China entry requirements: what to do at the border and after you arrive

Arrival card

Do I need to fill in an arrival card for China?

Yes, most foreigners do. Since 20 November 2025 you can submit it online before travelling, free of charge, or complete it at the port by scanning a QR code, using an on-site device or filling in a paper card.

Where do I fill in the China arrival card online?

Only through official channels: the National Immigration Administration website s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC, the "NIA 12367" app, or the WeChat and Alipay mini programs. The service is free; websites charging a fee are fraudulent. Field-by-field help: how to fill in the China arrival card online.

Who does not need an arrival card?

Holders of a Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card or a Mainland Travel Permit for non-Chinese Hong Kong and Macao residents, travellers on group visas or group visa-free entry, 24-hour direct transit passengers staying in the port area, cruise passengers leaving on the same ship, e-channel users, and foreign crew.

Accommodation registration

Do foreigners have to register with the police in China?

Yes. Hotels register foreign guests automatically. If you stay anywhere else, such as with family or in a rented flat, you or your host must register within 24 hours of arrival.

How do I register accommodation online?

Through the National Immigration Administration Government Service Platform: its website, the "NIA 12367" app, or the "NIA 12367" WeChat or Alipay mini program, under Foreigner Service, Accommodation Registration. Online registration has the same legal effect as registering at a police station.

Who should do the registration?

The host should help with the first registration. The foreigner can register alone when re-registering at the same address through the platform, or when staying in a home they or their spouse own.

What happens if I do not register?

The foreigner or host can be given a warning and may be fined under the Exit and Entry Administration Law.

Length of stay and extensions

How are visa-free days counted?

From 00:00 on the day after the day you enter. For example, entering on 1 May starts the count on 2 May.

Can I extend my stay in China?

On an M, F, S2, Q2 or L visa, you can apply to the local public security exit-entry office for an extension if you have a legitimate reason; the total extension cannot exceed the stay originally granted. Under a mutual exemption agreement, an extension is only for emergencies or force majeure and must be requested before the visa-free period ends. After a 30-day unilateral visa-free entry, a longer stay needs a stay permit from the exit-entry office.

What if I lose my passport after a visa-free entry?

Get a new passport or emergency travel document from your embassy and a loss report. Border inspection checks your identity and entry record; if you have not overstayed or broken other rules, you can leave.

Work, study and residence

Can I work or study in China after entering visa-free?

No. Work, study and news reporting need the matching visa obtained before entry, such as Z for work or X1 and X2 for study.

When must I apply for a residence permit?

Holders of D, J1, Q1, S1, X1 and Z visas must apply within 30 days of entry at the public security exit-entry office where they will live.

Help and contacts

Is there an official hotline for immigration questions?

Yes. The National Immigration Administration 12367 service hotline, +86 12367, answers in Mandarin, Cantonese, English, Russian, Japanese and Korean.