Arrival card

An arrival card, also known as an incoming passenger card, landing card or disembarkation card, is a legal document used by immigration authorities of many countries to obtain information about incoming passenger not provided by the passenger’s passport (such as health, criminal record, where they will be staying, purpose of the visit, etc.) and to provide a record of a person’s entry into the country. The card may also provide information on health and character requirements for non-citizens entering the country. Some countries require an arrival card for each incoming passenger, while others require one card per family unit, and some only require an arrival card for non-citizens only.

Some countries, such as Singapore and Thailand, attach a departure card to the arrival card, which is retained in the alien’s passport until their eventual departure. The arrival card can also be combined with a customs declaration, which some countries require incoming passengers to fill out separately.

Some countries, such as Malaysia, do not require an arrival or departure card. The procedure of compiling information from immigration cards is no longer required by United States authorities following the introduction of the biometric recording system by the United States Customs and Border Protection. There is minimal cross-border formality between a number of countries, most notably those in the passport-free travel area of Europe’s Schengen Zone.

The requirement to produce an arrival card is usually in addition to provision of a passport or other travel document, and sometimes a customs declaration.

Information on the card itself
The information requested varies by country. Typically the information requested on the arrival card includes:

Full name
Nationality
Date of birth
Passport number, place of issuance and expiration date
Flight number or name of aircraft, ship or vehicle
Purpose of trip: vacation, education/study, visiting relatives/families, business, diplomatic
Duration of stay
Destination (next stop of disembarkation)
Address in country
Information on items being bought into the country which may be of interest to customs and quarantine authorities

Travelers are generally required to sign, date, and declare the information is true, correct, and complete.

Some of the entry forms are also accompanied by an exit form. In addition to the information already filled in the country card, it is usually required to fill in:

Number of departure flights (ships, cars, etc.)
Leaving the country’s next destination
In order to confirm that the information provided is correct and correct, and is willing to take legal responsibility for the contents of the record, the passenger will also be required to sign the card to show responsibility.

The entry form is usually issued by the transportation company carrying the passenger on the vehicle before arriving in the country. For example, if the person arrives by air, the airline will issue the card on the plane. Passengers must complete the registration form before the arrival of the port inspection area and submit it to the national certification inspection officer along with the legal travel document (usually a passport). Countries at the border crossings will also provide standard forms to passengers who have not completed the form in order to complete the form before entering the country.

Implementation status

United States
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s US Customs and Border Protection has stopped using the paper entry and exit registration form (I-94) at various sea and air ports since May 2013 to save customs clearance time. Instead of using the electronic pre-departure login method to transfer passengers’ information on the US to the Department of Homeland Security information system, passengers only need to present their passports during customs clearance. Border officials can read relevant information and decide whether to agree to the entry and stay of passengers. There is no need to pay the I-94 form to the passenger carrier carrying passengers when leaving the United States.

After the implementation of the paperless operation of the immigration registration, passengers can go to the US Customs and Border Protection website to enter their names, date of entry and information on the licences. They can obtain information on the entry (including eligibility and entry criteria) on the website. Duration of stay, etc.). Unless specifically requested, passengers entering the United States do not need to complete I-94, and the system has replaced the entry registration form.

Japan
The Immigration Bureau of the Ministry of Justice of Japan requires that in addition to Japanese citizens holding Japanese passports, passengers entering and leaving Japan must fill in the entry and exit records. The table is divided into two parts, and the entry part has two sides. The fields to be filled in for entry and exit forms include name, date of birth and nationality. The front of the entry form is required to fill in the gender, country of birth and city, flight number (ship) number, date of arrival, daily address, estimated stay period, etc. The back is to assist immigration officials in determining whether to grant entry, and The total amount of cash currently carried. Entry and exit forms are required to be signed by the person to be responsible. The entry form will be torn off by the immigration examiner at the time of entry and the entry form will be nailed to the passport and will be torn off by the country’s examiner when leaving the country.

Since 2016, in order to simplify border management measures, the original two-entry registration form has been changed to a single sheet, which only needs to be filled in when entering Japan, and there is no need to pay the registration form when leaving the country.

For those who have a multiple residence permit with a residence card in Japan, they only need to prepare a residence card when entering the country, and do not need to fill in the entry record. When leaving the country, they should complete the re-entry procedure and fill in the re-entry record for re-entry. .

China Mainland
Foreign nationals are required to fill in the registration form for foreigners, and foreigners who hold a permanent residence permit for foreigners are exempted. The form is divided into two parts for inbound and outbound use. At the time of entry, the border inspection will tear off the immigration union and place the exit card in the passport. Passengers must keep the card in good condition and check it out when leaving the country.

Hong Kong
The Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region requires entry and exit of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Passengers are required to complete a copy-entry entry and exit registration form. However, passengers entering or leaving the country using the self-service clearance system (E-Channel) may not need to fill in the relevant forms, only need to check the verification documents and press the fingerprint.

Taiwan
In order to simplify the customs clearance process, the new registration card will be officially adopted in January 2011. The form is slightly larger than the older version, and it is easier to fill in. It also omits the procedures for filling in the registration card when leaving the country and collecting it at the time of departure. You must fill in and pay the registration card at the time of entry.

Source from Wikipedia