Physical examination form

What the form is

The Foreigner Physical Examination Form is a specific, standardised medical document, not a generic clinic certificate, that every international student must submit and that must be completed at a government-authorised hospital.

The 'Foreigner Physical Examination Form' (sometimes called the Foreigner Physical Examination Record) is a standard medical document that all international students must submit to study in China. You download the official form, take it to a hospital, and the doctors complete it directly on that form. Do not use a generic medical certificate from a clinic - it must be this specific form.

It must be completed at a government-authorized hospital (a public or officially recognised facility), not a small private clinic. In many countries only certain hospitals are authorised to issue documents accepted by Chinese authorities, so confirm this before booking.

What the examination includes

The exam covers medical history, a physical check-up, blood tests (including HIV and syphilis screening), a chest X-ray, and an ECG. Budget a few hours and roughly US$50-150 depending on your country and hospital.

The examination is comprehensive. It records your medical history and includes a physical check-up (height, weight, blood pressure, vision, and a general physician's assessment), blood tests - which include screening for HIV and syphilis among others - a chest X-ray, and an electrocardiogram (ECG). Set aside a few hours and, in some hospitals, expect to fast beforehand for the blood work. Costs typically range from about US$50 to US$150 depending on your country and hospital.

The three things that make it valid - or invalid

The form is only valid if it carries all three of: the examining physician's signature, the hospital's official stamp, and your photo stamped or sealed across its edge onto the form. Missing any one of these, most often the stamped photo, can invalidate your entire CSC application without further review.

This is where applications quietly fail. For the form to be valid it must carry all three of the following: the examining physician's signature, the hospital's official stamp or seal, and a photo of you that is stamped or sealed across its edge (so the seal overlaps both the photo and the form). If any one of these is missing - most often the stamped photo - the form is invalid and your application can be rejected without further review. Check every page before you leave the hospital.

Timing: the 6-month validity trap

The examination results are valid for only 6 months from the exam date. Plan timing so the report remains valid through your expected admission and visa period, while leaving enough lead time for processing.

The examination results are valid for only 6 months from the examination date. If you do the exam too early, it may expire before your admission timeline is complete. If you do it too late, it may not be accepted in time for application review. Keep the expected visa and arrival windows in mind, and retake if needed while you still have enough time before deadlines.

Keep the originals safe. You must bring the original physical examination form (and its lab reports and X-ray) with you to China, because the university and local authorities may ask to see them again during registration and residence-permit processing. Submit scanned copies with your application but never surrender your originals.