Guide
Visas and entry for treatment in China
Most US citizens need a visa for treatment on the mainland. Hainan is the main exception.
Last reviewed October 31, 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the official source before you act.
Your options at a glance
| Route | Who | Stay | For treatment |
|---|---|---|---|
| S2 visa | Patients and family companions | Up to 180 days, per one embassy notice | The route Chinese embassy notices describe for medical treatment. |
| Hainan visa-free | Ordinary passports from listed countries, including the US | Up to 30 days, Hainan Province only | Medical treatment is a named purpose. You must enter through a Hainan port and receive care in Hainan. |
| 30-day visa-free | Citizens of listed countries. The US is not listed. | Up to 30 days per entry | Ask your embassy whether medical treatment is covered for your passport. |
| 240-hour transit | Listed countries, including the US | Up to 10 days in set regions | Do not plan treatment on this. You must be travelling on to a third place with a confirmed ticket, and medical care is not among the activities listed. |
The S2 visa
China has no separate "medical visa" category in the notices we reviewed. Chinese embassy instructions place medical treatment and accompanying a patient under S2, a short-term private affairs visa. Pakistan's embassy gives a limit of 180 days or less for this purpose.
Documents embassies have asked for
Requirements differ by country. The Chinese Embassy in Kazakhstan lists the following for medical trips:
- An invitation letter, hospitalization certificate or proof of planned admission from the hospital in China
- An original bank statement showing at least $10,000
- For companions, proof of family relationship and a companion certificate from the hospital
- Companions must be family members, generally no more than two
Hainan
Hainan's visa-free rule names medical treatment as an accepted purpose, and the US is on its list. Your stay is limited to 30 days and to Hainan Province, and you must enter through a Hainan port. This suits care that can be completed there. It does not cover travel to a hospital in Shanghai or Beijing.
Timing
- Get the hospital's written acceptance before you apply.
- Ask the hospital how long treatment and recovery may take, then allow extra time.
- If care might run past your permitted stay, ask the hospital and the local exit-entry authorities what to do before you travel. Do not stay past your permitted date.
- Book refundable travel where you can until your visa is issued.