The doors open.
Follow the sequence.
China’s international-arrival process is easier when you know where the route can split. First decide whether you are entering China or staying in international transit—then follow the live signs for your terminal.
- 01SIGNS
- 02BORDER
- 03BAGS
- 04CUSTOMS
- 05ARRIVALS
Entering China: follow arrivals → complete the applicable arrival-card step → border inspection → baggage reclaim → Customs → public arrivals hall. Connecting internationally: stop and confirm the transfer route before joining immigration.
One itinerary. Two possible routes.
I am entering China here
You will normally complete border inspection, reclaim checked baggage, pass Customs and enter the public arrivals hall.
- Your first stay or onward transport is landside
- You must collect and recheck baggage
- Your transfer requires formal entry
I am connecting internationally
Look for International Transfer / Transit and ask airline or airport staff before immigration. The route depends on the airport, tickets, baggage and whether you may remain in the restricted area.
- Confirm whether bags are checked through
- Confirm whether boarding passes are issued
- Confirm whether temporary entry is required
NIA says some travelers holding connecting tickets to a third country or region may transit within 24 hours without leaving the port’s restricted area. Leaving that area requires the appropriate temporary-entry or regular-entry route. Do not infer eligibility from the layover time alone.
Check the official entry-policy route →Five checkpoints from aircraft to city
- 01ORIENTKEEP PASSPORT IN HAND
Follow International Arrivals
Check the terminal signs, not the people in front of you. Stop at a staffed transfer or information desk if the signs and itinerary disagree.
- 02ENTEROFFICIAL CHANNEL ONLY
Complete arrival-card and border inspection steps
Use the official NIA arrival-card route if it applies, then present the original travel document and entry basis to border inspection.
- 03COLLECTSAVE THE BAG TAG
Find the belt and inspect your bags
Match the belt to the flight number. If a bag is missing or damaged, report it to the airline or baggage-service desk before leaving the controlled area.
- 04DECLAREUNCERTAIN? USE RED
Choose the correct Customs channel
Use green only when nothing must be declared. If you carry declarable goods or are unsure, ask Customs or use red.
- 05HANDOFFVERIFY BEFORE EXIT
Enter the public arrivals hall
Confirm the terminal, meeting point and official transport route before moving. Once landside, returning to a baggage desk can be difficult.
Prepare the identity story, not a document pile
China’s Exit and Entry Administration Law requires foreign travelers to submit their passport or other international travel document, visa or other entry permit for examination and complete the prescribed formalities. The officer owns the decision.
Travel document
The passport or other accepted document used for this journey—not only a phone photo.
Visa, permit or exemption
The current route matching the traveler, purpose, stay, journey and port.
First stay and onward plan
Keep the accommodation address and onward or return itinerary accessible if asked.
Official filing, if applicable
Complete online, at the port or on paper using an NIA-authorized route.
Follow the staffed lane and on-site instructions
Chinese law permits collection of fingerprints and other biometric identification information for exit-entry administration. The exact lane, collection step and exemption can vary by traveler and current operation. Do not promise yourself an e-gate or assume another passenger’s route applies to you.
Resolve baggage evidence before walking out
Read the screen
Match flight number, origin and belt. Codeshare flights may display more than one number.
Match the bag
Check the tag or distinctive feature before taking a similar suitcase.
Inspect it
Look for missing contents or visible damage while still near the service route.
Report immediately
Take the baggage tag, boarding pass and passport to the operating airline or airport baggage desk. Get a written reference number.
If a checked bag is missing, do not assume it will appear later and leave. Find the responsible baggage desk, create the report, save the case number and confirm delivery/contact instructions first.
Green means nothing to declare—not “probably fine”
Nothing to declare
Use only if your baggage and carried items fall within the current rules. Selection does not prevent inspection.
Goods to declare—or uncertainty
China Customs directs travelers carrying declarable items to red. If you do not understand the rules or do not know which channel to choose, ask an officer or use red.
Rules for cash, alcohol, tobacco, food, animal and plant products, medicines, commercial goods, unaccompanied baggage and other restricted items can change or require detail. Check the live General Administration of Customs source; do not rely on an old screenshot or social post.
Check China Customs passenger guidance ↗Pause before the next handoff
Confirm the airport code, terminal and exit number. Large cities can have multiple airports.
Turn on the intended data line or use official airport Wi-Fi only as needed. Keep the offline address available.
Send or verify a precise exit, floor and landmark—not “airport arrivals.”
Use an official taxi queue, booked pickup, ride-hailing pickup zone or public transport route.
Protect the next flight while you are still airside
- 01
Tell airline or transfer staff as soon as the connection becomes at risk.
- 02
Ask whether the airline has rebooked the onward sector and where to collect the new boarding pass.
- 03
Confirm whether checked bags remain through-checked, must be collected, or will be retagged.
- 04
Do not enter China simply to solve a connection problem unless staff direct you and your entry route permits it.
- 05
Keep boarding passes, baggage tags, disruption messages and receipts.
China Immigration Service Hotline: +86 12367. NIA says the service operates 24/7 and provides immediate English support.
China airport arrival FAQ
What happens after an international flight lands in China?
If you are entering China, the usual sequence is arrival signage, any required arrival-card step, border inspection, baggage reclaim, Customs and then the public arrivals hall. Transfer passengers may follow a different route. Signs, terminal layout and operational checks vary by airport.
Do foreign visitors need a China arrival card?
Many foreign visitors do, but NIA lists exemptions. Since 20 November 2025, eligible travelers may complete the official arrival card online before travel. Travelers unable to do so can use designated QR codes or smart devices at the port, or complete a paper card.
What should I show at China immigration?
Carry the original passport or accepted international travel document and the visa, residence permit or other entry basis that applies to the trip. Keep the first-stay address and onward or return itinerary accessible in case an officer asks. Border inspection authorities make the entry decision.
Do I collect checked baggage before Customs in China?
For a traveler entering China at that airport, baggage reclaim normally comes before the Customs channel. A connecting itinerary can differ if baggage is checked through or if the airport has a dedicated international-transfer route, so confirm with the airline and follow live airport signs.
Should I use the red or green Customs channel?
Use the green channel only when you have nothing to declare under current Customs rules. If you have declarable goods or are unsure which channel applies, China Customs instructs passengers to ask an officer or use the red channel.
Arrival facts checked here
Reviewed 23 August 2026. This guide explains the general arrival sequence; the operating airline, airport signage, border inspection and Customs officers control the live process.
- National Immigration Administration — online arrival cardAdvance filing, port alternatives, exemption groups and the official consultation route.
- National Immigration Administration — Exit and Entry Administration LawBorder inspection, travel documents, entry formalities, biometrics and accommodation registration.
- National Immigration Administration — 24-hour transit interpretationRestricted-area transit and temporary-entry boundary; individual eligibility remains an official decision.
- National Immigration Administration — 12367 service24/7 multilingual immigration consultation and digital service channels.
- General Administration of Customs — international passenger clearanceTruthful declaration, red/green channel choice and the uncertainty rule.
- General Administration of Customs — carried baggagePersonal-use and reasonable-quantity scope; all baggage remains subject to inspection.