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Visas and entry for medical travel to China

China has no dedicated "medical visa". Treatment visits normally use the S2 visa. Some nationalities can enter visa-free for short stays — but only Hainan's visa-free scheme lists medical treatment as a permitted purpose. This page sets out the official rules, dated, and the rules that apply once you are in China.

An airport departure hall with glass walls and a parked aircraft outside.

Data as of 2026-10-09 · 22 sources · 1 items recorded as missing

The S2 route

The rows in this block are not one comparable series, so they are listed in the table below instead of being plotted.

Metric Value Year or as-of Caliber Level Source
No dedicated medical visa — treatment uses the S2 visa S2 (up to 180 days) standing official FAQ S2 covers short-term private affairs including medical treatment; S1 applies when the stay exceeds 180 days. There is no separate medical visa category. Level A https://cs.mfa.gov.cn/wgrlh/lhqz/cjwdn_660600/201407/t20140718_961506.shtml
S2 medical-treatment documents (embassy checklist) — checklist updated 2023-12-14 (1) invitation letter, admission certificate or proposed-treatment certificate issued by the Chinese hospital that will receive the patient; (2) original bank statement of at least USD 10,000; (3) up to 2 accompanying family members with proof of relationship and a companion certificate issued by the same hospital. Level A https://ir.china-embassy.gov.cn/lsfw_1/ZYTZ/202506/t20250612_11646759.htm
S2 medical-treatment documents (second official example) — 2023 version Same two-layer structure: hospital-issued admission/proposed-treatment certificate for the patient; relationship proof plus hospital-issued companion certificate for up to 2 family-member attendants Level A https://fukuoka.china-consulate.gov.cn/chn/zlgdt/202302/P020230726602030733426.pdf
Who may accompany a patient — one mission's published list up to 2 checklist updated 2023-12-14 A published consular checklist for treatment visits allows no more than two accompanying family members and names them in full: spouse, parents, parents-in-law, children, children's spouses, siblings, grandparents and grandchildren. Proof of relationship and a hospital-issued companion certificate are required. Missions publish different lists, so the checklist of the mission handling the application governs. Level A https://ir.china-embassy.gov.cn/lsfw_1/ZYTZ/202506/t20250612_11646759.htm
The M visa is for trade, not treatment — 2023 version M visas are issued for commercial and trade activities and are unrelated to medical treatment — applying under M for treatment is a category error Level A https://fukuoka.china-consulate.gov.cn/chn/zlgdt/202302/P020230726602030733426.pdf
Requirements vary by Chinese mission abroad — standing official FAQ Applicants must follow the checklist of the Chinese embassy or consulate handling their application; checklists differ between missions and must not be copied across countries Level A https://cs.mfa.gov.cn/wgrlh/lhqz/cjwdn_660600/201407/t20140718_961506.shtml
Who issues the invitation / admission certificate — embassy checklist The Chinese hospital that will receive the patient — not an embassy, not an agency. The hospital first completes a records assessment before any certificate can be issued. Level A https://ir.china-embassy.gov.cn/lsfw_1/ZYTZ/202506/t20250612_11646759.htm
Hospital example — PUMCH International Medical Services (English booking) — page undated Hospital self-statement: international appointment line, English in-app booking, weekday clinics 08:00–17:00, evening and weekend clinics, 24-hour emergency. Hospital self-statements are graded B and never presented as official data. Level B https://ims.pumch.cn/reservation/1.html

Visa-free entry: what it does and does not cover

Countries eligible for visa-free entry

Countries eligible for visa-free entry240-hour transit — eligible countries: 57; Unilateral visa-free entry — eligible countries: 50240-hour transit — eligible countries57Unilateral visa-free entry — eligible countries50

Permitted visa-free stay (hours)

