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Foreigner Physical Examination Form: what the scholarship guide requires and what happens at enrolment

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The Foreigner Physical Examination Form is required from Chinese Government Scholarship applicants who will study in China for more than six months: they submit a photocopy of the form and keep the original, which is printed by Chinese quarantine authorities and filled in in English. The medical examination results are valid for only six months. Two other official rules apply at later stages: Ministry of Education Order No. 42 Article 39 covers enrolment, and Regulations Article 16 covers the health certificate for a residence permit valid for more than one year.

What the scholarship guide requires

The Chinese Government Scholarship application guide is a scholarship application document, not a visa rule. Section VI, item 12, of the Application Guide for Chinese Government Scholarship states the following for an applicant who will study in China for more than six months:

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

Section VI, item 12, does not say where to obtain the form, and does not state the cost of the examination.

What happens at enrolment

The English rendering of the Chinese text of Ministry of Education Order No. 42 below is this site's translation of the official Chinese text.

Order No. 42, Article 39, says that when international students enrol, they shall, in accordance with the provisions of the Chinese health administrative department, go to the Chinese health and quarantine department to complete the confirmation formalities for the "Foreigner Physical Examination Record" (《外国人体格检查记录》) or undergo a physical examination. Article 39 goes on to say that if the examination confirms that the student suffers from serious mental disorders, infectious tuberculosis, or other infectious diseases that may cause major harm to public health as stipulated in the Exit and Entry Administration Law, the public security department shall handle the matter according to law.

Law, Article 21(2), is the provision that names those grounds: it says visas shall not be issued to a foreigner who is suffering from serious mental disorders, infectious tuberculosis or other infectious diseases that may severely jeopardize the public health.

Article 39 does not state a period of validity for the Foreigner Physical Examination Record or for an examination taken at enrolment.

The residence permit and the health certificate

Regulations Article 16 sets out how a foreigner applies for a residence permit. The applicant shall submit his or her passport or other international travel documents, qualified photos, and material relating to the purpose of application; shall go through the relevant formalities in person with the exit and entry administration authority of the public security organ of the local people’s government at or above the county level in the proposed place of residence; and shall provide biometric identification information such as fingerprints (Regulations, Article 16).

For a residence permit for study, Regulations Article 16(2) says the applicant shall, in accordance with relevant provisions, submit such certification documents as a letter indicating the duration of study provided by the admission institution.

Regulations Article 16 then says that when applying for a residence permit valid for more than 1 year, a foreigner shall, in accordance with relevant provisions, submit his or her health certificate, and that a health certificate is valid for six months beginning from the date of issue.

Article 16 refers to a "health certificate"; it does not name the Foreigner Physical Examination Form. Order No. 42, Article 36, says that an international student holding a study visa that indicates a residence permit is required after entry shall, within 30 days from the date of entry, apply to the exit and entry administration department of the public security organ at the proposed place of residence for a study-type foreigner residence permit. For the documents needed after you arrive, see the residence permit for study after arrival.

Questions people ask

Who has to submit the Foreigner Physical Examination Form?

Under the Chinese Government Scholarship application guide, section VI, item 12, an applicant who will study in China for more than six months shall submit a photocopy of the Foreigner Physical Examination Form, while the original document, printed by Chinese quarantine authorities, shall be filled in in English and kept by the applicant. The medical examinations must cover all the items listed in the form, and a record that is incomplete or lacks the signature of the attending physician, the official stamp of the hospital, or a sealed photograph of the applicant is invalid.

How long is the medical examination valid?

The Chinese Government Scholarship application guide, section VI, item 12, states that medical examination results are valid for only six months. Regulations Article 16 states that a health certificate is valid for six months beginning from the date of issue. Order No. 42, Article 39, does not state a validity period for the Foreigner Physical Examination Record or for an enrolment examination.

Do I need this form for the X1 or X2 visa application?

The rule for the X1 or X2 visa application before entry is Order No. 42, Article 35: the applicant shall, before entering China, apply to the Chinese embassy, consulate or other institution entrusted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in his or her country of nationality or residence for an X1 or X2 visa according to the duration of study, and shall submit the proof filed with the education administrative department and the admission letter issued by the school. Article 35 does not name the Foreigner Physical Examination Form. The Chinese Government Scholarship application guide is a scholarship application document, not a visa rule. Check the documents required for your visa application with the visa office handling your case.

Is the health certificate in the Regulations the same as the Foreigner Physical Examination Form?

Regulations Article 16 requires a health certificate for a residence permit valid for more than one year and sets its validity at six months from the date of issue. The Chinese Government Scholarship application guide, section VI, item 12, names the Foreigner Physical Examination Form. Article 16 and section VI, item 12, do not state that the health certificate and the Foreigner Physical Examination Form are the same document.

Sources

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