What to Prepare for a Medical Exam in China: Items Listed by Shanghai and Beijing

Two municipal government English pages list what to bring to the foreigner health check: one from Shanghai and one from Beijing. They describe their own local procedures. This page gives general administrative information and no medical advice.

The Shanghai list

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 lists these items.

Passport. The original passport and one set of photocopies of the photo page, the visa page, or the page showing the visa-free entry record, and any pages recording changes to personal information.
Photos. Three identical two-inch color photos taken within the past six months, showing the applicant without headwear.
Forms. After booking, the applicant opens the two-page Health Examination Application Form through "My Appointments" and downloads the Consent Form. The guide says to print and complete both and bring them.
Additional items for a work residence permit. An employment certificate issued by the relevant local foreign experts authority, a photocopy of the employer's business license, or the original and a photocopy of the applicant's Foreigner's Work Permit.
Additional items for a study residence permit. The original and a photocopy of the student ID card or admission letter.
Additional items for accompanying family members. A photocopy of the business license of the employer of the person accompanied, or other relevant supporting documents.
Additional items for other residence purposes. For visiting family, purchasing property, seeking medical treatment, getting married, returning to China for permanent settlement or other reasons, the guide lists a photocopy of the Registration Form for Temporary Residence issued by the public security authority, the original and a photocopy of the property ownership certificate, or other relevant supporting documents.
An overseas health examination report. 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, along with the original laboratory test results and X-ray film.

The Shanghai notes

The Shanghai guide says not to eat for five hours before the health check, and that drinking water is allowed. It says to complete the health check as soon as possible after arrival to avoid delays in subsequent visa-related procedures.

For a reexamination, the guide says the centre will contact the applicant and send a reexamination notice. It says the applicant must report to the designated department within the specified period, bringing the original valid ID and the invoice for the health examination fee.

The guide says that three working days after the health check, the health certificate can be picked up in person by presenting the original valid ID and the certificate collection receipt.

The Beijing list

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

Appointment receipt.
Identification documents. One original and photocopy of the passport, the Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Residents, or the Exit-Entry Permit for Traveling to and from Hong Kong and Macao, covering the photo page, the visa page or visa-free entry page, and the information change page.
Photos. Two identical colored bareheaded photos taken within the past 6 months.
For a work residence permit. The original and photocopy of the employment certificate issued by the local administration of foreign expert affairs.
For a student residence permit. The original and photocopy of the student card or admission notice, and the original and photocopy of the Visa Application for Study in China (Form JW201 or Form JW202).

The Beijing notes

The Beijing guide says fasting for five hours before a physical examination is necessary, but drinking water is acceptable. It says personnel entering China must complete the health management procedures by themselves within 15 days after entry so as not to affect the subsequent employment and residence procedures.

For a person who had a physical examination at an overseas medical institution within the past six months, the guide 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.

Not covered here

Fees: this page gives no fee figures.

Questions people ask

How many photos does the Shanghai guide list?

The Shanghai guide lists three identical two-inch color photos taken within the past six months.

How many photos does the Beijing guide list?

The Beijing guide lists two identical colored bareheaded photos taken within the past 6 months.

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.