Permitted visa-free stay (hours)24-hour visa-free transit: 24 hours; 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit — duration: 240 hours / 10 days24-hour visa-free transit24 hours240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit — duration240 hours / 10 days
Metric Value Year or as-of Caliber Level Source
24-hour visa-free transit 24 hours page updated 2026-08-20 Available at all open ports for citizens of all countries: valid international travel document + confirmed connecting ticket, stay within the port's restricted area. Leaving that area requires a temporary-entry permit from the port immigration inspection authority. Level A https://www.nia.gov.cn/n741440/n741577/c1731205/content.html
240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit — duration 240 hours / 10 days effective 2024-12-17 The previous 72/144-hour windows were unified to 240 hours by NIA announcement No. 12 of 2024 Level A https://ka.sz.gov.cn/bmfw/bwzc/content/post_11952319.html
240-hour transit — eligible countries 57 expanded 2026-08-20 Europe 40 / Americas 6 / Oceania 2 / Asia 9; Kyrgyzstan and Vietnam added on 2026-08-20. Full country list in the source document. Level A https://www.nia.gov.cn/n794014/n1050181/n1050489/c1796294/content.html
240-hour transit — ports and regions 65 ports expanded 2025-11-05 Enter visa-free at any of the 65 ports, stay up to 10 days within the permitted areas, cross-province travel allowed inside those areas. Inner Mongolia, Jilin, Tibet, Gansu, Qinghai, Ningxia and Xinjiang are outside the policy. Level A https://www.nia.gov.cn/n741440/n741542/c1751080/content.html
240-hour transit — permitted purposes — page updated 2026-08-20 Tourism, business, visits and family visits. Work, study and news reporting still require a visa. MEDICAL TREATMENT IS NOT LISTED among the permitted purposes. Level A https://www.nia.gov.cn/n741440/n741577/c1731205/content.html
240-hour transit — when the clock starts — local government FAQ, consistent with NIA The 240 hours start at 00:00 of the day AFTER entry, not at the arrival time (example in the source: enter 08:00 on 1 Jan → leave before 23:59 on 11 Jan). Level A https://wsb.huangshan.gov.cn/zwgk/public/6615716/11717334.html
240-hour transit — itinerary requirement — local government FAQ A confirmed onward ticket with a set date and seat to a THIRD country or region must be held before entry; returning to the country of departure does not qualify. Level A https://wsb.huangshan.gov.cn/zwgk/public/6615716/11717334.html
240-hour transit — per-province stay areas — 2026-07 official guide Most provinces: the whole province. Exceptions include Shanxi (Taiyuan, Datong), Heilongjiang (Harbin), Jiangxi (Nanchang, Jingdezhen), Guangxi (12 cities), Sichuan (11 cities), Yunnan (9 prefectures). Level A https://kgw.gz.gov.cn/xwzx/mtjj/content/post_10043543.html
Port list — 60-port baseline (working paper) 60 guide published 2026-07 Working baseline paper: no single official page lists all 65 ports (the NIA policy page's port section is empty), so the list is assembled from the baseline plus the two later expansions. Level A http://gaj.changchun.gov.cn/crj/gfqwzcwj/202607/P020260715609080030533.pdf
Port expansion (2025-11-05): +5 Guangdong ports +5 effective 2025-11-05 Guangzhou Pazhou passenger port, Hengqin, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Zhongshan port, Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong XRL West Kowloon station Level A https://www.nia.gov.cn/n741440/n741542/c1751080/content.html
Per-province port list (cross-check) — 2025-05 Consulate re-publication of the per-province port and stay-area list, used as a second working paper for the assembled 65-port list Level A https://montreal.china-consulate.gov.cn/zjfw/lszj/fhqz/cjwd2/202505/t20250530_11637915.htm
Unilateral visa-free entry — eligible countries 50 as of 2026-02-17 Europe 35 / Oceania 2 / Asia 7 / Americas 6. Ordinary passports only; entry for business, tourism, family visits, exchanges or transit. Level A https://www.nia.gov.cn/n741440/n741577/c1731154/content.html
Unilateral visa-free stay — 30 days, purposes exclude medical treatment 30 days page dated 2026-02-17 Business, tourism, family visits, exchanges, transit — medical treatment is NOT listed. The clock starts at 00:00 of the day after entry. Level A https://www.nia.gov.cn/n741440/n741577/c1731154/content.html
Unilateral visa-free — expiry ledger — page updated 2026-02-27 Brunei: no expiry set. Russia: extended to 2027-12-31. The other 48 countries: in force until 2026-12-31. Any page that quotes the 50-country list must carry these dates. Level A https://riodejaneiro.china-consulate.gov.cn/lsyw_0/zytz/202511/t20251104_11746425.htm
Russia — extension to 2027-12-31 — announced 2026-05-20 China extended unilateral visa-free entry for Russian ordinary-passport holders to 2027-12-31; purposes and the 30-day limit unchanged Level A https://www.mct.gov.cn/ggfw/cxts/202605/t20260521_965924.htm
Unilateral visa-free — passport type restriction — 2026-11 (media report) Ordinary passports only. Holders of travel documents or temporary/emergency documents cannot use visa-free entry (media relay of an NIA briefing answer — kept as B). Level B https://cn.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202511/23/WS6922a87fa310942cc4992dd0.html
Cruise group visa-free entry (15 days) 15 days page updated 2026-08-20 Foreign tour groups of 2+ organised by Chinese travel agencies arriving by cruise at 13 cruise ports (Tianjin, Dalian, Lianyungang, Wenzhou, Zhoushan, Xiamen, Qingdao, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Beihai, Haikou, Sanya and one more), whole group in/out, 11 coastal provinces plus Beijing Level A https://www.nia.gov.cn/News/news/content.jsp?id=1726630
ASEAN group visa-free entry (6 days, Xishuangbanna / Guilin) 6 days page updated 2026-08-20 ASEAN tour groups of 2+ organised by Chinese agencies, whole group in/out, limited to Xishuangbanna prefecture (Yunnan) or Guilin (Guangxi) Level A https://www.nia.gov.cn/News/news/content.jsp?id=1726630
Hong Kong / Macao group entry to Guangdong — page updated 2026-08-20 Citizens of countries having diplomatic relations with China, holding ordinary passports, must first enter Hong Kong or Macao, then join a group organised by a Hong Kong/Macao-registered travel agency to enter the nine Greater Bay Area cities plus Shantou visa-free Level A https://www.nia.gov.cn/News/news/content.jsp?id=1726630

