Self-service tools
Which entry route fits your treatment?
Answer three questions and we will show you how you can enter China for care — visa-free, under the 240-hour transit exemption, or with an S2 medical visa — plus exactly what you need for each.
Independent patient coordination. Zero markup on your hospital bill. Not medical advice.
Three ways to enter China
Almost every patient we coordinate arrives through one of these routes.
Visa-free entry
30 days
No application, no fee, no embassy visit. Available to 54 nationalities including most of the EU, the UK, the US, Canada and Australia.
240-hour transit
10 days
For short treatment trips when you already hold a confirmed onward ticket to a third country. The clock does not pause for treatment.
Medical visa (S2/M)
180 days
The reliable route for surgery, oncology or anything with an uncertain recovery window. Extendable inside China if treatment runs long.
Required documents checklist
Four documents decide almost every medical visa application. Two of them we prepare for you.
Valid passport
At least six months' validity beyond your planned departure, with two blank pages facing each other.
Passport photograph
48 mm × 33 mm, white background, taken within the last six months. No glasses, no uniform.
Hospital invitation letter
Issued by the treating hospital in two to three business days. It must name you exactly as your passport does.
Proof of funds
Bank statements showing a stable balance covering roughly 120% of your estimated costs. Sudden large deposits attract scrutiny.
From records to visa
A typical timeline when your documents are in order. Start earlier if your country's embassy appointment slots are congested.
Day 1
Submit medical records
Send your diagnosis, imaging and reports. We confirm the hospital and the department the same day.
Days 2–3
Hospital review and letter
The international department reviews your file and issues the invitation letter, usually within two business days.
Day 4
Document review
We check your form, photos, itinerary and financial documents against the current embassy checklist before you submit.
Days 5–10
Embassy or visa centre
Standard processing is four to five working days; express is two to three. Appointment slots vary by country.
On approval
Visa granted
Check the visa for the number of entries, permitted stay and expiry — then tell us your travel dates.
Why applications get refused
Six avoidable reasons, in the order we see them.
Incomplete application form
A missing travel history entry or an unsigned page is the single most common refusal reason. Check every field twice.
Photograph does not meet spec
Wrong size, wrong background, or a photo more than six months old. It is a trivial reason to lose two weeks.
Inconsistent travel details
Your itinerary, hotel booking, invitation letter and form must tell the same story on dates and cities.
Passport validity too short
Under six months' remaining validity, or fewer than two blank facing pages.
Missing or weak invitation letter
The letter embassies scrutinise most. It needs the hospital seal, an authorised signature and a treatment plan with dates.
Insufficient proof of funds
A balance that does not plausibly cover the stated treatment, or funds that appeared in the account last week.
Your digital arrival kit
Three things to set up before you fly. Your coordinator walks through all of them with you on arrival day.
Electronic arrival card
Complete the arrival card online within 72 hours of landing. Keep a printed copy or a screenshot — the airport wifi is unreliable.
Open the official pageCustoms health declaration
Some travellers still need a health declaration. Your coordinator checks whether it applies to your route the week you travel.
Open the official pageMobile payment setup
WeChat Pay and Alipay both accept international cards now. We help you link one before you land, so a taxi is not your first problem.
Official sources
Visa questions we hear every day
Do I need a visa to get medical treatment in China?
More than fifty nationalities can enter visa-free for up to 30 days, which covers most dental, screening, LASIK and minor-procedure trips.
Anything longer — surgery with a multi-week recovery, oncology, proton therapy — needs an S2 medical visa, or an S1 if you will stay beyond 180 days.
What is the 240-hour transit exemption, and can I use it for treatment?
The exemption lets nationals of 55 countries stay up to 240 hours without a visa, provided they hold a confirmed onward ticket to a third country or region. You must also stay within the permitted city or province.
You can use it for treatment, but the clock does not pause if your recovery runs long, and you cannot extend it inside China. For anything with an uncertain recovery window, an S2 visa is the safer choice.
How do I get a hospital invitation letter?
We coordinate it for you. Once the hospital accepts your referral, it issues a letter naming you exactly as your passport does, stating the treatment type, department, estimated duration and cost range, and carrying the hospital seal and an authorised signature. It usually takes two to three business days.
Can my family come with me?
Yes. A spouse, parent, child or carer can apply as an accompanying person on the same medical purpose, and we prepare their invitation letters too. In practice most hospitals allow one companion in the ward and during outpatient consultations.
Is travel insurance required?
Not for the visa in most cases, but we strongly recommend it. Look for a policy that covers medical evacuation, complications arising from planned treatment, and an extended stay — most ordinary travel policies exclude all three.
Can I extend my stay if treatment takes longer?
On an S2 visa, yes — you can apply for an extension at the local Entry-Exit Administration Bureau before your permitted stay expires. You will need the hospital to issue a certificate confirming continued treatment. Never overstay while waiting for paperwork; apply before the expiry date.
Do I need to register my accommodation with the police?
If you stay in a hotel, the hotel registers you automatically. If you stay in a private apartment, you must register at the local police station within 24 hours of arrival, and you will need your landlord's help to do it. Tell us if you are booking an apartment and we will build this into your arrival day.
Ready to start your journey?
Send your records and we will confirm the hospital, issue your invitation letter, and lay out a week-by-week plan for the whole trip.