China's medical tourism entry process involves three core steps: customs declaration, quarantine inspection, and airport pickup services. Planning requires consideration of visa type, health requirements, and destination policies. This guide provides a comprehensive overview across four dimensions—pre-entry preparation, customs clearance, quarantine procedures, and airport arrangements—incorporating the latest 2024 policies and international visitor case studies.
I、Pre-Arrival Preparation: Dual Verification of Documents and Itinerary
(1) Essential Document Checklist (General Requirements)
Regardless of the country of origin, medical tourists must prepare required documents in advance (some may require notarization/translation). Specific details can be obtained from official visa authorities.
(2) Special Requirements (Based on Destination/Medical Condition)
• Vaccination Proof: Certain countries (e.g., U.S., EU) require COVID-19 vaccination (WHO-approved vaccine certificate required);
• Malaria/Dengue Prevention: Southeast Asian countries require mosquito repellent and antimalarial medication (e.g., artemisinin);
• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Treatment: For acupuncture/tuina therapy, some countries (e.g., Australia) require TCM practitioner certification (Chinese-English bilingual version).
Case Study: U.S. patient John plans to undergo CAR-T therapy at Ruijin Hospital in Shanghai and must prepare in advance:
• Passport (valid until March 2025);
• Q2 medical visa (approved via hospital invitation letter);
• U.S. hospital lymphoma diagnosis report (English version);
• Aetna international medical insurance policy (covering RMB 800,000 in treatment costs);
II、Customs Clearance: Full Process from Entry to Baggage Claim
(1) Pre-entry Declaration: Health Declaration and Document Submission
• Electronic declaration: Complete the “Health Declaration Card for Entry into the People's Republic of China” via the “Customs Passenger Service” mini-program or airline app (truthfully report travel history, contact history, and health status);
• Paper Documents: Certain ports (e.g., Beijing Capital Airport, Shanghai Pudong Airport) require submission of a paper Health Declaration Card, visa, and passport photocopy (recommended to print in advance).
(2) Customs Inspection: Document and Health Verification
• Document Verification: Customs officers check passport, visa, and Health Declaration Card information (focusing on whether visa type matches medical treatment purpose);
• Health Screening: Temperature checks via infrared thermometers (≥37.3°C requires further screening). Some ports (e.g., Guangzhou Baiyun Airport) conduct rapid antigen tests for travelers from high-risk countries (e.g., India, Indonesia) at an approximate cost of 100 RMB.
(3) Baggage Claim: Precautions and Duty-Free Allowances
• Baggage Check-in: International flight baggage allowance is typically 23kg per piece (economy class). Excess weight incurs fees (approx. 500-2000 RMB per piece).
• Prohibited Items: Medications must retain original packaging (traditional Chinese medicine requires prescriptions). Endangered animal/plant products (e.g., ivory, rhino horn) are strictly prohibited.
• Duty-Free Allowance: Inbound travelers to China may claim a 5,000 RMB duty-free allowance (cosmetics ≤50ml/bottle, tobacco/alcohol ≤2 cartons/bottle).
Note: Medical tourists carrying large quantities of medication (e.g., targeted drugs, traditional Chinese medicine) must declare in advance to customs (complete a Declaration Form) to avoid detention on suspicion of smuggling.
III、 Quarantine Procedures: Health Screening and Follow-up Management
(1) Routine Quarantine (All Inbound Travelers)
• Temperature Screening: Upon arrival, travelers must cooperate with customs/airport staff for temperature checks (normal range ≤37.3°C);
• Health Code Verification: In certain regions (e.g., Beijing, Shanghai), scanning the “Health Code” or “Shanghai Health Code” app to display a “green code” is required for passage;
• Information Registration: Complete the “Entry Personnel Information Registration Form” (including contact details and residential address). In some regions (e.g., Guangdong), submission via the “Guangdong Health Code” app is mandatory.
