China’s border formalities are about to go paperless. In a policy notice confirmed on 6 November, the NIA said that from 20 November all inbound passengers—regardless of nationality—will be able to complete an electronic arrival card via the 12367 app, WeChat, Alipay or a web portal. Travellers who forget to pre-submit can scan a QR code or use kiosks on arrival; paper forms will be phased out over the next six months.
The digital card collects the same data (passport details, health declaration, address in China) but eliminates handwriting errors that often trigger secondary inspection. For airlines and ground-handling agents, the change means less queuing and faster aircraft turn-arounds—an important cost lever as international seat capacity rebuilds.
![China to Launch Digital Arrival Card and Widens Visa-Free Transit Network]()
Simultaneously, Beijing is adding ten airports—including Tianjin, Dalian, Wuhan and Chongqing—to its 24-hour visa-free airside-transit scheme. In Guangdong, five new sea-rail ports such as the West Kowloon high-speed-rail terminus and Hengqin Island join the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit programme, lifting the total to 65 nationwide. Eligible travellers from 55 countries can now schedule multi-city China stopovers without a visa, a boon for MICE organisers routing delegates through Hong Kong or Macao.
Border experts say the twin moves align China with ASEAN peers that already use e-arrival cards and bolster the country’s appeal for time-sensitive business trips. Corporates should update pre-trip checklists: staff will need to download the 12367 mini-programme and screenshot the completion QR code before boarding.
For global mobility managers, the expanded transit policy offers flexibility when permanent visas are delayed—e.g., fly an engineer into Guangzhou on a 240-hour transit, complete urgent on-site work, then exit via Hong Kong without advance paperwork. The catch: no extensions are permitted, so itinerary discipline remains essential.
The digital card collects the same data (passport details, health declaration, address in China) but eliminates handwriting errors that often trigger secondary inspection. For airlines and ground-handling agents, the change means less queuing and faster aircraft turn-arounds—an important cost lever as international seat capacity rebuilds.
Simultaneously, Beijing is adding ten airports—including Tianjin, Dalian, Wuhan and Chongqing—to its 24-hour visa-free airside-transit scheme. In Guangdong, five new sea-rail ports such as the West Kowloon high-speed-rail terminus and Hengqin Island join the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit programme, lifting the total to 65 nationwide. Eligible travellers from 55 countries can now schedule multi-city China stopovers without a visa, a boon for MICE organisers routing delegates through Hong Kong or Macao.
Border experts say the twin moves align China with ASEAN peers that already use e-arrival cards and bolster the country’s appeal for time-sensitive business trips. Corporates should update pre-trip checklists: staff will need to download the 12367 mini-programme and screenshot the completion QR code before boarding.
For global mobility managers, the expanded transit policy offers flexibility when permanent visas are delayed—e.g., fly an engineer into Guangzhou on a 240-hour transit, complete urgent on-site work, then exit via Hong Kong without advance paperwork. The catch: no extensions are permitted, so itinerary discipline remains essential.
