Getting to China & Entry Guide

Before You Fly

• Confirm your permission to enter. Check the visa or exemption against your passport, dates, purpose and route. Our Visa Information guide covers the options.
• Save your first address. Keep the accommodation name, address in Chinese, booking confirmation and contact number available offline.
• Keep documents within reach. Carry your passport, any visa or permit, and relevant onward-travel or invitation details in your hand baggage.
• Plan your arrival connection. Check roaming or mobile-data arrangements before departure. Save essential directions so your first journey does not depend on airport Wi-Fi.
• Check what you are packing. Review customs restrictions and each operating airline’s cabin-baggage and battery rules.

Power banks and domestic connections

Pack power banks in carry-on baggage, never checked baggage. ICAO’s March 2026 rules limit them to two per passenger and prohibit recharging them during the flight; check your airline’s capacity and onboard-use restrictions as well.

For flights within mainland China, power banks with missing or unclear CCC / 3C marks, or recalled models or batches, are prohibited. Check this before bringing a power bank from overseas for a domestic connection.

If your itinerary includes Xizang (Tibet), confirm the required permissions and arrangements in advance with an authorized travel agency. Do not treat a general mainland entry permission as a substitute for destination-specific requirements.

Arrival Card and Declarations

Three different processes can appear during arrival. They serve different purposes:

Since 20 November 2025, travelers can fill in the arrival card through the National Immigration Administration’s online channels. If you cannot complete it beforehand, onsite devices and paper cards remain available.

Open the official arrival-card service. Use your passport and travel details; completing the card does not grant entry permission.

The general requirement to fill in a health declaration card ended in November 2023. This does not remove symptom-reporting obligations or specific health measures that may apply to your journey.

At the Airport: Arrival Step by Step

The sequence below describes a typical international airport arrival. Follow signs and staff instructions at your terminal; transfer routes and other ports can work differently.

1. Follow Arrivals or the correct transfer route.

   If connecting, confirm whether you should enter the country or remain in transit before joining a queue.

2. Complete the arrival card if required.

   Have your accommodation details ready and use the official instructions at the port.

3. Go through immigration.

   Present your passport and the documents for your entry arrangement. Explain your purpose and itinerary accurately; follow instructions for any photo or fingerprint collection.

4. Collect your baggage if instructed.

   Find your flight on the baggage display. Report missing or damaged bags to the airline’s baggage desk before leaving the collection area.

5. Clear Customs.

   Select the appropriate declaration channel, then continue to the public arrivals hall.

If applying for visa-free transit at the border, follow the port’s designated instructions and have confirmed onward travel ready. A layover alone does not establish eligibility.

Customs and What You Can Bring

Use the green channel when you have no items requiring a written declaration. Use the red channel when you do—or when you are unsure about the rules. Declarations can use paper or electronic data under the port’s instructions.

Cash: two different rules

• Renminbi cash: the per-person, per-crossing limit is RMB 20,000.
• Foreign-currency cash: ordinary inbound travelers must declare amounts totaling more than the equivalent of USD 5,000. Additional rules apply to frequent or same-day repeat crossings.

Do not convert RMB 20,000 into dollars and treat that as the foreign-currency threshold. Keep any customs declaration record you receive for your onward journey.

Food, plants and other goods

Fresh fruit, seeds and meat products—including cooked meat—can fall under prohibited-entry rules. Check the official restrictions before packing food or plant products. Declaring a prohibited item does not make it admissible.

Tobacco and alcohol allowances depend on factors including your route, age and travel frequency; arrivals from Hong Kong or Macao can have lower allowances. Check the current Customs guidance before buying duty-free goods.

For medicines, check any ingredient restrictions and required documents before departure. Original packaging and a prescription copy can help identify the medicine, but do not override import restrictions.

From the Airport to Your Accommodation

Choose a transfer that fits your landing time, luggage and final address. Check the airport’s official transport information for current routes, pickup points and last departures.

For a late arrival, check the final departure times and arrange a backup. Airport SIM counters, transport desks and other services do not all keep the same hours.

Prepare a payment method before departure and keep an alternative available. See Money & Payments for setup guidance. For airport-specific directions, use the official Shanghai transport guide or Beijing airport information.

Check-in and Accommodation Registration

Staying at a hotel

Hotels register foreign guests’ accommodation and submit the information to the local public security authorities. Present your original passport at check-in and confirm the hotel has the details it needs.

Staying with friends or in other non-hotel accommodation

You or your host must register the stay within 24 hours of arrival at the accommodation. Confirm who will complete this before you arrive.

Keep the completed registration record. If the online process is unsuccessful, contact the local police station or exit-entry service window promptly for help; the online option does not remove the registration requirement. Read the official accommodation registration guidance.

Arrival Questions, Answered