Your plane touches down in China. The landing card you expected isn’t distributed on the flight. The immigration queue stretches further than you imagined. This guide walks you through every step, so you arrive prepared and get through arrivals without drama.
Table of contents
Open Table of contents
Before You Land: What to Prepare
Documents to have ready
Keep these accessible in your carry-on — not buried in a checked bag:
- Passport (with valid visa or evidence of visa-free eligibility)
- Onward / return ticket (required for transit exemptions; useful to show even on a regular tourist visa)
- Hotel booking confirmation (address in Chinese characters if possible — useful at the immigration window)
- Emergency contact in China (if applicable)
The arrival card: a common source of confusion
As of 2024, the paper Arrival/Departure Card (ED card) has been discontinued at all major Chinese international airports. You no longer fill in a paper card on the plane.
Immigration data is collected electronically at the border. Some smaller land border crossings and minor ports may still use paper cards — carry a pen anyway.
Step 1: Health and Temperature Checks
Most major airports have automatic temperature screening that you pass through without stopping. If flagged, you may be directed to a secondary health check area. Keep your vaccination records accessible if travelling from regions with health advisories.
Step 2: Immigration (Border Control)
Which queue?
- Foreign passport holders (including overseas Chinese with foreign passports): use the foreigners’ queue or lanes marked “Other Passports / International Passports”
- Chinese nationals + permanent residents: dedicated lanes (typically faster)
- e-Gates: some airports allow eligible foreign nationals to use automated e-gates — check the signs; airport staff can direct you
At the immigration counter
The officer will:
- Verify your passport and visa (or check your visa-free eligibility)
- Photograph you (look straight into the camera above the booth)
- Take all 10 fingerprints using the scanner built into the counter ledge
- Ask a few brief questions: purpose of visit, accommodation address, length of stay
Common questions and answers:
| Question | Suggested answer |
|---|---|
| What is the purpose of your visit? | Tourism / sightseeing |
| Where will you be staying? | [Hotel name, city] |
| How long will you be in China? | [X] days |
| Do you have a return ticket? | Yes, on [date] |
Stay calm and answer clearly. Officers at major airports typically speak enough English for this exchange.
Your entry stamp
The officer will stamp your passport with the entry date and the duration of permitted stay (e.g., “30 D” for 30 days). Count from the entry date, not your flight date. If there is any discrepancy, clarify at the counter before walking away.
Step 3: Baggage Claim
Standard process. Check the arrivals board for your flight’s baggage carousel. Keep your boarding pass; it may be requested by baggage staff if your bag doesn’t arrive.
Step 4: Customs
China uses a green channel (nothing to declare) / red channel (items to declare) system.
Use the green channel if you have:
- Personal effects (clothes, electronics for personal use, camera equipment)
- Less than USD 5,000 / €5,000 in cash (or equivalent in other currencies)
- No commercial goods, large quantities of a single item, or controlled substances
- Prescription medications within a 3-month personal supply (bring your prescription)
Use the red channel (or declare) if you have:
- More than USD 5,000 in cash
- Gold, silver, or other precious metals above personal-use quantities
- More than 400 cigarettes or 1.5L of spirits (>12% ABV)
- New electronics or goods that appear to be for resale
- Certain food items or plant materials (fresh fruit, unprocessed plant matter)
Being randomly selected for an inspection in the green channel is normal — stay cooperative.
Step 5: Accommodation Registration
Hotels
If you’re staying in any licensed hotel, hostel, or serviced apartment, the property will register you with the local police within 24 hours of check-in. This is handled automatically — just show your passport at reception and you’re done.
Airbnb, private rentals, or staying with locals
If you are not staying in a licensed property, you are legally required to register at the nearest police station (派出所, pàichūsuǒ) within 24 hours of arrival at that address. Bring your passport and your host’s ID or house ownership documents.
Failure to register is technically a fine-able offence, though enforcement varies by city. In major tourist cities, police stations near popular areas often have English-speaking staff specifically for this purpose.
Transit-Specific Notes
If you are entering on the 144-hour transit visa-free policy:
- Tell the immigration officer explicitly: “I am transiting — 144-hour exemption”
- Have your onward ticket to a third country clearly visible
- Your transit stamp will show the expiry date and time — do not overstay even by an hour
- You must depart from a designated port (airport, rail, or sea terminal) in the same visa-free zone
Land Border Crossings
Land crossings (e.g., Shenzhen–Hong Kong, Suifenhe–Russia) follow the same process but typically have no e-gates and may still use paper arrival cards. Peak times (public holidays, weekends at Hong Kong/Shenzhen crossings) can mean waits of 1–3 hours. Plan accordingly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my fingerprints are poor quality (scars, age)? The system will try multiple times. If genuinely unable to capture a print, the officer will note this in your record — it’s not a problem.
My visa says “double entry” but I was only stamped once. How does that work? Each physical entry to mainland China uses one of your entries. A day trip to Hong Kong or Macau from the mainland counts as leaving and re-entering. A single-entry visa becomes void after your first departure from the mainland.
Can I enter China without printing my e-visa? China does not issue e-visas — your visa is physically stamped/affixed into your passport. If you used a visa agency, they return your passport with the visa inside before your travel date.
Last updated: May 2026 · Arrival procedures are subject to change. Check the official China National Immigration Administration (nia.gov.cn) for the latest information.