On entering China you need to fill out an 'arrival cart' which can often be annoying especially since Pudong Airport never has any spare pens around. Seriously.

Good news is, since Nov 20, 2025, foreign travelers can complete their China arrival form online before landing.

Available on the NIA website, NIA 12367 app, plus WeChat & Alipay mini programs.

You don't have to do it in advance, for now you can still just grab one on arrival and fill it out. Paper cards will only stick around for a short transition. Bring your own pen.

And some don't even have to do it at all:

You don't need the new digital card if you're:

• A China Permanent Resident
• A HK/Macau non-Chinese resident with a Mainland Travel Permit
• A group traveler on a collective visa
• A transit passenger staying inside the airport (<24h)
• A cruise passenger arriving/departing on the same ship
• Using fast-track biometric lanes
• A foreign crew member of international transport

A clear move toward faster, smarter, and more traveler-friendly borders.

Download Passport Index: on the App Store or Google Play