What visa do I need for medical treatment in China?

China has no dedicated “medical visa.” Treatment travel is usually on a short-term private-affairs (S2) visa for up to 180 days, or an S1 for longer treatment, while some consulates accept an M visa, the category is decided case-by-case and must be supported by a hospital letter. We confirm the right route and prepare the application.

What is a hospital invitation letter?

An official letter from the Chinese hospital confirming it has agreed to treat you. It's the core document your visa application depends on, and the part that's hardest to obtain from abroad, which is why we liaise with the hospital to get it.

Why is the letter the hard part?

A hospital won't issue an invitation until it has reviewed your case and agreed to see you, and chasing that from another country and language is slow. Starting with the letter, through an on-the-ground team, is what keeps the timeline on track.

Can I bring a family member or carer?

Usually yes, there's generally an accompanying route for a carer or family member to travel with a patient. We arrange that visa alongside the patient's so you don't travel alone.

What if my treatment takes longer than my visa allows?

For longer treatment you may need to convert to a residence permit; the threshold and process depend on your case and the authorities. We monitor it and handle the paperwork so your status stays valid.

What documents do I need for the visa?

Typically your passport, the hospital invitation/admission letter, the application form and photo, a medical summary, and proof you can fund treatment and your stay. The exact set varies by consulate, so we confirm yours.

Does HCSG decide my treatment or hospital?

No, the choice of hospital and all clinical decisions are yours and your doctors'. We coordinate the letter, the visa and the logistics; we don't give medical advice or recommend treatments.

How much will it cost?

Treatment costs vary widely and only the hospital can quote your case; foreign patients usually self-pay or use private insurance. We help you obtain a quote and handle the visa and travel rather than estimate medical costs.

Can HCSG handle the letter and the visa together?

Yes, that's the core of what we do: obtain the hospital invitation letter, confirm and file the right visa, and arrange the residence permit and a carer's status if needed. Tell us your situation and we'll start with the letter.

China Medical Visa & Hospital Invitation Letter: A Guide

The medical visa at a glance

Lettercomes first

Nodedicated visa

180day line

Carercan travel

The three pieces that matter

Get these aligned and the visa follows.

The linchpin

An official invitation or admission letter from the Chinese hospital, confirming it will treat you. Without it, the visa application has no foundation.

No dedicated medical visa

There's no separate medical visa: treatment usually uses a short-term private-affairs (S2) visa, or an S1 for long treatment, and some consulates accept an M visa. The consulate decides, we confirm the right route.

Usually possible

Most patients can bring a family member or carer on an accompanying route. We arrange this alongside the patient's visa.

Typical documents for a medical-treatment visa

The usual set, your consulate may ask for more, which we confirm before you apply.

Document	Why it's needed
Passport	Valid well beyond your trip, with blank pages
Hospital invitation / admission letter	Confirms the Chinese hospital will treat you, the core document
Application form & photo	The standard visa application
Medical summary / records	Supports the hospital's decision and your purpose of travel
Proof of funds	Evidence you can cover treatment and stay (varies by consulate)

How to get your China medical visa

The order that works, HCSG can run the whole thing for you.

Get the hospital to accept your case

Share your medical summary with the hospital's international department so it can agree to treat you and issue the letter.

Obtain the invitation/admission letter

We liaise with the hospital to obtain the official letter, the step that's slowest from abroad.

Apply for the medical visa

Apply at the Chinese embassy, consulate or visa centre serving you, with the letter and supporting documents.

Plan for a long stay if needed

If treatment runs long, we handle the move to a residence permit and arrange an accompanying carer's status.

How HCSG handles this for you

The visa and the hospital letter, coordinated from inside China.

Hospital liaison

We work with the hospital's international department to get your case accepted and the letter issued.

Visa preparation

We confirm the correct category and prepare and submit your medical-visa application with the letter.

Residence permit for long stays

If treatment runs long, we handle the conversion to a residence permit at the right time.

Accompanying carer

We arrange the visa for a family member or carer to travel with you.

The outcome: the hospital letter obtained and the right visa filed, the practical barriers cleared so you can travel for care.

Specific, net-new answers, not a repeat of the guide above.

China Medical Visa & Hospital Invitation Letter