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Do you still need to fill out a paper arrival card?

Why this depends on your specific port of entry, and why checking on arrival beats assuming either way.

Whether you need a paper arrival card or something electronic depends on your specific port of entry, and this is an area where practices have been changing — checking on the day beats relying on a fixed answer from any guide, including this one.

What this guide can say with confidence

Foreign visitors to China have traditionally been asked to complete an arrival declaration of some kind, and different airports have moved at different paces toward electronic alternatives to the paper version. This guide couldn’t confirm a single, current, nationwide answer covering every entry point.

What to actually do

Watch for cabin crew distributing a form during your flight, or check signage at immigration on arrival — this reflects the current process at your specific airport far more reliably than a fixed instruction written in advance. If you’re unsure, airport staff and immigration officers can point you to whatever the current requirement is.

What’s next

Read the airport transfer guide for what comes after you clear immigration.

Frequently asked questions

Do all foreign visitors to China need to fill out an arrival card?
An arrival declaration of some form has traditionally been required for foreign visitors, though the exact format — paper or electronic — varies by port of entry and has been changing at different airports. Check current signage or ask cabin crew on your specific flight rather than assuming one format applies everywhere.
Is there an electronic arrival card option in China?
Some entry points have moved toward digital or electronic processes for parts of arrival, but this guide couldn't confirm a single, uniform electronic system that has fully replaced the paper card everywhere. Treat this as varying by airport rather than a settled nationwide answer.
Where do I get an arrival card if I need a paper one?
Traditionally distributed on incoming flights or available at immigration counters on arrival — cabin crew or airport signage on the day is the most reliable current source, rather than assuming a fixed process from a guide written in advance.

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