at Chinese immigration?
Yes, the paper Foreigner Arrival Card is available at immigration desks, according to the embassy notice. Ask the officer for one, then fill it in by hand with your passport details. The sources give no processing times or queue rules.
Who is exempt from filling out the China arrival card?
Seven groups are exempt; the full list is in the first section. Passengers in 24-hour direct transit are exempt only if they remain in the designated port area. Cruise passengers are exempt only when they enter and exit on the same ship.
Sources and Further Reading
Rules can change, so check the NIA portal before you travel.
