Health check after arrival in China: confirming the physical examination record

Sources checked 10 October 2026

After enrolment, the next medical step is to go to the health and quarantine authority, where your Foreigner Physical Examination Record is confirmed or you are examined. Order No. 42, Article 39 sets this step. If the examination confirms one of three listed conditions, the public security authority deals with the case under the law.

What Article 39 says

Order No. 42, Article 39 says that an international student shall, at enrolment, go to the health and quarantine authority in line with the rules of the health administration, to have the Foreigner Physical Examination Record confirmed or to be examined. The English wording on this page is this site's own translation of the Chinese text.

The article lists three conditions. If the examination confirms any of them, the public security authority handles the case under the law:

a severe mental disorder listed in the Exit-Entry Administration Law of the People's Republic of China;
infectious pulmonary tuberculosis;
other infectious diseases that may cause a major hazard to public health.

Article 39 names no test, no clinic and no fee. It also gives no time limit for the visit after enrolment.

The residence permit health certificate

Part (II) of the National Immigration Administration's service guide on residence permits for foreigners, headed "Documents required for the residence permit application", says the following. An applicant for a residence permit valid for one year or more shall submit a health certificate from the local quarantine authority or from a county-level or higher health medical department. The certificate shall confirm that the applicant has no severe mental disorder, no infectious pulmonary tuberculosis and no other infectious disease that may cause a major hazard to public health.

The same part says that if the visa states that a residence permit must be applied for after entry, the application shall be made within 30 days of the date of entry. It is made to the exit-entry administration body of the public security authority at the intended place of residence. Part (II) names no test and no clinic.

The Ministry's 2009 page on scholarship students

The Ministry of Education's English page on the Chinese Government Scholarship is dated 17 September 2009. Dates that apply now are set by the application receiving authority, so check with that authority before you plan.

The page says that scholarship students who are going to stay for more than six months must bring their passports, the Admission Notice, and the original Foreigner Physical Examination Form and Blood Test Report to the local quarantine office within the time set. It says that students whose forms do not meet the requirements must re-take the medical examination. It also says that the costs of the medical examination and the international travelling expenses are borne by the students. Students who refuse to re-take the examination, or who are diagnosed with a disease that is not permitted to enter China under Chinese laws and regulations, are required to leave China.

The page describes scholarship students only. It states no rule for self-funded students.

Why item 12 says to keep the original

Section VI, item 12 of the Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship, published by the China Scholarship Council, has these points:

The applicant submits a photocopy of the Foreigner Physical Examination Form.
The original form is printed by the Chinese quarantine authorities, is filled in in English, and is kept by the applicant.
The medical examinations must cover all the items listed in the form.
Incomplete records are invalid. So are records without the attending physician's signature, the hospital's official stamp, or a sealed photograph of the applicant.
Medical examination results are valid for six months.

None of sections I to VI of the guide gives a reason for the applicant keeping the original. This page does not reproduce the items listed on the form.

Item 12 belongs to the scholarship's application documents. Sections I to VI set conditions for that scholarship. They are not general admission rules for self-funded students.

The steps in order

These steps follow the order of the official texts above.

At enrolment, go to the health and quarantine authority (Order No. 42, Article 39).
Have your Foreigner Physical Examination Record confirmed there, or take the examination (Order No. 42, Article 39).
If your visa requires a residence permit after entry, apply within 30 days of entry (National Immigration Administration guide, part II).
For a residence permit valid for one year or more, submit the health certificate (National Immigration Administration guide, part II).

As a planning suggestion, not a rule, you could keep the original form and blood test report with your passport and Admission Notice when you go to the health authority. The 2009 page lists these papers together.

Summary

Document	Who it covers	Health step
Order No. 42, Article 39	International students at enrolment	Confirm the record or be examined
National Immigration Administration guide, part II	Residence permit applicants for one year or more	Health certificate
Ministry's 2009 page	Scholarship students staying more than six months	Verify forms within the time set
Scholarship guide, Section VI, item 12	Scholarship applicants staying more than six months	Original form kept by the applicant

For the wider arrival steps, see /visa-and-arrival/.

Sources

Checked 11 October 2026

This page is an unofficial summary. It is not published by or affiliated with the Ministry of Education, the China Scholarship Council, CHSI or any university, and it is not legal advice. If the official text differs from this page, the official text and the current notice of the university or authority handling your case prevail.