Do I Fill In "Cities of Transit" on the China Arrival Card? (2026)

Short answer: “Cities of transit” on the China arrival card means other Chinese cities you plan to stop in during this trip, apart from your main destination. It isn’t in the required list, so leave it blank if you’re only visiting one city. For the full explanation of the card, read arriving in China.

What “cities of transit” means

• It is about stops inside China. Think of a trip where you land in one city, stay longest there, and pass through or stay briefly in one or two others.
• It is not the city where you change planes on the way to China, and it is not a layover on a flight to another country.
• Your main city goes under destination city. Only the extra stops go under transit.
• The National Immigration Administration (NIA) runs the online card. Its required fields are purpose of entry, date of entry, destination cities and address in China. Cities of transit isn’t one of them. Source: NIA arrival card form and the Beijing government notice, November 2025.
• The NIA doesn’t publish a detailed definition of a “transit city” (for example, whether one night counts). If a stop is a real planned stay, listing it is fine; if you’re unsure, leaving the field blank is allowed.

Where the field sits on the card

The arrival card asks for your trip in China in two parts:

Field	What to enter	Required?
Purpose of entry	Tourism, business, etc.	Yes
Date of entry	Your arrival date	Yes
Destination cities in China	The city where you’ll stay longest	Yes
Address in China	Province, city, district, then street address	Yes
Cities of transit in China	Any planned transit cities	Not in the required list

This is about stops inside China. It does not mean an airport layover on a flight to another country.

What to do, step by step

1. Open the official filing page: NIA arrival card form. You can also use the NIA’s “移民局12367” app or the NIA’s WeChat or Alipay mini-program, or scan an official arrival card QR code. The service is free, so avoid look-alike sites that charge a fee.
2. Enter your passport details and arrival flight or train. See the arrival card guide for the full walkthrough.
3. Put the city where you’ll spend the most nights under destination city, and add its hotel address.
4. Add other cities under cities of transit only if you already plan to stop there.
5. Check that everything matches your passport, then submit.

If you haven’t worked out whether you can enter at all, use the visa-free checker first. Also see visa-free entry.

What if you get it wrong or skip it

• If you can’t file in advance, you can complete the card at the immigration inspection site using a QR code, an on-site smart device, or a paper card.
• If your plans change after you file, don’t worry about a small change like an extra city on a trip you’ve already described. The NIA doesn’t publish rules on editing a submitted card. Some guides say a submitted card can’t be edited and you should file a new one. If you spot a real error, such as a wrong date or address, submit a fresh card, or complete one on arrival.

Common mistakes

• Listing your main city twice. Your main city goes under destination, not transit.
• Confusing this with international transit. Passengers on a 24-hour direct transit who stay in the designated port area are exempt from the card entirely. Those who leave the port area still need to file.
• Skipping the card because you have a visa. The card applies to foreign visitors in general. Seven exempt groups include permanent residents, group visa holders, cruise passengers, and fast-track users.

Set up your travel eSIM and check the trip checklist before you fly.

FAQ

What does “cities of transit” mean on the China arrival card?

It means other cities in China that you already plan to stop in on this trip, besides your main destination city. It is an optional field. It isn’t one of the required fields (purpose of entry, date of entry, destination cities, address in China), and it is not about airport layovers on the way to another country. Source: NIA arrival card form, Beijing government notice, November 2025.

Is “cities of transit” mandatory?

It isn’t listed among the required fields (purpose of entry, date of entry, destination cities, address in China). If you have no other stops, leave it empty.

Does a flight layover count as a city of transit?

No. The field refers to planned transit cities within China. Passengers on a 24-hour direct transit who stay in the designated port area don’t need the card at all.

Can I fill in the arrival card at the airport?

Yes. If you didn’t file in advance, you can complete it at the immigration inspection site by QR code, on-site smart device, or paper card. Filing online beforehand is faster.

Next steps for your trip

Official sources: s.nia.gov.cn · en.nia.gov.cn · english.beijing.gov.cn · us.china-embassy.gov.cn. Rules change; check before you travel.