Hainan: the medical-treatment exception

Countries eligible for the Hainan visa-free scheme

Countries eligible for the Hainan visa-free schemeHainan 61-country visa-free entry — medical treatment IS listed: 61Hainan 61-country visa-free entry — medical treatment IS listed61
Metric Value Year or as-of Caliber Level Source
Hainan 61-country visa-free entry — medical treatment IS listed 61 page updated 2026-08-20 Ordinary passports, up to 30 days, for tourism, business, visits, family visits, MEDICAL TREATMENT, conferences and sports events (work and study excluded). Stay limited to Hainan province. This is the only visa-free channel found where medical treatment is an explicitly permitted purpose. Level A https://www.nia.gov.cn/News/news/content.jsp?id=1726630
Hainan policy — English wording confirms 'medical treatment' — page updated 2026-08-20 The NIA English page lists 'medical treatment' among the permitted purposes — useful as the English-language citation for this page Level A https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147463/c180637/content.html
Hainan visa-free scope limit Hainan province only 2026-08-20 Visa-free entry under the Hainan scheme cannot be used to reach hospitals in Beijing, Shanghai or other provinces: the permitted stay is confined to Hainan. Level A https://www.nia.gov.cn/News/news/content.jsp?id=1726630

Port visas and the 65-port transit scheme

Ports where a port visa can be applied for (2025-01)

Ports where a port visa can be applied for (2025-01)Port visas — coverage: 99 ports / 73 citiesPort visas — coverage99 ports / 73 cities
Metric Value Year or as-of Caliber Level Source
Port visas — legal basis (emergency entry) — NIA page published 2025-01 A port visa is a way of applying, not a visa category. Available for urgent humanitarian, business or other emergency entry with approval documents from the competent authorities, at ports approved by the State Council. Level A https://ca.china-embassy.gov.cn/lsyw/lszj/mqzc00/kaqz00/202501/t20250122_11542725.htm
Port visas — coverage 99 ports / 73 cities 2025-01 Official coverage figure; port visas are not recommended as a routine channel for medical travel Level A https://ca.china-embassy.gov.cn/lsyw/lszj/mqzc00/kaqz00/202501/t20250122_11542725.htm
Port visas — stated purposes (no explicit medical treatment) — NIA Q&A page The official list covers business cooperation, exchanges, investment, visiting relatives, private affairs and humanitarian reasons (funerals, visiting critically ill relatives). Medical treatment is NOT explicitly listed — the site does not extrapolate. Level A https://www.nia.gov.cn/n741440/n741577/c1633724/content.html
NIA 12367 hotline +86-12367 2025-01 24-hour immigration service hotline in Mandarin, Cantonese, English, Russian, Japanese and Korean Level A https://ca.china-embassy.gov.cn/lsyw/lszj/mqzc00/kaqz00/202501/t20250122_11542725.htm

After you arrive: permits, registration and extensions

The rows in this block are not one comparable series, so they are listed in the table below instead of being plotted.

