Quick answer: From November 20, 2025, China introduced a new digital Arrival Card for all foreign visitors — this replaces the old health declaration form (which ended in 2023). Indian travelers flying Delhi→Hong Kong→Mainland China via the SkyPier ferry do NOT clear Hong Kong immigration — follow blue signs to E2 Mainland Ferry Transfer area. Fill the China Arrival Card on the NIA 12367 app, WeChat mini-program, or Alipay mini-program before travel (paper backup available at arrival). Apply for Hong Kong PAR (free, 10 minutes, instant approval) even though it is technically optional — it is your backup if the ferry is cancelled, delayed, or missed. Reach the E2 ferry counter at least 60 minutes before departure for baggage transfer.

China arrival card Indians 2026 — the most important rule change for Indian travelers flying to Mainland China via Hong Kong is now in effect. The old China Health Declaration Form and Black QR code requirement ended in late 2023. What replaced it from November 20, 2025 is a completely different document: a digital Immigration Arrival Card for temporary-entry foreigners. These are two separate things, and most India-to-China travel guides still confuse them. This article — the companion to Aaseem’s YouTube video on the same topic — gives you the clean, current picture.

The China arrival card Indians 2026 situation matters specifically for the Delhi→Hong Kong→Mainland China routing because Hong Kong’s SkyPier ferry is one of the most efficient ways to enter Mainland China from an Indian airport hub. Air India, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines, and Emirates all operate Delhi-Hong Kong flights that connect to the SkyPier ferry at Hong Kong Airport. Indian business travelers visiting Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Zhuhai, and other Pearl River Delta cities use this routing routinely. Getting the arrival card, the Hong Kong PAR, and the baggage transfer process right is the difference between a smooth entry and a missed ferry.

See our China accommodation registration 2026 guide for the other key China entry rule Indian travelers must know.

https://youtu.be/O8uPoQe3PX8

Section 1: The New China Arrival Card — What It Is and How to Fill It

The China arrival card Indians 2026 core fact: the document you now need is a digital Immigration Arrival Card, not a health form.

The old China Health Declaration Form — the one with the Black QR code that was mandatory during and immediately after COVID — ended in late 2023. Many Indian travelers, their travel agents, and even some airline ground staff are still asking about it. The answer is: it no longer exists. You do not need it. Do not look for it.

What you do need, from November 20, 2025, is the new China Digital Arrival Card for temporary-entry foreigners — an immigration arrival card that records your entry details for Chinese immigration authorities. This is filed separately from and in addition to your China visa.

How to fill the China Arrival Card:

Three digital channels:

1. NIA 12367 app — China’s National Immigration Administration official app. Download before travel.
2. WeChat mini-program — accessible within the WeChat app under immigration services
3. Alipay mini-program — accessible within the Alipay app

Fill the card before your departure flight. If you forget or could not complete it digitally, a paper backup card is available upon arrival at the ferry terminal in Mainland China — so not filling it before travel is inconvenient, not catastrophic. But completing it in advance through the app is the smoother option.

What the card covers: Your passport details, China visa number, travel itinerary, and accommodation address in Mainland China. Have your China visa and hotel booking confirmation ready when filling it.

Section 2: The SkyPier Ferry Route — Delhi to Mainland China via Hong Kong Airport

The China arrival card Indians 2026 guide is specifically built around the SkyPier ferry route — the most efficient India-to-Mainland-China transit option at Hong Kong Airport.

The key principle: You do NOT clear Hong Kong immigration on this route.

When your Delhi flight lands at Hong Kong International Airport, you are a transit passenger heading to Mainland China. You remain inside the restricted zone of Hong Kong Airport throughout. You never enter Hong Kong itself.

Step-by-step navigation inside Hong Kong Airport:

On landing, follow the blue signs reading: “Mainland/Macau Ferries – E2 Transfer Area”

• Do NOT follow signs toward “Arrivals”
• Do NOT go to Hong Kong immigration counters
• Do NOT exit the terminal building
• Follow only the E2 Mainland Ferry Transfer signs throughout

The E2 Transfer Area is the dedicated SkyPier ferry check-in counter within the airport’s restricted zone. This is where you check in for your ferry to Shekou, Zhuhai (Jiuzhou), Guangzhou (Nansha/Pazhou), or other Pearl River Delta ports.

Ferry destinations from Hong Kong SkyPier:

China Arrival Card Indians 2026 — SkyPier Ferry Destinations	Port	Mainland China Destination
Shekou	Shenzhen
Jiuzhou	Zhuhai
Nansha	Guangzhou South
Pazhou	Guangzhou Exhibition

Once you board the ferry and arrive at the Mainland China port, you clear Chinese immigration normally — present your passport, your China visa, and your completed Arrival Card.

