Before you travel: a checklist for medical treatment in China

Identity and travel documents

• Passport — valid for at least six months beyond your planned return date. Chinese hospitals register foreign patients by passport number. You will need your original passport at every registration point.
• Visa — confirm you have the right visa category for the length and nature of your stay. If your country qualifies for visa-free entry and your stay is short enough, confirm visa-free rules still apply. See the visa guide for details.
• Copies of your passport and visa — keep paper copies separate from the originals, and store a scan in email or cloud storage.
• Travel and health insurance documents — your policy number, the insurer's emergency contact number (24-hour if possible), and any pre-authorisation letters from your insurer for planned treatment.

Medical records — get them translated before you go

This is the single most important preparation step. Chinese hospitals cannot act on records they cannot read. Have the following translated into Chinese before you leave:

• Diagnosis letters or referral letters from your home doctor
• Recent test results (blood tests, biopsies, pathology reports)
• Imaging reports (CT, MRI, X-ray) — if the images are on a CD or digital file, bring those as well as the written report
• Previous treatment summaries or discharge summaries if relevant
• A list of current medications with generic (INN) drug names and dosages — brand names differ between countries
• Known allergies, especially to medications or anaesthetic agents

TranslationChina provides certified translation of medical documents into Chinese. Allow enough time before your travel date — do not leave this until the last week.

Hospital appointment confirmation

• Written confirmation from the hospital's international department — including the date, time, department, and any reference number
• Hospital address in Chinese — save it on your phone and print a copy. Taxi and ride-hailing drivers will need the Chinese address, not a transliteration.
• Contact number for the international department — save it before you travel so you can call if anything changes on arrival
• Name of the specialist you are booked to see, if pre-arranged, and their department name in Chinese

If you have not yet booked, read the appointment guide first.

Phone and payment setup

Phone:

• A smartphone with a working data connection in China. Many foreign SIM cards have limited data roaming on Chinese networks — consider buying a local SIM card on arrival (available at major airports) or checking whether your carrier has a China data plan.
• Install WeChat before you travel. Hospital international departments, coordinators, and local contacts will likely communicate by WeChat. Set it up at home where it is easier.
• Install Alipay or WeChat Pay and link your international card before you travel if possible. This makes paying registration fees and small bills much simpler.
• Download a translation app (such as the Baidu Translate or Youdao app) that works with a camera — useful for reading hospital signs and forms.

Payment:

• Bring sufficient RMB cash for at least the first few days — withdrawal from ATMs in smaller cities or inside hospitals is not always reliable with foreign cards.
• Check your bank's international withdrawal limits and fees.
• Know the approximate deposit amount your hospital requires for admission and ensure you can access those funds. See the payment guide.

Accompanying person

Travelling with a companion is strongly recommended for any serious or complex treatment. Beyond emotional support, a companion helps with practical tasks:

• Queuing and paying at different windows during a hospital visit
• Communicating with nursing staff, particularly outside the international department
• Managing logistics if you are admitted unexpectedly or your condition changes
• Accompanying you to and from the hospital if you cannot travel alone after a procedure

If your companion does not speak Chinese, a medical interpreter for key consultations is important. Do not rely on doctors or nurses to interpret for you — their clinical responsibilities take priority, and medical decisions require accurate communication. TranslationChina provides medical interpreting for hospital appointments and inpatient stays.

What to bring to your first appointment

On the day of your first hospital appointment, bring:

• Original passport
• Printed appointment confirmation with date, time, department, and reference number
• All translated medical records and original documents
• Any imaging files (CD or USB) — Chinese hospitals may ask to review these on their own equipment
• A printed or phone-screen copy of your medication list with generic drug names and dosages
• Your insurer's contact details and policy documents
• Payment methods — mobile payment, cash, and a card as backup
• A notepad or phone to write down what the doctor tells you — a lot of information comes quickly
• Water and snacks — busy hospital outpatient clinics can involve long waits even with an appointment

Frequently asked questions

Related

• Visas
• Choosing a hospital
• Booking an appointment
• Payment & insurance