1. Declaration of Entry Purpose: Upon entry, travelers must voluntarily declare the purpose of medical travel to immigration and customs officials, and present supporting documents including the hospital appointment confirmation letter, MedLink China service confirmation letter, and itinerary. Avoid vague declarations (e.g., stating "tourism" incorrectly) to prevent entry obstruction.
2. Regulations on Carrying Medical-related Items
- Prescription Drugs: Travelers must carry the English prescription issued by the overseas physician (specifying the purpose of medication, dosage, and duration of use). Drugs must be kept in their original packaging (with English instructions), and the quantity shall not exceed the reasonable medical needs for the trip (generally no more than a 3-month supply). Carrying controlled drugs such as narcotics and psychotropic substances (e.g., morphine, diazepam) is prohibited unless a special permit is obtained from Chinese customs in advance.
- Medical Devices: Carrying medical equipment such as wheelchairs, blood glucose meters, and ventilators requires advance declaration to customs, along with a medical necessity certificate issued by the hospital. Duty-free entry is permitted after verification.
- Prohibited Items: It is strictly forbidden to carry unquarantined blood products, biological samples, animal or plant products, counterfeit or substandard drugs, controlled knives, etc. For details, refer to the List of Prohibited Items for Entry on the official website of Chinese customs.
3. Visa and Stay Duration Requirements
- Medical Visa: Suitable for patients requiring treatment longer than 30 days. Applications must be submitted to Chinese embassies or consulates abroad in advance, with supporting documents including the hospital invitation letter, overseas medical records, copy of passport, and visa application form. The visa is generally valid for 3–6 months, allowing single or multiple entries, with a maximum stay of 180 days.
- Visa-free / Transit Visa Exemption: Suitable for patients requiring short-term treatment (see policy details below). If the permitted stay duration is insufficient, an extension can be applied for with the assistance of MedLink China 7 working days before the expiration date(a hospital-issued certificate stating "need for extended treatment" is required) to avoid illegal overstay;
- Important Note: The stay duration for all inbound travelers is calculated from 00:00 on the day following entry. Compliance with the permitted stay limit is mandatory; overstay will affect future eligibility for entry into China.
4. Other Important Reminders: Fingerprint collection is required upon entry (citizens of certain countries may be exempted, subject to on-site customs requirements); Truthfully declare the amount of cash carried (declaration is mandatory for amounts exceeding RMB 20,000 or equivalent to USD 5,000); Engaging in activities unrelated to the travel purpose (e.g., employment, study, commercial promotion) is prohibited.
Detailed Guidelines on China's Visa-free and Transit Visa Exemption Policies (2025 Update, Applicable to Medical Travel)
1. Unilateral Visa-free Policy (Applicable to 43 Countries, Stay ≤ 30 Days)
- Applicable Countries(including major European and American countries)
- Europe (34 countries): France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland.
- Americas (5 countries): Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay.
- Asia (7 countries): Republic of Korea, Japan, Brunei, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain.
- Oceania (2 countries): Australia, New Zealand.
- Eligibility Criteria: Hold a valid ordinary passport, enter China for the purpose of medical travel, and stay for no more than 30 days; no prior visa application is required.
- Port of Entry: All open ports in China (including major medical travel hubs such as Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport and Shenzhen Bao'an International Airport).
- Notes: Only applicable for short-term medical treatments (e.g., outpatient consultations, minimally invasive surgeries, follow-up rehabilitation visits). For long-term treatments that cannot be completed within 30 days, a medical visa is required. A hospital appointment confirmation letter and return air ticket must be presented upon entry.
2. Regional Visa-free Policy (Specifically for Medical Travel in Designated Areas)
- Hainan 30-day Visa-free Policy (Applicable to 59 Countries): Citizens of 59 countries including the United States, Canada, Russia, United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand can enter Hainan visa-free for medical purposes with a valid ordinary passport. Travel is restricted to the administrative region of Hainan Province, with a maximum stay of 30 days. This policy is ideal for patients seeking treatment at the Boao Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone in Hainan.
- Greater Bay Area 6-day Group Visa-free Policy: Citizens of countries that have established diplomatic relations with China can enter 9 cities in the Greater Bay Area (including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Zhuhai) and Shantou City visa-free for up to 6 days when traveling in groups of 2 or more organized by registered travel agencies in Hong Kong or Macao. This policy is suitable for patients requiring short-term consultations at multiple hospitals in the Greater Bay Area (coordination with qualified travel agencies via MedLink China is required).
3. Transit Visa Exemption Policy (Suitable for Transit Medical Consultations)
- 24-hour Transit Visa Exemption (Applicable Globally): Citizens of all countries holding a valid passport and confirmed connecting air tickets for a third country or region within 24 hours can enter China through any open port, with a maximum stay of 24 hours. Leaving the restricted port area is not permitted. This policy is only suitable for short-term transit medical consultations.
- 240-hour Transit Visa Exemption (Applicable to 55 Countries, Stay ≤ 10 Days)
- Applicable Countries: Including 55 countries such as the United States, Canada, Russia, United Kingdom, Germany, and France (the full list is available upon consultation with MedLink China).
- Eligibility Criteria: Hold a valid passport and confirmed connecting air tickets for a third country or region; enter China for the purpose of medical treatment.
- Port of Entry: 60 open ports (including major ports in the Greater Bay Area such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Zhuhai).
- Activity Scope: Free movement within the province where the port of entry is located (e.g., entry through Guangzhou allows medical treatment in Guangdong Province).
