Landing at Chengdu Tianfu, Hangzhou Xiaoshan or another secondary hub? Under regional airports china arrival card procedures, you file the China Digital Arrival Card (CDAC) free at https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/, clear immigration, then pass customs.
This is an independent guide, not a government site. We don’t charge fees or file the card for you. Check dates and rules on the National Immigration Administration (NIA) portal before you fly. For a full walkthrough of the digital form, see our step-by-step online guide to the China Immigration Arrival Card.
Who Needs the Arrival Card?
Most foreign travelers file the digital arrival card, visa-free visitors included. It’s an entry declaration, not a visa or eTA, and it replaces the paper Foreigner Arrival Card. If you’re unsure whether it applies to you, read our overview of who must file the arrival card and who is exempt.
Foreign travelers who intend to enter China, including foreign border residents, file the card.
These groups don’t need the card:
- Foreign Permanent Resident ID holders
- Mainland Travel Permit holders (Hong Kong, Macau)
- Tour group members on group visas or visa-free entry
- Airside transit passengers who stay in the restricted area
- Same-ship cruise passengers
- Fast-track (pre-approved) passengers
- Aircraft, ship and train crews
Flying from Singapore? Visa-free entry doesn’t waive the card. Singapore passport holders appear on China’s 240-hour visa-free transit list, not the 30-day list, so check the NIA portal before you fly. Our Changi departure guide for Singaporean travellers covers the details.
Regional Airports China Arrival Card Procedures Before Landing
File through the free NIA channels before you arrive: desktop at https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/ or mobile at https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPhone. Filing is recommended within 72 hours before arrival. Some guides cite a 24-hour window, so check the NIA portal. For more on timing and QR code validity, see when to submit the China arrival card.
You’ll get a QR code and an e-mail, so screenshot both. Each entry needs a new card, even from Hong Kong.
Have these ready:
- Ordinary passport (not temporary or emergency) and a clear photo of its data page
- Onward or return ticket and hotel booking
- Purpose (Tourism, Business, Family, Transit) and entry category (Visa, Visa-Free, 240-Hour Transit)
- Hotel address: Province, City, District, then Street and number
One caveat: paid lookalike sites may charge for the same filing, but NIA channels are free. Our guide to filing the arrival card online for free explains how to avoid third-party fees.
Step-by-Step Regional Airports China Arrival Card Procedures
After landing, you clear immigration, collect your bags and pass customs.
Show passport and QR code
At immigration, show your passport and your QR code.
Collect your bags
Pick up your baggage at baggage reclaim.
Pass customs
Most travelers use the Red Channel and declare on the passenger declaration form. The Green Channel is for holders of diplomatic or courtesy passports.
Immigration officers may check the card data against your bookings. Customs officers check your baggage and declarations. If you’re unsure which form applies at the border, compare the arrival card and the China customs declaration.
Without data, show your saved QR screenshot. Some guides mention paper or on-site options, but availability at your airport is not confirmed.
Six Secondary Hubs and Transit Transfers
Layouts differ between airports, so follow the on-site signs. If your route connects through a primary gateway instead, see our guides for Shanghai Pudong (PVG) and Beijing Capital (PEK).
| Airport | Arrival card filing | Transit desk | English help |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chengdu Tianfu (TFU) | Free NIA channels before arrival | Not covered here | Not covered here |
| Hangzhou Xiaoshan (HGH) | Free NIA channels before arrival | Not covered here | Not covered here |
| Xiamen Gaoqi (XMN) | Free NIA channels before arrival | Not covered here | Not covered here |
| Kunming Changshui (KMG) | Free NIA channels before arrival | Not covered here | Not covered here |
| Wuhan Tianhe (WUH) | Free NIA channels before arrival | Not covered here | Not covered here |
| Qingdao Jiaodong (TAO) | Free NIA channels before arrival | Not covered here | Not covered here |
For 240-hour transit you need a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region, with a fixed date and seat, and a passport valid at least three months from arrival. For details, see NIA’s English site. Our visa-free transit arrival card rules for Changi passengers cover the filing steps.
Common Mistakes and Compliance Pitfalls
- Incomplete or reordered hotel address: use the field order listed above.
- Typed data that differs from the passport: check the auto-filled fields (name, passport number, date of birth, expiry date) against your passport before you submit.
- Wrong entry category: choose the one that fits your route.
Giving false information may lead to entry denial or an entry ban. If you spot an error after submitting, our guide to arrival card mistakes and corrections shows what to fix.
Online accommodation registration for foreigners is now in place nationwide. See our guide to the hotel address format and 24-hour PSB registration for details.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Do Singaporeans need to fill in a China arrival card even for visa-free entry?
Yes. Singapore passport holders file the digital arrival card on each entry, even visa-free ones. Singapore sits on the 240-hour transit list rather than the 30-day list, so pick the entry category that matches your route and check the NIA portal if you’re unsure.
When should I fill out the arrival card for China?
Filing is recommended within 72 hours before arrival, though some guides cite a 24-hour window, so the NIA portal is the place to confirm. You can finish it at home before the flight. If you haven’t, you can still file at the port by scanning QR codes.
What are the regional airports china arrival card procedures after landing at Chengdu Tianfu?
At Chengdu Tianfu (TFU) you clear immigration, collect your bags, then pass customs. Terminal numbers, opening hours and desk locations are not covered here, so follow the on-site signs and ask airport staff.
Which website should I use to file the China arrival card for free?
Use the NIA system at https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/ on desktop or https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPhone on mobile. Both are NIA addresses, and NIA doesn’t charge for the filing. If a site asks for payment, it isn’t one of these.
Do transit passengers need the arrival card at Wuhan?
If you stay in the restricted airside area, you don’t need the card. If you leave the airport on 240-hour transit, complete the Landing Card for Foreigners in Transit and confirm on the NIA portal that your route stays in a permitted province.
What should I do if I have no internet at a regional airport in China?
A saved QR screenshot can be shown offline, so start with that. Paper forms appear as an on-site option in some guides, but their availability at regional airports is not confirmed, so ask airport staff.
How should I write my hotel address on the China arrival card?
Fill in Province, City, District, then Street and number. Copy the details from your hotel booking and compare them with the order on the form. Vague entries, such as only a hotel name, may be rejected, so include the full street address.
Are regional airports china arrival card procedures the same for visa-free travelers and visa holders?
The card itself is the same for everyone; only the entry category differs, depending on whether you travel on a visa, visa-free entry or 240-hour transit.
Sources and Further Reading
- NIA arrival card system: free filing page
- NIA English site: entry, transit and registration news
Rules can change, so check the portal before you travel.
