What documents should I pack for care in China?
Published by Lexaid, the brand of Shanghai Qile Wuyou Technology Co., Ltd. (其乐无忧). Company & brand
In brief
Pack five things first: passport, hospital invitation, records and pathology, imaging that opens, and insurer pre-authorization if you will claim. Names must match the passport. Missing items follow the hospital and consulate lists—this page is not a visa or admission guarantee.
Three actions you can take
- Ask the receiving hospital for a written document list. Check that the invitation uses the passport machine-readable name.
- Make a one-page summary plus imaging the hospital can open (disc or cloud). Use generic drug names.
- If you will claim or direct-bill, get the insurer’s pre-authorization format and ask whether the hospital can issue that invoice.
What this page does not promise
- This is not a visa approval, diagnosis, or admission guarantee.
- It does not lock how many copies or which certified translation you must buy.
- The local Chinese mission list and the hospital’s written list win.
The visa guide answers which visa. This page answers what goes in the bag. Consular sites list entry papers; the international desk lists file-opening papers. You need both.
A hospital-only disc image may not open in Shanghai or Hainan. Test it on a normal computer, or bring DICOM plus the written report.
Who this is for
- International patients packing once for assessment, surgery, or a special-access path
- Families who plan to claim from an overseas insurer
Who this is not for
- Local emergencies—do not delay care to finish a packing list
- Treating this page as a consulate or hospital form
- Arriving with no records and only a spoken cancer history
Steps
- 1
IDs: passport, stay proof, invitation
Passport validity must cover the trip. The invitation or admission letter is issued by the hospital, not by Lexaid. Visa type and biometrics follow the Chinese consular service site and the local visa center—not another country’s “medical visa” name.
- 2
Records: summary, pathology, prior lines
One page: diagnosis, stage, regimens, allergies, implants. Bring pathology and molecular scans. A bilingual summary beats a stack of untranslated copies.
- 3
Imaging: disc, cloud, paper report
Bring the latest key CT/MRI/PET the hospital can open, plus the report. China may still repeat scans; having nothing openable delays the first visit.
- 4
Insurance: pre-authorization and invoice format
Direct-billing works only when both the hospital and the policy agree. Most patients pay and claim later. Ask for the pre-auth letter and whether invoices must be English and itemized.
- 5
File one paper set and one cloud set
Separate bags: IDs / invitation / records / imaging receipt / insurance. Name cloud files with the passport surname. Share with a coordinator only the pages the window will see.
Count again 24 hours before the flight
Passport, invitation, summary, imaging that opens, insurance letter still valid.
If any name spelling differs from the passport, fix the file before you board.
Costs
| Costs | Notes |
|---|---|
| Record and imaging copies / translation | A summary and a certified translation are different products |
| Insurer pre-authorization | Follow the policy, not a verbal middleman |
| Coordination to assemble the pack | A Lexaid fee if agreed in writing—not a hospital charge |
Documents & materials
| Documents & materials | Notes |
|---|---|
| Passport and stay documents | Visa or entry pages as the mission and hospital require |
| Hospital invitation / admission letter | Hospital letterhead; passport name |
| Records, pathology, allergy list | Generic names; one-page summary plus scans |
| Imaging disc or cloud link | Test-open before travel |
| Insurer pre-authorization or denial | No pre-auth means budget as self-pay |
Risks
- Invitation name rejected at the border or the desk
- A disc that will not open, leaving only a paper report
- Treating an insurance card as direct-billing
Confirm in writing with the hospital
- Which originals and how many copies
- Whether they accept outside discs
- Invitation validity dates
- Whether invoices can match the insurer’s format
FAQ
- Can I apply for a visa without an invitation?
- Many consular districts treat a hospital invitation or admission letter as key support for care travel. Follow the local Chinese mission. See the visa guide.
- Do I need a notarized translation?
- Visa files and hospital files differ. If the list does not say “certified translation,” start with a bilingual summary.
- Can Lexaid hold my passport?
- You keep the original. A coordinator can check copies against the list. We do not hold identity documents.
Information current as of September 2026
This page is general information for international patients considering care in China. It is not a diagnosis, treatment plan, price quote, or visa guarantee. Pathways, fees, and entry rules change by hospital and consular district.
Sources
Related guides
Related science notes
Need a coordinator for care in China?
Lexaid matches hospitals and specialists, helps with records, invitation letters, and on-the-ground logistics. Diagnosis and treatment stay with the hospital.