Articles
Practical guides to visas, permitted stays, hospital appointments, companions, arrival, medication and emergencies for patients planning care in China.
12 articles · updated regularly
- Entry rules
Can Hainan's 30-day visa-free entry cover a short medical visit?
People from the 61 countries listed in this article who hold an ordinary passport may enter Hainan visa-free for medical treatment and stay up to 30 days. Care must stay in Hainan, and entry permission is not a hospital appointment.
3 min
- Stay and residence
What if treatment in China may outlast your visa?
If the visa allows a stay of no more than 180 days, you may stay for that period. An extension has to be filed at least seven days before it ends. Treatment longer than six months needs a separate residence-permit check.
3 min
- Entry rules
Can 240-hour visa-free transit be used for a medical visit?
Do not treat 240-hour transit as medical entry permission. The activity examples do not establish whether a planned medical visit qualifies or is excluded. Check your actual itinerary with the responsible authority before booking, and confirm the hospital appointment separately.
2 min
- Entry rules
Which visa should a family member check when accompanying a patient to China?
Each family member applies separately. The S1 and S2 family-visit routes are for relatives of a foreign national who is already staying or residing in China. Someone leaving with the patient usually has to confirm a private-affairs application.
3 min
- Hospital schedule
Why recheck a specialist clinic before you book flights?
A published timetable is a guide to clinic days; it does not reserve an appointment. If the specialist, campus, or date changes, a flight booking does not replace the hospital's confirmation.
2 min
- Hospital schedule
Are hospital clinics open as usual during a Chinese public holiday?
Do not assume a holiday clinic matches a normal weekday. Read the notice for your hospital and campus, then recheck the appointment you already hold.
2 min
- Medication
Can you bring your own medicine when you travel to China for care?
Personal medicine that is not a narcotic or psychotropic substance may be carried in a reasonable quantity for personal use. Narcotic drugs and Category I psychotropic substances need a medical diagnosis certificate, your identity document, and no more than one prescription's maximum.
3 min
- Emergency
Which number do you call for a medical emergency in China?
For urgent medical help in mainland China, call 120. Beijing's official guide also gives (+86 10) 120. Do not wait for a coordinator to assess the cause remotely; emergency care also cannot replace your booked specialist visit.
2 min
- Arrival steps
Where should you complete China's arrival card before a medical trip?
Since 20 November 2025, foreign nationals can complete the arrival card free of charge through the National Immigration Administration website, the NIA 12367 app, or the WeChat or Alipay mini-program. A copycat site that charges a fee is not official.
2 min
- Arrival steps
Do you need to register where you stay after arriving for medical care?
A hotel registers foreign guests. A stay in an apartment, with friends or family, or in a home you own generally has to be registered within 24 hours. Online registration has the same effect as registration at a police station.
2 min
- Visit preparation
What should you ask before agreeing to a treatment plan in China?
Ask which tests support the recommendation, what other options you have, the main risks and who will continue your care after discharge. Understand the hospital’s explanation and keep a written record before deciding.
2 min
- Stay and residence
What if your passport number changes while you hold a China residence permit?
The residence permit records the passport number. If you are already residing in China and that number changes, apply to alter it within 10 days. If you renew the passport abroad, confirm before travel whether the old permit can still be used.
2 min