- Advantages: No prior visa application is required; ideal for short-term medical treatments that can be completed within 10 days (e.g., outpatient surgeries, specialized medical examinations).
4. Mutual Visa Exemption Policy (Applicable to Citizens of Certain Countries)
- China has signed mutual visa exemption agreements with multiple countries including the United Arab Emirates, Barbados, and Serbia. Citizens of these countries can enter China visa-free with a valid ordinary passport for a maximum stay of 30 days (subject to the specific terms of the agreement between the respective country and China). It is recommended to confirm whether your nationality is covered under the mutual visa exemption list via MedLink China to avoid travel disruptions due to policy differences.
Recommendations for Medical Travel and Exclusive Services from MedLink China
1. Itinerary Planning Recommendations
- Short-term Treatment (≤ 10 Days): If your country is eligible for the 240-hour transit visa exemption policy, this option is highly recommended. Confirm connecting air tickets and hospital appointments 10 days in advance. If not eligible, apply for a short-term medical visa,
- Medium-term Treatment (10–30 Days): Apply for the unilateral visa-free or mutual visa exemption policy if your country is eligible. Prepare medical documents and itinerary arrangements 15 days in advance.
- Long-term Treatment (> 30 Days): A medical visa application is mandatory. Submit the application 1–2 months in advance to allow sufficient time for document review, embassy approval, and preoperative preparation.
- Policy Verification: 3 days before departure, verify the latest entry policies via the official websites of the General Administration of Customs of China or the National Immigration Administration of China, or contact MedLink China to avoid travel disruptions caused by policy adjustments (e.g., changes to infectious disease prevention and control requirements).
2. Exclusive Services from MedLink China (Full Support for Your Medical Travel)
- Policy Interpretation and Solution Matching: Provide customized recommendations for visa-free / visa application solutions based on the patient's nationality, treatment duration, and destination city, with clear guidance on required entry documents.
- Document Assistance: Handle the processing of hospital appointment confirmation letters, pre-review medical visa application materials, and provide certified translation of overseas medical records (meeting the requirements of Chinese hospitals).
- Entry Assistance: Arrange professional staff to pick up patients at the airport / port, assist with customs declaration, health verification, and fingerprint collection, provide full English-Chinese bilingual communication support, and resolve on-site entry issues.
- Emergency Support: In case of entry obstruction, provide real-time coordination with customs and immigration authorities, submit supporting documents such as itinerary proof and medical necessity statements, and facilitate communication to resolve the issue.
- Medical Treatment Coordination: Liaise with hospitals in advance to share the patient's medical condition, assist with admission procedures, and arrange medical interpreters and full accompaniment throughout the diagnosis and treatment process.
Essential Medical Travel Checklist
1. Core Documents (Mandatory)
- Valid ordinary passport.
- Visa / visa-free certificate (or medical visa approval document).
- Hospital appointment confirmation letter and service confirmation letter issued by MedLink China.
- Round-trip connecting air tickets (paper and electronic copies);
- Medical liability insurance policy (covering medical expenses and emergency rescue services in China, with a recommended coverage of no less than RMB 500,000).
2. Medical Supplies (Core Materials for Treatment)
- Certified Chinese translation of medical records.
- Medical examination reports from the past 3 months, medical imaging films, and original reports.
- Medical diagnosis certificate, English prescription, and prescription drugs (in original packaging).
- Bilingual (English-Chinese) allergy information card (specifying allergens, symptoms, and emergency response measures).
- Portable medical supplies (e.g., blood pressure monitor, blood glucose meter, wheelchair, daily nursing supplies, etc.).
3. Payment and Communication Essentials
- International credit card (VISA/Mastercard, ensure sufficient credit limit).
- Small amount of RMB cash (recommended RMB 3,000–5,000 for small payments and emergencies).
- China local SIM card or international roaming service (ensure uninterrupted communication).
- Translation software (e.g., Google Translate, Baidu Translate for daily communication assistance).
4. Other Essentials
- Accommodation reservation confirmation (matching the itinerary).
- Emergency contact information (including MedLink China 24/7 service hotline, China's emergency numbers: 120 for medical emergency, 110 for police, 12360 for customs consultation).
- Daily necessities (clothing, toiletries, etc.).
- Power adapter (China uses 220V voltage with Type A and Type I plug standards).
Patient Information (To Be Provided to MedLink China in Advance)
1. Basic Information: Full name (exactly as shown on passport), gender, age, nationality, passport number, passport expiration date, local contact number in China (if available), overseas emergency contact number, email address, core purpose of medical travel (specific disease name, intended treatment / surgery).
2. Medical Information: Past medical history (including chronic diseases and infectious disease history), surgical history (surgery date, type of surgery, hospital where surgery was performed), current medication history (English name of drugs, dosage, frequency of administration, duration of use), allergy history (food / drug / other allergens), summary of recent medical examination reports, intended department for consultation, desired consultation time, expected duration of stay in China.
3. Itinerary Information: Planned entry date, expected departure date, port of entry, port of exit, mode of transportation (flight number / train number and departure / arrival times), accommodation preferences in China (e.g., proximity to a specific hospital, hotel star rating requirements, accessibility needs), accompanying person information (name, relationship to patient, passport number, contact number, if applicable).
4. Visa and Special Requirements: Country of citizenship, eligibility for visa-free / transit visa exemption policy, need for assistance with medical visa application, required language for interpretation, religious beliefs and dietary restrictions (e.g., halal, vegetarian, etc.), special service requirements (e.g., 24-hour personal accompaniment, post-rehabilitation care, airport-to-hospital transfer service, etc.).
