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It is completely feasible for foreigners to seek medical treatment in China, but they need to comply with Chinese laws and regulations and prepare the appropriate procedures according to the type of medical treatment (e.g. emergency, general outpatient, hospitalization, etc.) and the duration of stay.
The prerequisite for foreigners to seek medical treatment in China is a valid Chinese visa or residence permit. Depending on the length of stay and the need for medical treatment, they need to apply for the corresponding entry documents:
For urgent medical needs (e.g. sudden illness, accidental injury), even if you have a tourist visa (L visa) or short-term business visa (M visa), you can enter the country first to receive medical treatment (border control or medical institutions will verify the situation and then release you).
After the medical treatment, the visa should be extended according to the actual duration of stay: the general tourist visa can be extended (up to the remaining period of the original visa), or converted into other types of visas (e.g., Q2/S2 visas for family visits or medical treatment).
It is necessary to apply for Q1 visa (long-term reunion category) or S1 visa (long-term treatment category):
Q1 visa: applicable to foreigners who need to accompany and take care of their relatives (e.g. spouse, parents, children) for treatment in China, and can apply for a residence permit for more than 180 days.
S1 Visa: for foreigners who need to be treated in China for more than 180 days (a certificate issued by the hospital stating that “long-term treatment is required” must be provided), and a residence permit of the corresponding duration can be applied for after approval.
If the foreigner is a healthcare worker or a worker of a medical institution in China, he/she can apply for a work visa (Z visa) and a work-type residence permit.
Depending on the type of medical treatment (emergency, outpatient, inpatient, special treatment), the required procedures and services may vary slightly:
No need to make an appointment in advance: regardless of whether one has a legal visa or not, medical institutions are required to prioritize treatment (in line with the principle of “life first”); and
After the treatment, you need to provide your passport, visa and other proof of identity to the hospital and complete the registration procedures (some hospitals may require you to fill out the “Registration Form for Foreigners Seeking Emergency Medical Treatment”).
Payment of fees: Emergency medical fees are to be borne by yourself (unless you have purchased medical insurance in China), some private hospitals or international departments support international credit card settlement.
Appointment: Appointment through the hospital's official APP, WeChat public number, telephone (some tertiary hospitals need to make an appointment for a specialist 1-2 weeks in advance for the international department).
Required documents: original passport and photocopy, valid visa/residence permit (within the validity period), past medical records and examination reports (better translated into Chinese).
Place of service: Preferred hospitals are “International Medical Departments” (e.g. Peking Union Medical College Hospital International Department, Shanghai Ruijin Hospital International Medical Center), and some hospitals have “special windows for foreign patients”.
Language support: The International Department is usually equipped with English, Japanese, Korean interpreters (some hospitals provide multi-language call services), and professional medical interpreters can be coordinated for complicated cases.
Visa Requirements: Hospitalization Notification (stating the expected length of hospitalization) must be provided to apply for a Q1/S1 visa or extension of residence permit (generally 1 month in advance to the Chinese Embassy or Consulate General or the Exit-Entry Administration).
Payment of fees: In-patient fees are charged according to Chinese standards in public tertiary hospitals (some items may be higher than out-patient fees), while fees in private hospitals or international departments are higher (but transparent and negotiable).
Accompanying person: If family members are required to accompany the patient, the accompanying person should apply for Q2 visa (family visit category) or S2 visa (accompanying person category) separately, and the period of stay generally does not exceed the period of hospitalization of the patient.
Technology access: some of China's top hospitals (e.g., Beijing Fu Wai Hospital, Shanghai Proton Heavy Ion Hospital) have specialized technology up to international standards, but it is necessary to confirm that the patient's condition meets the hospital's admission criteria.
Use of drugs/devices: If you need to use imported drugs and devices that are not listed in China, you need to go through the “Licensed Drugs and Devices” policy (only available in specific areas such as the Boao Lecheng Advanced Zone in Hainan), and you need to apply for approval from the Lecheng Management Bureau in advance; and
Insurance coverage: some international commercial insurance (e.g. BUPA, MSH) and China's partner hospitals direct payment, need to confirm in advance whether the policy covers treatment in China (need to include the “foreigners in China medical treatment” clause).
As China's only “Advanced Medical Tourism Zone”, Lecheng provides more convenient conditions for overseas patients:
1. Licensed drug and device use: Simultaneous use of drugs/medical devices that have been approved by the US FDA, EU EMA or Japan PMDA but are not listed in China (no need to wait for China's approval); and
2. Visa facilitation: open a “medical visa” green channel for overseas patients, with the “Confirmation Letter of Entry for Medical Treatment” issued by the medical institutions in LeCheng, you can apply for a 5-year multiple-entry visa (each stay of no more than 90 days).
3. Cost advantage: the price of some licensed medicines is lower than the international market (e.g. new anti-cancer drugs, rare disease drugs), and supports international insurance direct payment.
4. Full-process services: providing one-stop services from reservation, translation, accommodation to transportation (some organizations cooperate with international travel agencies to customize medical tourism packages).
1. Legal status is a prerequisite: apply for the corresponding visa/residence permit according to the length of medical treatment (short-term emergency treatment can be reissued after the fact, and Q1/S1 visa is required for long-term treatment).
2. Preferred international departments: international departments of public tertiary hospitals or private hospitals provide multi-language services and optimized processes.
3. Insurance and expenses: it is recommended to purchase international medical insurance covering treatment in China, or confirm the hospital's charging method in advance; and
4. Special needs to see LeCheng: difficult and serious diseases, licensed medicine and equipment needs can be prioritized in Boao LeCheng Advanced Zone in Hainan.How Can China's Assisted Reproductive Institutions Earn Global Trust? How Does China's Assisted Reproductive Technology Meet Diverse Fertility Needs? Why Has China's Assisted Reproductive Technology Become the Top Choice for International Patients? Five Core Advantages of China's Assisted Reproductive Technology: A Comprehensive Analysis of Technology, Policy, and Services China's Assisted Reproductive Technology Leads Globally: Why Does Its Success Rate Remain Among the Highest? The Rise of Medical Tourism in China: Why Are Overseas Cancer Patients Choosing Treatment Abroad? China's Cancer Treatment Costs in Global Ranking: Is the Value for Money Truly Higher? China vs. the United States: How Wide Is the Gap in Cancer Treatment Technology? 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Tips: Before visiting the hospital, it is recommended to consult the specific requirements through the hospital's official website or by phone, and plan the trip in advance to avoid affecting the treatment due to incomplete procedures.
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