How Long Is a China Medical Exam Valid? Six-Month Rules in the Regulation and City Guides

This page sets out the six-month limits that official pages give, one page at a time. It gives general administrative information and no medical advice.

The health certificate in the regulation

The State Council's Regulation on the Administration of Entry and Exit of Foreigners says foreigners who apply for a residence permit valid for 1 year or more must submit a health certificate as the rules provide. It says a health certificate is valid for 6 months from the day it is issued.

State Council Order 814 amended the Regulation, and the Order took effect on 1 October 2025.

The regulation text read here does not name the Physical Examination Record for Foreigner.

The overseas form in the Beijing guide

The Beijing Municipal Government English portal carries a guide to the health entrance examination. The page carries the date 2022-12-16.

The guide describes people who had a physical examination at an overseas medical institution within the past six months. It asks them to bring all the examination reports and the original Physical Examination Record for Foreigner, stamped by the overseas institution, to a health centre and ask for verification.

For that form, the guide says the date of issuance should be clear, and the form is valid within six months from the date of issuance.

The overseas report in the Shanghai guide

The Shanghai Municipal Government English portal carries a guide to the health check. It is dated August 30, 2024, and its footer says it was updated July 14, 2026.

The guide says to bring the original report for reference if the check was completed within the past six months at an embassy-designated hospital in the country or region concerned. It adds that the original laboratory test results and X-ray film should come with it.

The Shanghai residence permit page

A Shanghai page on residence permits is dated December 11, 2024. It says foreign nationals who enter China and need to reside there for reasons other than diplomatic or official purposes must apply for a residence permit, where required, within 30 days after entry. It says applicants seeking a residence permit valid for more than one year must submit a valid health certificate.

Not covered here

Fees: this page gives no fee figures.

Questions people ask

Does the regulation give a validity period for the health certificate?

The regulation text says a health certificate is valid for 6 months from the day it is issued.

Does the Beijing guide give a validity period for an overseas form?

The Beijing guide says the form is valid within six months from the date of issuance.

What time window does the Shanghai guide give for an overseas report?

The Shanghai guide refers to a check completed within the past six months at an embassy-designated hospital.

Sources

Each source above was read on the date shown. This page is an unofficial summary of general administrative information. It is not published by the bodies named above, and it is not medical advice. If it differs from the official pages, the official pages prevail, and rules may change after the check date.