China medical visas. A clearer path to care.

1. Check whether you can travel visa-free

Visa-free entry lets eligible travellers visit China for a short stay without applying for a visa in advance. China offers nationwide arrangements, a Hainan-only exemption and transit exemptions. Start with your passport country, then check the length of stay and destination.

Each option has its own conditions: nationwide exemption FAQ, bilateral agreements, Hainan policy and transit policy.

Nationwide 30-day exemption: all 50 countries

These countries are covered by the unilateral exemption. Countries with bilateral agreements, including Singapore and Malaysia, appear separately below.

Each visit can last up to 30 days, counted from the day after arrival. The current exemption has no stated end date for Brunei, runs through 31 December 2027 for Russia, and through 31 December 2026 for the other 48 countries. Sources: country list, dates and counting rules.

Bilateral exemptions: selected countries

Country sources: Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, UAE, Qatar, Mauritius, Seychelles.

Other bilateral partners include Serbia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, the Bahamas, Barbados and Suriname. See the Foreign Ministry's agreement list for coverage and passport types. The permitted stay follows each country's agreement.

United States, Mexico and countries not listed above

You may still have a Hainan or transit exemption available even without a nationwide exemption.

• United States and Mexico: included in both Hainan's 30-day exemption and 240-hour visa-free transit.
• Indonesia, Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan: also included in both lists.
• Philippines: included in the Hainan exemption.
• India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and countries such as South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Egypt: patients with ordinary passports generally need a visa in advance.

These are selected examples. Check the full Hainan list of 61 countries or transit list of 57 countries. If you already hold a valid Chinese visa or residence permit, check whether your existing document covers the trip.

2. Planning medical care during a visa-free stay

Do consultations, tests or minor surgery require a separate visa?

A medical appointment or minor operation does not, by itself, mean you must obtain a separate medical visa. Visa-free entry can be an option for short medical visits when you meet the applicable entry conditions and can complete your stay within the permitted time. The name of a procedure is not, on its own, the test for which entry arrangement you need.

For example, Malaysia's and Kazakhstan's exemptions and the Hainan policy explicitly include medical treatment. The UAE Foreign Ministry also states that Emirati citizens may receive treatment during a visa-free stay in China of up to 30 days. See the Malaysia FAQ, Kazakhstan guidance, Hainan policy and UAE guidance on treatment in China.

Ask your hospital how many days you need from your first appointment until you can travel home. Include tests, treatment, observation and follow-up appointments. Your treating doctor should assess whether a procedure can fit into a short visit.

The nationwide unilateral exemption lists tourism, business, family or friend visits, exchanges and transit, without separately listing medical treatment. If planned treatment is the main purpose of your trip and you are unsure how the exemption applies, describe your itinerary to a Chinese embassy or consulate, or call 12367. This does not mean that medical care or surgery during a visa-free stay is prohibited. Eligible visa-free travellers do not need to register their trip with an embassy in advance. Official exemption FAQ.

Treatment in Hainan

Hainan's exemption explicitly includes medical treatment. Eligible ordinary passport holders from 61 countries can stay for up to 30 days. Confirm your Hainan hospital first, then arrange arrival from outside mainland China through a Hainan port open to international arrivals. This can include travel via Hong Kong or Macao.

When using this regional exemption, stay within Hainan. Arrange the necessary permission before travelling to another mainland city for further care. If you enter mainland China in Guangzhou or Shanghai before taking a domestic flight to Hainan, use a visa or exemption that applies at that first entry point. Hainan policy, routing guidance.

A trip that qualifies for visa-free transit

The 240-hour transit exemption is another option for an eligible short stay. It currently covers 57 nationalities, 65 ports and permitted areas in 24 provinces. You need confirmed onward travel, with a date and itinerary, to a third country or region.

For example, United States → Shanghai → Japan meets the third-destination route pattern; United States → Shanghai → United States does not. When arranging an appointment, check the hospital location, appointment date and departure time together. Whether the medical visit fits the entry arrangement depends on the applicable conditions. Transit conditions and permitted areas.

3. How to apply when you need a medical visa

Apply in advance if no exemption covers your trip, or if treatment and recovery are expected to exceed your visa-free allowance.

Short medical visits usually use an S2 visa for medical treatment under private affairs. Patients and medical companions have corresponding application routes. S2 covers short stays of up to 180 days; your visa will show the actual number of days and entries granted. S visa guidance, S2 for patients and companions.

Four application steps

1. Contact a hospital in China. Confirm acceptance and the expected treatment period. Ask for an acceptance letter, invitation or planned-admission certificate.
2. Prepare your documents and apply online. Start from the Chinese embassy or consulate website responsible for where you live, or its designated visa centre.
3. Submit your passport and documents and attend any required interview. Follow the local instructions for appointments and additional documents.
4. Collect your passport and check the permitted stay and number of entries. Match your final itinerary to the visa issued.

Documents commonly requested

See the embassy's general application guidance and medical document requirements in Türkiye. Use the checklist for the office processing your application.

Application details by region

Processing time and cost: Some embassies quote about four working days for ordinary processing, with online review, appointments and additional documents taking extra time. Visa fees depend on nationality and application location; visa centres may also charge service fees. Use your local office's current timetable and fee schedule. Processing-time example.

4. Companions, longer treatment and arrival formalities

Can family come with you? Each person can use a visa exemption that covers their passport and trip. A medical companion who needs a visa can prepare relationship evidence and a hospital letter confirming accompaniment, following the local checklist. Each person's permitted stay is counted separately.

What if treatment takes longer? Ask the hospital for a letter explaining the need for continued care and your expected departure date, then contact the local public security exit-entry administration:

The authority will decide the approved duration. Sources: stay permits, extension rules, long-term medical residence.

What should you carry? Your passport, hospital appointment or acceptance documents, accommodation address, and return or onward itinerary. If travelling on a visa, check its entry-validity date, number of entries and permitted stay.

What happens after arrival? Hotels normally handle accommodation registration. If staying with friends or in a rented home, register within 24 hours of arrival at the accommodation. Online registration is available through the Immigration Bureau's 12367 app and related mini programs. Accommodation registration.

For entry and stay questions, contact 12367. For visa documents, contact the responsible Chinese embassy, consulate or designated visa centre. Ask your treating hospital about treatment timing and when you can travel home.