Arrival card question - reception unit

Question

Hello! If we are staying at a hotel and don’t know anyone in China, do we leave this question unanswered in the arrival card? ‘Do you have any reception unit or contacts in China?’

Answer

When filling out the arrival card for China, the question about a “reception unit or contacts in China” is mainly intended for travelers visiting friends, family, or business contacts. If you are staying at a hotel and don’t personally know anyone in China, you can still complete this section without leaving it blank, which might be preferable to avoid any confusion at immigration.

Here’s how you can handle it:

Option 1: Provide your hotel’s information: Use the name, address, and phone number of the hotel where you will be staying. Immigration officers are used to seeing this and it is standard practice for tourists.
Option 2: If the card allows “None” or “N/A”: You can write “N/A” or “None” to indicate that you do not have a personal contact or reception unit in China. This is usually acceptable for tourists staying in hotels.
Option 3: Pre-fill online or app forms: Some airlines or e-visa systems allow you to pre-fill arrival cards. Using your hotel info in this section can save time and reduce errors at the airport.

Summary:

Do not leave the field blank.
Providing your hotel’s information is the safest and most common approach.
If allowed, “N/A” can be used for clarity, but hotel details are generally preferred.

By using your hotel as the contact, immigration staff know where you will be staying, which satisfies the purpose of the question without needing a personal contact.

Arrival card question - reception unit

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