Before leaving the airport

Keep your passport, onward ticket or visa documents, hotel booking and host contact available offline. Use the official free arrival-card channel when applicable, and avoid sites that charge to submit it.

  • Confirm mobile data before depending on QR payments or ride hailing.
  • Keep some RMB cash or a working international card as a backup.
  • Save the hotel name, phone number and address in Chinese.

At your accommodation

Hotels handle accommodation registration during check-in. If you stay in a private home or other non-hotel accommodation, you or the host generally need to register the address within 24 hours.

Online registration is currently a regional pilot. Do not assume a nationwide online form is available.

OFFICIAL ORIGINALS

Sources checked for this guide

National Immigration AdministrationHow to Submit Your Arrival Card OnlineNational Immigration AdministrationBeware of Fraudulent Arrival Card WebsitesNational Immigration AdministrationOnline Accommodation Registration PilotState Council English Portal / National Immigration AdministrationA Welcome Guide to China
Scope of this article

This guide helps you prepare; it does not replace an embassy, consulate, border authority, school or other competent authority.