Section 3: Baggage Transfer — How Your Bags Move From the Plane to the Ferry

The China arrival card Indians 2026 SkyPier route has one of the most traveler-friendly baggage systems in Asian transit aviation — but it requires you to act correctly on your side.

How interline baggage transfer works:

If you are flying with a participating airline on an interline agreement for the SkyPier route — including Cathay Pacific, Air India (when interline applies), Singapore Airlines, and Emirates — your checked bags are automatically moved from your arriving flight directly onto your booked SkyPier ferry. You do not collect your bags in Hong Kong. You do not carry them to the ferry counter.

What you must do:

• Present your bag tag receipts at the E2 Ferry Counter when checking in for the ferry
• Arrive at the E2 counter at least 60 minutes before ferry departure — ground staff need this time to locate and move your bags from the aircraft to the ferry

If you arrive late at the E2 counter: Your bags may not make the ferry even if you do. Missing the 60-minute window is the most common reason Indian travelers miss their SkyPier ferry or travel without their luggage. Build this buffer into your Hong Kong transit planning.

Verify interline at booking: Confirm with your airline at the time of booking or check-in that your itinerary is ticketed on interline agreement covering the SkyPier ferry. Air India’s interline coverage for the SkyPier route may depend on the specific codeshare or booking channel — verify before travel.

Section 4: Ferry Ticket and Entry Into Mainland China

The China arrival card Indians 2026 ferry process at E2 requires three documents:

1. Passport (valid, with at least 6 months remaining)
2. Valid China Business Visa (or tourist/other appropriate visa category)
3. Ferry booking confirmation — destination port (Shekou, Zhuhai, Pazhou, etc.)

Ferry tickets can be purchased at the E2 counter on arrival or booked online in advance. Advance booking is recommended for peak travel periods — the Pearl River Delta business travel peak (Monday mornings, Friday evenings) can see high ferry demand.

After check-in at E2, you will be escorted to the ferry shuttle bus that takes you to the SkyPier departure hall within the airport complex. The ferry journey time varies by destination: approximately 30-40 minutes to Shekou, 45-60 minutes to Zhuhai.

On arrival at the Mainland China ferry terminal, Chinese immigration proceeds as normal — queue, passport check, visa stamp, Arrival Card review. Your bags will be waiting at the baggage carousel at the Mainland terminal.

Section 5: Hong Kong PAR — Optional But Strongly Recommended

The China arrival card Indians 2026 guide’s most important strategic recommendation is to apply for the Hong Kong Pre-Arrival Registration (PAR) before any Delhi-Hong Kong-China ferry trip — even though it is technically not required for this transit route.

The technical position: Indian citizens transiting through Hong Kong on the SkyPier ferry and staying within the E2 restricted zone do not enter Hong Kong and are therefore not required to have PAR.

The practical reality: PAR is your emergency backstop for any scenario where the ferry does not work.

Four scenarios where PAR becomes essential:

1. Ferry cancelled — typhoon, weather emergency, or operational cancellation
2. Ferry delayed — you miss the last ferry of the day
3. Ferry fully booked — peak travel dates, no seats available on next service
4. Your flight arrives late — you miss your booked ferry and the next available is the following morning

In all four scenarios: without PAR, you cannot leave the restricted transit zone. You are required to stay inside the airport until the next available ferry — unable to check into a hotel, unable to access Hong Kong transport, unable to eat at non-airside restaurants.

With PAR: You can walk out of the airport, legally enter Hong Kong, check into a nearby airport hotel (or anywhere in Hong Kong), and take the ferry the following day.

PAR application:

• Free of charge
• Takes approximately 10 minutes to complete online
• Approval is typically instant or within hours
• Applied online at the Hong Kong Immigration Department website before travel

Think of the Hong Kong PAR as free travel insurance for the transit. There is no reason not to have it.