Metric Value Year or as-of Caliber Level Source
Visa marked "residence permit required": apply within 30 days of entry 30 days in force since 2013-07-01 Where the visa states that a residence permit is required after entry, the holder applies to the exit/entry administration of the public security organ at county level or above in the intended place of residence within 30 days from the date of entry, and that administration decides within 15 days. The deadline is also written on the visa itself (State Council Decree No. 814, article 9). Level A https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147458/c155978/content.html
How long a non-work residence permit runs 180 days – 5 years in force since 2013-07-01 A residence permit issued for a purpose other than work runs from 180 days to five years; the exit/entry administration sets the length. Work-type permits start at 90 days. Level A https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147458/c155978/content.html
Extending a residence permit: apply within 30 days before it expires 30 days in force since 2013-07-01 The application goes to the exit/entry administration at county level or above in the place of residence, inside the 30 days before expiry. If the extension is refused, the holder leaves China on the expiry date printed on the permit. Level A https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147458/c155978/content.html
Extending a visa stay of up to 180 days: apply seven days before it expires 7 days in force since 2013-07-01 The application is filed with the exit/entry administration at county level or above in the place of stay seven days before the stay expires. If no extension is granted, the visitor leaves China on the expiry date. Level A https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147458/c155978/content.html
How far a visa stay can be extended in total capped at the visa stay period in force since 2025-10-01 Extensions accumulate against the stay period printed on the visa and may not exceed it (Decree No. 814, article 14), so a 60-day entry cannot be extended into a year. The decision applies to that entry only; it does not change the visa's validity or its number of entries. Level A https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202508/content_7036508.htm
Visa-free arrival that needs longer: a stay permit, not a new visa stay permit, up to 180 days in force since 2013-07-01 A visa-exempt entrant who needs to stay beyond the visa-free period applies for a stay permit, whose maximum validity is 180 days. Changing the purpose of stay, and converting to another visa category, is written for people who entered on a visa (Decree No. 814, article 10) — so a visa-free arrival is not turned into an S1 or S2 visa inside China. Whether a stay permit is issued rests with the exit/entry administration. Level A https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147458/c155978/content.html
Accommodation registration: hotel or guesthouse registered by the hotel in force since 2013-07-01 The hotel registers the foreign guest in line with the rules on public security administration of the hotel industry and reports the registration to the local public security organ; the guest files nothing separately. Level A https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147458/c155978/content.html
Accommodation registration: anywhere other than a hotel within 24 hours in force since 2013-07-01 Staying in a rented flat, a friend's home or a privately arranged serviced apartment, the visitor or the person accommodating them registers with the local public security organ within 24 hours of arrival. Level A https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147458/c155978/content.html
Missing accommodation registration: what the law attaches to it warning + up to CNY 2,000 in force since 2013-07-01 Failing to register under the second paragraph of article 39 carries a warning and a fine of up to CNY 2,000. Hotels carry their own penalties for failing to register a guest. Level A https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147458/c155978/content.html
Overstaying: what the law calls illegal stay, and what it carries warning, fine or detention in force since 2013-07-01 Staying past the permitted period, or outside a restricted stay area, is illegal stay: a warning, and in serious cases a fine of CNY 500 per day up to CNY 10,000, or detention of 5 to 15 days. A visa-free entrant who overstays without obtaining a stay or residence permit falls under the same rule (Decree No. 814, article 25). Level A https://en.nia.gov.cn/n147418/n147458/c155978/content.html

Sources

Show all 22 sources

What we cannot tell you

  1. Rules change. Every figure on this page carries an as-of date; always confirm with the National Immigration Administration or your nearest Chinese embassy or consulate before travelling.
  2. The 240-hour visa-free transit and the 50-country unilateral visa-free scheme do not list medical treatment as a permitted purpose.
  3. Only Hainan's 61-country scheme covers medical treatment, and it confines travel to Hainan province.
  4. The S2 document list shown here comes from two Chinese missions; requirements differ by embassy or consulate.
  5. No hospital in China publishes an official "how to request a visa invitation letter" process; we record that as missing.
  6. A visa-free stay cannot be converted into an S1 or S2 visa from inside China. Where the exit/entry administration approves it, a visa-free visitor who needs longer applies for a stay permit of up to 180 days — that is a different document from a visa.
  7. The 30-day residence-permit window applies to visas that state a residence permit is required after entry, and the visa itself carries the deadline; it is not a general rule for every visitor.
  8. Published hospital process for visa invitation letters — No hospital website found that publishes an official 'how to request a visa invitation letter / proposed-treatment certificate' process page. Recorded as missing rather than inferred.

Planning the trip? You can also watch third-party videos from people who came here for care.