Health certificate: the document for a residence permit of one year or more

A health certificate (身体健康证明) is a document a foreigner shall submit when applying for a residence permit valid for more than 1 year. The requirement appears in Article 16 of the Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (State Council Decree No. 637). Under the same article, a health certificate is valid for six months beginning from the date of issue.

Residence documents in general are covered under Visas and residence.

Definition

The National Immigration Administration's Chinese service guide on residence permits names who issues the certificate: a local health quarantine department, or a health medical department at or above county level. The certificate certifies that the applicant is not suffering from a severe mental disorder, infectious pulmonary tuberculosis, or another infectious disease that may cause major harm to public health.

What the official text says

The Chinese-language texts below are rendered in English by this site. The English wording is this site's own translation.

Regulations, Article 16 (Decree No. 637). A foreigner applying for a residence permit valid for more than 1 year shall, in accordance with relevant provisions, submit a health certificate. The article states that a health certificate is valid for six months beginning from the date of issue. The article does not name the issuing bodies.

National Immigration Administration service guide (Chinese), section (II), documents required for a residence permit. An applicant for a residence permit valid for more than one year shall, as required, submit a physical health certificate issued by a local health quarantine department or a health medical department at or above county level. The certificate shall certify the matters described under Definition above.

Order No. 42, Article 39. International students shall, at enrolment, complete the confirmation of the 《外国人体格检查记录》 (Foreigner Physical Examination Record) with China's health quarantine department, or undergo a physical examination, under the rules of the Chinese health administration department. If the examination confirms a severe mental disorder, infectious pulmonary tuberculosis, or another infectious disease that may cause major harm to public health, as specified in the Exit and Entry Administration Law, the public security departments handle the case in accordance with law. Article 39 does not use the term "health certificate".

Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship, item 12 of the document list. This item is a document condition of that scholarship, not a general admission rule. An applicant to study in China for more than six months shall submit a photocopy of the Foreigner Physical Examination Form. The original is printed by Chinese quarantine authorities, filled in English, and kept by the applicant. The medical examinations shall cover all the items listed on the form. Records that are incomplete, or that lack the signature of the attending physician, the official stamp of the hospital, or a sealed photograph of the applicant, are invalid. Item 12 states that medical examination results are valid for six months. Item 12 does not state when those six months begin.

The health certificate and the Foreigner Physical Examination Form are two different documents. Article 16 of the Regulations names the first. Item 12 of the scholarship guide names the second. Each text sets its own six-month period, and the two periods are stated in different provisions.

Related terms

• Residence permit for study
• X1 and X2 visa
• Admission and documents
• Chinese Government Scholarship
• Foreigner Physical Examination Form
• Exit and Entry Administration Law

Sources

• Regulations of the People's Republic of China on Administration of the Entry and Exit of Foreigners (English text) — National Immigration Administration
• Service guide for issuing, extending, replacing and reissuing foreigners' residence permits (Chinese) — National Immigration Administration
• Measures for the Administration of Schools Recruiting and Educating International Students (Order No. 42) — Ministry of Education of the PRC
• Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship — China Scholarship Council (Campus China)

Checked 11 October 2026.

This entry is an unofficial summary. It is not legal or immigration advice, and it is not published by the bodies named. If the official text or the instructions of the body handling your case differ from this entry, the official text and those instructions prevail.