Section 6: Your Complete Pre-Travel Checklist

The China arrival card Indians 2026 complete checklist before departure from India:

• China Business Visa — valid, with sufficient remaining validity for your China stay
• China Digital Arrival Card — filled on NIA 12367 app, WeChat, or Alipay before departure
• Hong Kong PAR — applied and approved before travel (free, online, 10 minutes)
• Ferry booked — SkyPier destination confirmed, ticket purchased or available at E2
• Airline interline confirmed — verify your airline covers automatic baggage transfer to SkyPier
• Bag tag receipts — keep all checked bag receipts for E2 counter presentation
• E2 counter timing — plan to reach E2 at least 60 minutes before ferry departure
• Hotel address in China — needed for the Arrival Card accommodation field
• NIA 12367 app downloaded — for the Arrival Card and any NIA services in China
• UPI / Cards — UPI does not work in China; carry USD or Euros for conversion, and set up WeChat Pay or Alipay before travel if possible

What to Do If Something Goes Wrong

The China arrival card Indians 2026 guide’s contingency plan for the most common disruptions:

If your flight lands late and you miss your booked ferry:

1. Go directly to the E2 Ferry Service Counter
2. Ask for the next available ferry to your destination
3. If a same-day ferry is available, rebook — bag transfer can be arranged
4. If no same-day ferry, use your PAR to enter Hong Kong and check into an airport hotel

If the ferry is cancelled due to typhoon or weather:

1. The E2 Counter will advise all affected passengers
2. Use your PAR to exit the restricted zone and enter Hong Kong
3. Book accommodation — Hong Kong Airport has connected hotels via the SkyCity Marriott and nearby options
4. Take the ferry the following day when service resumes

If you do not have PAR and the ferry is cancelled:
You must remain in the airside transit zone until ferry service resumes. The transit zone has seating, convenience shops, and food — but no hotel access and no ability to leave the airport. Apply for PAR before every trip to avoid this scenario.

For travel insurance covering China and Hong Kong transit disruptions — including missed connections, ferry cancellations, and accommodation costs — SafetyWing Nomad Insurance provides comprehensive coverage for Indian travelers.

FAQs — China Arrival Card Indians 2026

Q: What is the new China Arrival Card and how is it different from the old health form?

The old China Health Declaration Form — the document with the Black QR code required during and after COVID — ended in late 2023 and is no longer needed. From November 20, 2025, China introduced a new digital Immigration Arrival Card for temporary-entry foreigners. This is an immigration document, not a health form. It records your passport details, visa information, and accommodation address in China. Fill it on the NIA 12367 app, the WeChat mini-program, or the Alipay mini-program before travel. A paper card is available at the Mainland China ferry terminal as a backup if you did not complete it digitally.

Q: Do Indian travelers need to clear Hong Kong immigration when taking the SkyPier ferry to China?

No. Indian travelers using the SkyPier ferry from Hong Kong Airport to Mainland China are transit passengers who remain inside the restricted zone of Hong Kong Airport throughout. You do not clear Hong Kong immigration, you do not enter Hong Kong, and you do not need a Hong Kong visa for this route. Follow the blue “Mainland/Macau Ferries – E2 Transfer Area” signs on arrival. Do not go toward the Arrivals hall or Hong Kong immigration counters. However, applying for Hong Kong PAR before travel is strongly recommended as an emergency backstop if the ferry is cancelled, delayed, or missed.

Q: How long in advance should I reach the E2 ferry counter at Hong Kong Airport?

Reach the E2 Ferry Counter at least 60 minutes before your scheduled ferry departure time. Ground staff need this window to locate your checked bags from your arriving flight and transfer them to the ferry. Arriving late at E2 risks missing the ferry even if you are physically present, and your bags may not make the ferry either. If your flight arrives late, go directly to E2 immediately on landing and notify staff of your ferry booking — they can sometimes manage last-minute transfers within the 60-minute window if you communicate promptly.

Final Word

China arrival card Indians 2026 — new digital Immigration Arrival Card mandatory from November 20, 2025 (fill on NIA 12367 app, WeChat, or Alipay; paper available at arrival), old health form ended 2023, SkyPier ferry from Hong Kong Airport E2 Transfer Area to Mainland China (no Hong Kong immigration clearance, follow blue E2 signs), baggage transfers automatically on interline airlines (reach E2 counter 60 minutes before ferry), Hong Kong PAR free and takes 10 minutes (apply regardless

— it is your ferry cancellation insurance), China visa required throughout — is the complete current system for Indian travelers using the Hong Kong gateway to Mainland China. Fill the card before you fly. Apply for PAR before you leave India. Reach E2 sixty minutes early. And watch the full video on the TravelManToday YouTube channel for the visual walkthrough of every step.

Also Read:

• China Accommodation Registration 2026 — NIA System, App, Fines
• Vietnam E-Visa Indians 2026 — Complete Application Guide
• Japan Visa Cover Letter Indians — Complete Guide

Official Sources:

• China National Immigration Administration — NIA 12367
• Hong Kong Immigration Department — Pre-Arrival Registration