Originals
Keep the passport and any original document that must be presented physically in one protected place.
BASICS
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← ENTRY GUIDEENTRY · DOCUMENT PREPARATION
Documents to prepare before travelling to China.
Choose the entry route you already identified. We’ll separate what is required, recommended and only relevant to certain travellers.
01 · CHOOSE YOUR ROUTE
One route. One document pack.
If you still do not know which route applies, use the Entry Guide before treating any list below as your own.
DOCUMENT PACK · ORDINARY VISA-FREE ENTRY
Keep the passport simple—and the purpose easy to prove.
There is no advance visa application for an eligible trip. Your evidence pack should show that the passport, purpose and intended stay match the current visa-free policy.
POLICY NOTE
The Foreign Ministry recommends carrying documents that match the purpose of the visit, such as tickets, hotel bookings or an invitation letter.
RequiredThe route depends on it
02- The valid ordinary passport covered by the current visa-free policy
- Entry information for the Arrival Card, unless an official exemption applies
RecommendedReduces check-in or border friction
03- Return or onward travel booking
- First accommodation name, address and reservation
- A saved copy of the current official visa-free policy
Only if applicableNeeded for a particular itinerary or applicant
02- Invitation letter or other evidence that matches a business, family-visit or exchange purpose
- Documents for a minor or any destination entered after Mainland China
NOT SURE THIS IS YOUR ROUTE?Return to the Entry Guide →
02 · BUILD ONE EVIDENCE PACK
Make the same trip understandable in four forms.
The goal is not to carry more documents. It is to prevent one dead phone, missing login or unclear booking from hiding the evidence you already have.
Phone copy
Save PDFs and screenshots where they open without logging in or relying on a booking app.
Offline backup
Keep critical files in a second device, secure cloud folder or with a trusted travel companion.
Paper fallback
Print the route, first accommodation and critical onward proof when a failed battery would stop the journey.
CHECK THE DETAILS ONCEPassport name→Ticket name→Hotel dates→Entry and exit dates
03 · PRESENT THE PACK
Airline check-in and border inspection ask different questions.
Prepare one coherent pack, but understand what each checkpoint is trying to confirm.
EvidenceAt airline check-inAt the Chinese border
PassportExact document used for the bookingPassport and entry eligibility
Entry routeReason the airline may carry youReason the border may admit you
ItineraryComplete segments and destinationPurpose, duration and permitted route
AccommodationUseful supporting evidenceFirst address and purpose-consistent stay
Onward proofEspecially important for transitDate, route and confirmed arrangements
04 · AFTER THE BORDER
Two small formalities remain.
The document workflow does not end with the passport stamp. Complete the arrival information and make sure the first accommodation is registered correctly.
Arrival Card
Submit it free through an official NIA channel before travel, or use the online or paper options at the port. Direct 24-hour airside transit and several other categories can be exempt.
Open the official arrival card service ↗Accommodation registration
A hotel normally registers the stay. At a private home or other non-hotel residence, the traveller or host generally needs to register within 24 hours using the locally available official process.
Read the official registration guidance ↗05 · COMMON DOCUMENT PROBLEMS
Questions that usually appear too late.
Use these answers to find weak points before check-in, not while someone is waiting at the counter.
Are digital documents enough?
Do not rely on one booking app or an internet connection. Digital copies are useful, but the original passport and any document specifically requested in original form still matter. Save critical evidence offline and print the route or onward ticket when failure would block the trip.
What if the hotel is booked under someone else’s name?
Carry the booking, the lead guest’s details and evidence that links you to the same trip. Visa application posts may ask for a signed statement or a copy of the booker’s passport, so check the rules published for the location where you apply.
Can inbound and outbound tickets be on separate bookings?
The 240-hour policy focuses on confirmed onward arrangements, but separate tickets can be harder for an airline agent to assess. Put every segment on one chronological page and carry the current official policy.
Can an invitation letter replace hotel bookings?
For many tourist visa applications, an eligible invitation-letter package can be used instead of hotel evidence. The letter and inviter documents must meet the requirements of the application post. For visa-free entry, an invitation can also help show a purpose that matches the policy.
Do I need to fill in an Arrival Card before departure?
Most foreign travellers can submit entry information free through official NIA channels before travelling. If you do not complete it in advance, online and paper options remain available at the port. Some traveller categories are exempt.
What happens after I reach my accommodation?
Hotels normally handle accommodation registration. If you stay in a private home or another non-hotel residence, you or the host generally need to register with the local public security authority within 24 hours; online registration is currently available only where the official service has been implemented.
With entry ready, move to payment.
Set up the method you expect to use every day—and keep a backup that does not depend on the same app or card.
Open the Payment Guide →