China digital arrival cards cut clearance times to 15 minutes for tourists

China’s border clearance goes digital

China’s immigration system now leans on digital pre-clearance, faster lanes and expanded visa-free transit rules. During the May 1 to May 5 Labour Day holiday, border officials handled 11.28 million crossings, while major airports in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou kept clearance times to 15 to 20 minutes, the National Immigration Administration said.

The current setup includes an Online Arrival Card for foreign nationals, expanded 24-hour and 240-hour visa-free transit options and intelligent exit-entry services at major ports. China has also widened talent endorsements and added an electronic permit process for mainland residents entering border management areas.

Travelers seeing the biggest change

Foreign tourists and short-term visitors can fill out arrival information online before landing, which cuts down on on-site processing. Transit passengers have more room to move too, with 24-hour direct transit and 240-hour visa-free transit for nationals of 55 countries at 65 ports in 24 provincial regions.

Digital nomads, expats and business travelers get separate benefits through longer multiple-entry endorsements, expedited channels and reservation-based services in select zones. visa updates are also part of the picture, since China has paired the immigration changes with broader payment acceptance rules for overseas cards and e-wallets due by October 2026.

What travelers need to do

Foreign nationals must submit the Online Arrival Card at least 72 hours before arrival through the National Immigration Administration website, the NIA 12367 app or WeChat and Alipay mini-programs. Mainland residents applying for an Electronic Border Management Area Permit can do the same through those platforms or at a public security exit-entry office if needed.

The permit is valid for up to 3 months and can be shown on a phone or as a printed copy. Read our full China guide for the complete picture.

Correction, Oct. 1, 2026: An earlier version of this article gave the number of countries eligible for 240-hour visa-free transit as 86. It was 55 when this article was published.