Your visit
Preparing for a hospital visit in China: documents and steps
Most problems on the day of a hospital visit in China come from missing documents or unclear expectations. This guide covers booking, registration, what to bring and what to ask before you leave.
What to bring
| Item | Why | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Passport | Used for identity checks, registration and payment. | Required |
| Hospital confirmation | Shows the date and department; useful at the desk and for your visa. | Strongly advised |
| Translated medical documents | Hospitals may ask for translations in advance; some offer translation help. | Ask the hospital |
| Insurance card and guarantee letter | Needed for direct billing at international departments. | If using insurance |
| A working payment method | Public hospitals usually charge step by step. | Required |
| A list of your current medicines | With generic names and doses, so staff can read them. | Advised |
Booking
Hospitals open appointment slots between one and fourteen days ahead, through their websites, apps, WeChat mini-programs or by phone. Online booking asks for identity verification with your passport number. International departments often take bookings by email or phone instead, which is easier from abroad. Our hospital profiles list the channels each hospital publishes.
On the day
Registration
Expect to register with your passport at a desk or kiosk. Some kiosks do not read foreign documents, so you may be sent to a staffed window.
Consultation and tests
At a public hospital's standard clinic you usually pay before each test. International departments often handle appointments, tests and payment on one floor. Bring your payment method and keep every receipt.
Language
International departments in major cities often offer English and sometimes other languages. In standard clinics, staff may not speak English, so bring a Chinese speaker or arrange an interpreter. This is one of the services listed on our pricing page.
Emergencies
A critically ill patient is treated first and registered afterwards. Emergency registration also needs your passport; some kiosks cannot process foreign documents, so you may need a staffed window. We are not an emergency service.
Before you leave the hospital
- Collect reports and images, and ask whether an English report is available.
- Ask which results are still pending and how they will reach you.
- Get an itemised invoice for insurance claims.
- Ask who to contact if you have questions after you return home.
A two-week timeline
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| Two weeks before | Confirm the appointment in writing; ask which documents the hospital needs and whether they must be translated. |
| Ten days before | Ask your insurer for a guarantee of payment if you want direct billing. |
| One week before | Set up and test your mobile wallet; arrange an interpreter if needed. |
| Three days before | Re-confirm the campus, building and floor; check instructions such as fasting. |
| The day before | Pack passport, confirmation, documents, insurance letters, medicines list; plan your route. |
Medical records: what to prepare and how to share them
Ask the hospital exactly which records it needs before you send anything. Usually that means recent reports, imaging and a list of medicines. Prepare a short summary of your history in English, and translated copies if the hospital asks for them. Share records only through the channel the hospital gives you. We do not accept records through this website; our privacy policy explains why.
Interpreters and companions
If the doctor does not use your language, an interpreter changes the quality of the consultation more than anything else. Arrange one before the day, not at the hospital entrance. A companion who speaks Chinese can help with registration and payment, but medical interpreting is a skill of its own. Our pricing page lists interpreting among the services we coordinate.
Where to stay
Choose a hotel close to the campus where you will be seen, not just the hospital's main address. Large hospitals often have several campuses. Early-morning tests are common, and traffic in big cities is unpredictable.
Phones, apps and verification codes
Hospital booking systems, payment apps and results portals often send a verification code by text message. Make sure the phone number you give can receive messages in China, either through roaming or a local SIM, and keep the phone charged on appointment days. If a hospital uses a WeChat mini-program for results, ask whether a foreign-registered WeChat account can use it.
If your appointment changes
Ask the hospital how it will tell you about changes, and give it a contact method you check while travelling. If a specialist's schedule moves, ask whether another doctor in the same department can see you on your original date. Keep at least one spare day between your last appointment and your flight home.
Accessibility
If you use a wheelchair or need help moving between buildings, tell the hospital when you book. Large campuses can involve long walks between registration, tests and payment, and the international department may be able to arrange help or keep steps on one floor.
Useful phrases at the desk
International departments usually have staff who speak English. In other parts of a hospital, these short phrases can help. Show them on your phone if pronunciation is difficult.
| English | Chinese |
|---|---|
| I am a foreign patient with an appointment. | 我是外国患者，已经预约了。 |
| Where is the international medical department? | 国际医疗部在哪里？ |
| Here is my passport. | 这是我的护照。 |
| Can I pay by card? | 可以刷卡吗？ |
| Please give me an itemised invoice. | 请给我费用明细和发票。 |
| When will the results be ready? | 检查结果什么时候出来？ |
Getting your results
Some results are ready the same day; others, such as certain laboratory tests or specialist reports on imaging, take longer. Before you leave, ask which results are pending, how they will be sent (hospital app, email, collection in person) and whether a family member in China can collect them for you. If you need results for a doctor at home, ask for an English report and copies of the images.
Travelling with a child or an older relative
Allow more time for every step, and ask the hospital whether a companion can stay during tests and overnight stays. Bring the patient's own passport; a companion's passport does not replace it at registration. If the patient takes regular medicines, bring enough for the whole trip plus extra days, with a list of the generic names.
What we have not verified
Practices vary between hospitals. The points above come from published guidance and hospital information; we have not confirmed them hospital by hospital. Each hospital profile notes what that hospital has confirmed. Read how we verify, our editorial policy, who we are and our terms.
Where to go next
If you have not settled your entry route, read the visa guide. For prices, see what care costs; for the kind of care that suits a short trip, see treatments. City-specific details are in the Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen guides, compared on the city page; all guides are listed on the guides page. How we check these facts is set out in our method.
Questions to ask before the appointment
- Which documents should I bring, and do any need to be translated?
- Where exactly do I register: building, floor, desk?
- Will an interpreter be available, or should I bring one?
- Should I fast or stop any medicine before the tests?
- How and when will I receive my results?
Frequently asked questions
Do I need my passport at a Chinese hospital?
Yes. It is used for identity verification, registration and payment.
Can I book a Chinese hospital online from abroad?
Many hospitals allow online booking with passport verification, opening slots up to 14 days ahead. International departments often accept email or phone bookings, which can be easier.
Will the doctor speak English?
International departments in major cities often do. Standard clinics often do not. Ask the hospital in advance.
Should I bring my medical records?
Yes, but do not send them through our website. Ask the hospital which documents it needs and whether translations are required.
Can someone else collect my results?
Ask the hospital before you leave. Some hospitals release results through an app or by email, others in person with the patient's documents. Arrangements for a relative to collect them differ between hospitals.
What if my appointment is moved?
Ask whether another doctor in the same department can see you on the original date, and keep a spare day before your flight home.
Sources
- International Medical Center (国际医疗中心), Huashan Hospital, Fudan University (official website). Read 19 Oct 2026. Page shows no publication date.
- How can I get medical treatment in China?, China Daily (chinaservicesinfo.com), 14 Aug 2025. Read 19 Oct 2026. Date taken from the URL.