The paper arrival card handed out on the plane, filled in with a borrowed pen, has largely disappeared from travel within Europe — but it is still a routine part of entering dozens of countries elsewhere in the world. Embarkation and landing cards (also called arrival and departure cards, or E/D cards) collect basic information about who you are and where you are staying, and getting one wrong or losing your copy can cause real delays. Here is how they work today.
What these cards actually are
An embarkation card (or departure card) is completed before you leave a country; a landing card (or arrival card) is completed before you enter one. Some countries use only one, some use both, and some combine the two into a single document that is issued on arrival and torn in half — one half kept by immigration, the other stapled into your passport and collected again when you leave. This stapled-in stub system, most associated historically with countries such as Myanmar and a handful of others, means you must keep the paper safe for the whole length of your stay, since losing it can complicate your departure.
The information requested is broadly consistent worldwide: full name as it appears in your passport, passport number, nationality, date of birth, flight or vessel number, purpose of visit, length of stay and an address where you will be staying. Some cards also ask about occupation, previous visits, or — particularly post-pandemic — recent country visit history.
Where paper cards have disappeared
Within the Schengen Area, arrival and departure cards are essentially a thing of the past for short-stay travellers; passport checks (or, increasingly, e-gates) at the border serve the same purpose electronically. The UK abolished its landing card for most travellers some years ago, gathering the same information from airlines electronically instead via Advance Passenger Information. The general direction of travel across developed border systems is towards digital pre-registration or automated data capture rather than a card filled in with a pen mid-flight — see our guide to the upcoming EU Entry/Exit System for how Europe is replacing manual checks with biometric registration.
Where paper cards are still standard
Despite the broader digital trend, physical embarkation and landing cards remain routine in a significant number of countries, particularly across parts of Asia, the Caribbean and some island nations. Examples where travellers commonly still encounter a paper card include several Southeast Asian countries for at least one direction of travel, a number of Caribbean nations, and various smaller island states where digital immigration infrastructure has been slower to roll out. Some countries that have moved to an online arrival card still expect a printed confirmation to be shown or handed over on arrival, which functions in practice much like the old paper version — it has simply moved online before the flight rather than being filled in on board.
Practices change fairly often as countries digitise their border systems, so always check the specific current requirement for your destination shortly before travelling rather than relying on the experience of a previous trip.
Online arrival cards are increasingly common. A growing number of countries now require an online arrival card or health/customs declaration to be completed in the days before travel, generating a QR code or reference number shown at the border instead of a card filled in on the plane. Functionally, it does the same job as the paper card it replaces — treat it with the same seriousness and complete it before you travel, not after you land.
How to fill one in without holding up the queue
A few habits make the paper-card process faster for you and everyone behind you in line:
- Use a pen, not a pencil, and write in block capitals — most forms specify this, and illegible handwriting is a common reason for cards being rejected or queried.
- Copy details exactly as they appear on your passport, not how you would normally write your name. A mismatch between the card and your passport can prompt extra questions.
- Have your accommodation address ready before you start filling in the card — hotel booking confirmations on your phone are the easiest source. If you are not sure of your first night's address, note the city and a hotel name as a placeholder rather than leaving it blank.
- Fill it in before landing if it is being handed out on the plane — cabin crew usually distribute cards partway through the flight specifically so this is possible, and doing it in the air avoids a scramble in the arrivals hall.
- Keep any stub or departure half safe for the length of your stay if the system uses a torn card — store it with your passport, not loose in a bag.
What happens if you lose your card or make a mistake
If you lose a departure card stub during your stay, most immigration authorities can issue a replacement, though it may involve an extra queue or a small administrative step at the airport before departure — arriving with extra time is sensible if you know this has happened. For a genuine mistake on a card already submitted, raising it with an immigration officer at the point you notice — rather than hoping it goes unnoticed — is the more straightforward path; officers deal with minor corrections routinely and it is rarely a serious issue if resolved openly.
Customs declarations: a related but separate form
Embarkation and landing cards are sometimes confused with customs declaration forms, which ask a different set of questions — mainly about goods, cash and items you are bringing into the country, rather than who you are and where you are staying. Some countries combine the two into a single document; others keep them entirely separate, with the customs form only required if you have something to declare. See our guide to customs allowances for what typically needs declaring and the limits that commonly apply.
Digital arrival systems and what they mean for cards
Several countries have introduced or are piloting fully digital arrival systems that remove the need for any card, paper or online, by capturing traveller information from advance passenger data supplied by the airline, combined with biometric checks at the border itself. Europe's forthcoming Entry/Exit System is part of this broader shift, registering entries and exits biometrically rather than by stamp or card. Even so, the transition is uneven globally, and a paper or online card remains the norm in enough countries that it is worth checking before every trip outside Europe, rather than assuming the card has disappeared everywhere. Along with the card itself, be ready for the usual questions immigration officers ask on arrival.
Frequently asked questions
Do I still need a paper arrival card for Europe?
No, not for the Schengen Area or the UK under current arrangements — passport checks and, increasingly, e-gates and electronic pre-registration systems have replaced the old paper card for most travellers. Some non-Schengen European countries may still use limited forms in specific circumstances, so check if your route is unusual.
What happens if I lose my departure card stub?
Most immigration authorities can issue a replacement at the airport, though it may take extra time. Report it to an airline or airport immigration desk as early as possible before your flight, ideally with a spare hour built into your schedule.
Are online arrival cards the same as a visa?
No. An online arrival card or declaration is typically a registration of your details and travel plans, separate from any visa requirement. Some countries require both a visa (or visa-free entry eligibility) and a separate arrival card or declaration — check both requirements independently for your destination and nationality.
Can I fill in an arrival card for a family member?
Generally each passenger, including children, needs their own card with their own passport details, though rules on who can complete it (a parent completing a minor's card, for example) vary by country. If in doubt, complete individual cards for each family member using the details from each person's own passport.
Sources and further reading:
- Entry and exit requirements by destination: your own government's official travel advice.
- EU border digitisation: European Commission.
- Airline advance passenger information requirements: IATA.
- Always confirm current arrival and departure card requirements with the destination country's official immigration authority before travelling.