(2) Specialized Medical Traveler Quarantine (Based on Disease Type)
• Infectious Disease Screening: Travelers from endemic regions (e.g., high-risk malaria zones) must undergo free screening (e.g., malaria parasite testing, dengue antibody testing) at designated hospitals (e.g., International Travel Health Centers designated by local customs) within 24 hours of entry;
• Chronic Disease Management: Diabetes/hypertension patients must declare medications (e.g., insulin, antihypertensive drugs) to customs. Some ports (e.g., Chengdu Shuangliu Airport) offer “green channel” expedited verification;
• Post-Surgical Rehabilitation: Individuals who recently underwent surgery (e.g., joint replacement) must provide a hospital-issued “Post-Surgical Rehabilitation Certificate” to avoid being misclassified as “health abnormal” due to mobility limitations.
(3) Post-Quarantine Procedures: Health Monitoring and Abnormalities Handling
• Health Follow-up: Some countries (e.g., Singapore) require submitting health status via the “Health SG” app within 72 hours of entry.
• Abnormalities Handling: If fever (≥37.3°C) or positive infectious disease test (e.g., COVID-19) is detected during quarantine, cooperate with isolation (at personal expense, approx. 500-2000 RMB/day) and contact the designated hospital for treatment arrangements.
Case Study: Malaysian patient Ahmed arrived in Shanghai from Kuala Lumpur. Originating from a dengue-endemic area, he underwent rapid antigen testing (negative result) at Pudong Airport, followed by complimentary malaria screening at Shanghai International Travel Health Center (normal result). The entire process took approximately 2 hours.
IV、Airport Pickup Arrangements: Seamless Transfer from Arrival to Hotel
(1) Pickup Method Options
• Hospital/Hotel Pickup: Most medical tourism agencies (e.g., Shanghai Ruijin Hospital International Department, Hainan Boao Lvcheng) offer complimentary pickup (reservation required 3 days in advance) with bilingual drivers.
• Third-Party Platform Pickup: Book “Medical Tourist Exclusive Pickup” (includes interpreter and luggage handling) via Ctrip, Fliggy, etc., costing approximately 300-800 RMB per trip.
• Independent Taxi: Use DiDi Chuxing (International Edition) or local taxis (ensure meter use is confirmed), costing approximately 100-300 RMB (depending on destination distance).
(2) Pickup Considerations
• Confirm Details: Verify flight number, arrival time, and luggage quantity with the pickup provider in advance (to avoid missed pickups);
• Special needs: Inform the pickup service in advance if the patient has mobility issues to arrange a wheelchair/accessible vehicle;
• Language communication: If the driver does not speak foreign languages, use the translation app provided by the hospital (e.g., “Yixun”) for real-time communication.
(3) Post-Pickup Procedures
• Proceed to hotel: Go directly to the pre-booked hotel after pickup (recommended to choose a hospital partner hotel, such as the Pudong Shangri-La affiliated with Shanghai Jiayi International Hospital);
• Check-in Procedures: The hotel will verify your passport and visa (some hotels may require health code registration);
• Hospital Coordination: Upon arrival at the hotel, contact the hospital's International Department to confirm the next day's appointment time (e.g., Shanghai Ruijin Hospital's International Department requires treatment plans to be confirmed one day in advance).
Note: Medical tourism pilot zones like Hainan Boao Lecheng offer “arrival-to-care” services, where patients are escorted directly to the Lecheng International Medical Tourism Pilot Zone upon landing for seamless coordination.
Summary: The “Three Early Principles” for Entry Procedures
The key to China's medical tourism entry process is “early preparation, early declaration, early confirmation”:
• Apply for visas one month in advance, confirming hospital invitation letters and treatment plans;
• Complete health declarations and verify document checklist 3 days prior to arrival;
• Contact the airport pickup service 2 hours before landing to confirm itinerary details.
By following these guidelines, international visitors can efficiently complete entry procedures and smoothly commence their medical tourism journey. In case of emergencies (e.g., flight delays, missing documents), contact the hospital's international department or China Customs hotline (12360) for assistance.