In short
Foreigners applying for a China residence permit valid for more than one year must submit a health certificate, which is valid for six months from the date of issue (Entry and Exit Regulations, art. 16). Beijing’s government also lists a health examination certificate, issued within the last six months, among the work permit documents, and Shanghai’s work permit list includes a physical examination certificate. Beijing’s exam guide lists internal medicine, ENT, dental, ECG, chest X-ray, abdominal ultrasound and lab tests.
Last updated: 24 October 2026. This guide is based on China’s Regulations on the Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (2013) and the Beijing, Shanghai and Chongqing government English sites, read on 24 October 2026. Rules, fees and approved clinics differ by city and change. It is general information, not legal advice: confirm your steps with your employer, the local exit-entry office or the Chinese embassy or visa centre in your country.
Do you need a medical exam for China work visa applications? In most cases, yes, but at the permit stage rather than the visa stage. The national Regulations require a health certificate when you apply for a residence permit valid for more than one year, and it stays valid for six months from the date of issue. Beijing and Shanghai also list a health certificate among the documents for the work permit. What the exam covers, where you take it and what it costs depends on the city.
That is the short version. The medical exam for a China work visa is a small step that can delay a start date, because an expired or missing certificate sends you back to a clinic. Here is what the official sources say, and where they stay silent.
Medical exam for China work visa holders: who needs it
Start with the national rule. Article 16 of the Regulations on the Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners says that when applying for a residence permit valid for more than one year, a foreigner shall submit a health certificate, and that “a health certificate is valid for six months beginning from the date of issue.”
Local pages add detail:
| Source | What it says about the exam |
|---|---|
| Regulations (art. 16) | Health certificate for a residence permit valid for more than 1 year; valid 6 months from issue |
| Beijing government, work permit page | One original physical examination form or health examination certificate, “issued by China’s inspection and quarantine institution”, issued within the last six months, unless already submitted for the Notification Letter |
| Beijing government, health exam guide | Applies to foreigners who apply to reside permanently, obtain employment, study, or stay in China for one year or longer, aged 16 or over |
| Shanghai government, work permit list | “Physical health examination certificates” listed among the work permit documents; no detail on where or how long it is valid |
| Chongqing government (9 June 2026) | Foreigners without a residence permit must present a health certificate issued by the China Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau before employment applications |
Two things follow. First, a short contract is not automatically exempt: Beijing lists the certificate for the work permit itself, and Chongqing for employment applications, not only for long residence permits. Second, the sources describe the requirement a little differently, so ask your employer which document your city asks for. We cover the rest of the steps in our guide to the Z visa to residence permit.
What the exam covers
The most detailed official list we found is on the Beijing government’s English site, in a health centre guide whose text is dated 16 December 2022. It lists seven parts:
- internal medicine
- otorhinolaryngology (ear, nose and throat)
- stomatology (dental)
- ECG
- chest X-ray
- abdominal ultrasound
- laboratory tests
The guide does not say which blood or urine tests the laboratory part includes. Some blogs list tests for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis, but we did not find that in any national or city government page we read, so treat it as unconfirmed and check with your clinic or employer. Because the list comes from one Beijing centre, other cities may differ.
Where to take it
There are two usual routes, and the sources we read describe both.
In China, at a local health centre. Beijing’s guide describes the exam at a local health centre, Monday to Friday from 08:00 to 11:00, with a five-hour fast beforehand (water allowed). It lists a payment of about 430 yuan for the exam and 60 yuan for verification, notes that actual rates at the health centre prevail, and says certain foreign nationals may be exempt. That page is two years old in its text, so treat the prices as a rough guide only. It also says new arrivals must complete health management procedures “within 15 days after entry”.
Bring your passport (original and copy), two identical coloured photos taken in the last six months, your appointment receipt and, for a work residence permit, your employment certificate from the local foreign expert affairs administration. That list is from Beijing; other cities will ask for something similar but not identical.
Abroad, before you travel. Chongqing’s government says foreigners may submit original health examination records from local public hospitals, or notarized records from private hospitals, and that such records must be verified by China’s embassies or consulates abroad. The same page says the verification certificate is valid for six months from the date of issue.
We could not find an official page that says which clinics or embassies accept an overseas exam, or whether a pre-departure exam is required for the visa itself. Check with the Chinese embassy or visa centre in your country before you book. If you test abroad and arrive after the six months have passed, plan on repeating the exam in China.
The six-month rule, and how to time it
The six-month validity appears in the national Regulations, on Beijing’s work permit page and on Chongqing’s page. In practice it means:
- Do not test too early. If your permit paperwork drags on, a certificate from three months before you fly may expire before you apply.
- Do not test too late. The residence permit must usually be applied for within 30 days of entry, so a medical appointment two weeks after landing leaves little room. See the 30-day rule in our Z visa guide.
- Keep the original. Beijing’s guide asks for the original overseas record and its reports at verification.
Ask your employer who books the exam and who pays. Many do both, but we did not find any official source that says the employer must.
Medical exam, criminal record and the other documents
The exam is one of several documents that expire or need certifying. Your criminal record certificate has its own rules: see our guide to the criminal record check and apostille. For the full sequence from job offer to permit, read how to get a work visa in China, and for how your qualifications and salary are scored, our work permit points system guide.
Check which jobs handle the paperwork
On 24 October 2026, SilkPath listed 476 live jobs. In our 20 October analysis of 285 LinkedIn descriptions, 13 stated explicitly that the employer sponsors a visa. That is a small share, so ask every employer who books and pays for the medical exam, the work permit and the residence permit. Browse China jobs or teaching jobs, and if you are still searching, start with how to get hired in China.
FAQ
Do I need a medical exam for China work visa paperwork?
For the work permit and residence permit, yes in most cases. The national Regulations require a health certificate for a residence permit valid for more than one year, and Beijing and Shanghai list a health certificate among the work permit documents. Check with your employer which document your city asks for.
How long is a China medical exam certificate valid?
Six months from the date of issue, according to the national Regulations (art. 16), Beijing’s work permit page and Chongqing’s government site.
What tests are in the China foreigner physical exam?
Beijing’s health centre guide lists internal medicine, ear, nose and throat, dental, ECG, chest X-ray, abdominal ultrasound and laboratory tests. The laboratory tests are not detailed, and other cities may differ.
Can I do the medical exam in my home country?
Chongqing’s government says records from local public hospitals, or notarized records from private hospitals, are accepted if verified by a Chinese embassy or consulate abroad. We found no official list of accepted clinics, so check with the embassy or visa centre first.
How much does the medical exam cost?
Beijing’s health centre guide gives about 430 yuan for the exam and 60 yuan for verification, with actual rates set by the centre. The text is dated December 2022, and we found no official fee table for other cities. Ask your employer or the clinic.
Sources
- Regulations of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners, promulgated 12 July 2013, effective 1 September 2013, art. 16 (translation): chinajusticeobserver.com
- Beijing government, “Foreign Talents Work Permit” (undated page): english.beijing.gov.cn
- Beijing government, “A Guide to Health Entrance Examination”, text dated 16 December 2022: english.beijing.gov.cn
- Chongqing government, entry requirements, 9 June 2026: english.cq.gov.cn
- Chongqing government, stay and residence FAQ, 10 June 2026: english.cq.gov.cn
- Shanghai government, “A Guide to Working and Living in China as Business Expatriates” (2024 edition, 10 September 2024): english.shanghai.gov.cn
