Coming to China for treatment
Which entry route fits your trip, what to prepare, and what we handle for you.
Your options
S2 visa (medical) — recommended
The visa embassies issue for medical treatment and for accompanying a patient. Stay up to 180 days per entry. Needs a letter from the treating hospital.
30-day visa-free entry
Ordinary passports of 50 countries can enter for up to 30 days for business, tourism, visits, exchange or transit. Medical treatment is not listed as a purpose, so for a planned treatment we still advise S2. For 48 of these countries the policy runs to 31 Dec 2026.
Hainan 30-day visa-free
Explicitly covers medical treatment. Stay within Hainan province — useful for the Boao Lecheng medical pilot zone.
240-hour visa-free transit
Up to 10 days in designated regions, entering via 65 ports in 24 provinces, with a confirmed onward ticket to a third country. Good for a consultation or check-up, not for inpatient treatment.
Show the 50 visa-free countries
Brunei, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Australia, Poland, Portugal, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, Slovakia, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, South Korea, Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Japan, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Uruguay, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Russia, Sweden, Canada, UK
Show the 57 transit countries
Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, UK, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, Norway, USA, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, UAE, Qatar, Indonesia, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan
- Passport valid 6+ months with blank pages, plus copy of the data page
- Completed visa application form and a recent photo
- Invitation letter, inpatient certificate or treatment acceptance letter from the Chinese hospital (we coordinate this)
- Round-trip flight booking
- Proof of funds — some embassies ask for a bank deposit certificate of at least USD 10,000
- Recent diagnosis or medical report from your home doctor (if asked)
- Fingerprints in person at the visa center
We send your records to the hospital and get the invitation or treatment acceptance letter issued in the format embassies expect.
We request the hospital's accompany certificate for up to 2 family members.
VIP channel: within 24 hours of landing you see the doctor, with a 1:1 escort from the gate.
If treatment runs long, your case manager prepares the hospital letter and goes with you to the exit-entry bureau.
Can I just come visa-free and start treatment?
For short consultations it may work, but medical treatment is not a listed purpose of the 30-day visa-free policy and border officers check purpose. For surgery or inpatient care, get an S2 visa.
How long does the S2 take?
Processing time depends on your embassy or visa center. Plan 2–3 weeks in total, including getting the hospital letter.
Is the invitation letter free?
Hospitals generally issue it after accepting your case, often after a deposit. Your case manager will tell you the hospital terms up front.
What if my country is not on any list?
Apply for an S2 visa at your local Chinese embassy or visa center.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Policies change; verify with the Chinese embassy or consulate.
Sources: National Immigration Administration (nia.gov.cn), Chinese embassies, visaforchina.cn