Tuesday, June 24, 2008

How to... get a health check in Beijing

One of the first steps when applying for a Z visa is the obligatory health check. While you can also do it abroad before your first visit to China, it is rather advisable to do it here if the opportunity presents itself.

If you want to do the health check abroad, ask your doctor to fill in this form, add a photo, your ECG, a chest X-ray and a blood exam (HIV and Syphilis), ask to have each page stamped (preferably with a round red chop) and one additional stamp on your picture, and then send the whole package to your employer in China.

Until August 31st, health checks were done at Hepingli hospital. Please be aware that according to a notice at Hepingli, all health checks will be handled at Haidian clinic (see below) from September 1st, 2008!

Haidian Clinic

10, Dezhenglu
Haidian District
Beijing
Tel:82403675; Fax: 58648544

北京国际旅行卫生保健中心
北京市海淀区德正路10号

Opening hours: 08.30-11.00 from Monday to Friday

The closest subway stop from the clinic is 西二旗 (xi'erqi) on line 13. A taxi from there should cost about 13RMB.



After the examinations, go to the reception on the first floor, you can have the certificate either mailed for 30 RMB or pick it up two days later.

One last advice, you can get additional copies of this health certificate for about 30 RMB (and you'll have to bring extra photos, too). Depending on who handles your Z visa process and where you apply, you might need up to three original versions, so if you want to be 100% sure that you won't have to go back, those additional 60RMB are money well spent.

The health check certificate is valid for six months from the date of issue.

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

A quick hint for getting through the health check at Hepingli - there are, I think 3 health stations you have to get through upstairs and then an x-ray on the bottom floor. There is no specified order for completing the blood test, general exam, EKG and x-ray. Jump to any step where there is a waiting doctor! In my experience, the line for the X-ray was the longest. If there are medium-sized waits upstairs, I'd run down and get the x-ray done because everyone seems to do that last and the line gets long.

Anonymous said...

I hear there is another health check location in Haidian, but that they're not as easy-going as the folks in Hepingli.

Anonymous said...

The first thing you do when you get upstairs is to fill-out the registration form. They actually take all of the information you write down and re-type it into the system. It all comes out looking very official when printed in your health check-up certificate, so make sure you write down the correct company name and are clear with the rest of the data & information.

Anonymous said...

There is a new location in Haidian, which, as far as I've been told, will be the one for foreigners to go to.
Been there mid June and found they are a lot more easy going and no queues at all. The whole procedure from registration to leaving the place took me 25 minutes only.

Coeurdelion said...

I've heard about the new location too, and it seems that at some point this year the Hepingli Hospital will close, forcing all foreigners to go to the new one (35 km from CBD!).

I'm still waiting for final confirmation of the dates but thanks for pointing this out!

Anonymous said...

does anyone know how long this form is good for? how long before i apply for the z-visa can i do the health check-up?

Coeurdelion said...

Thanks for pointing out that missing information. The health check certificate is valid for six months from the date of issue. I changed the post accordingly!

Anonymous said...

Hi, my little sister and her husband and their daughter is about to move to GuangZhou as her husband got a new job there. I guess they will have to apply for Z Visa for the family.

And to my understanding they will have to undergo VDRL screening. My sister is VD positive, she was treated many years ago and her husband and daughter are both negative. Does that mean she won't be able to get her Visa? Is there any way to be done?

Coeurdelion said...

Hello Viv,

unfortunately, we don't know what results need to be the outcome of the health check for you to get your visa.

Last year, it was announced that a positive HIV test was not an acceptable reason to refuse a visa application, but this may be different when it comes to current practices. The same will probably apply to your VDRL screening results.

Sorry I cannot give you a more satisfactory answer.

Anonymous said...

Just went to get the physical examination done in HePingLi today, and there was an official announcement: As of 1st September 2008, HePingLi will no longer handle physical examination and verification services. All services will be officially handled by the HaiDian clinic.

Coeurdelion said...

Malcolm,

thanks a lot for this valuable piece of information! I'll change the post accordingly. My colleague just told me the Haidian clinic is about twice the distance from here as the summer palace - at least a 90 minute drive. How annoying!

Anonymous said...

I just went out to the Haidian clinic and if you want to save some money on a taxi ride then you can take line 13 out to the Shangdi (上地) station and get a taxi from there. The taxi ride from Shangdi to the clinic is about 20-25 RMB. However, make sure to bring the telephone number to the clinic (82403684 or 58648744) because most taxi drivers don't know where the clinic is yet. The clinic hours are from 8:00 am - 11:00 am and the earlier you go the better.

Anonymous said...

This is a great site! I went to the Haidan clinic on Sept 1st and here is my 2cents in case someone may find it useful.

1. The default waiting time for results is 3-4 working days. If you need the results quicker ask when you hand your form at the reception and pay the fee for them (about 10 kuai). You can then pick up the results that afternoon.

2. Its pretty busy at the moment although they are reasonably efficient. I did all my 6 tests in about an hour and a half.

3. Its busy (I know I am repeating myself) as all the students in wudaokou are getting their tests done. It seems that all students even short term students (less than 6 months) are getting x visas instead of F so they all need tests. Most courses are starting early September...

4. Its pretty far away...about 25min drive from Wudaokou which is a trek by itself from the city centre

Anonymous said...

how much is the health check?

Coeurdelion said...

Last time I checked it was 645 RMB.

Anonymous said...

"If you pay an extra 10 RMB, you can pick it up on the same day but you'll have to sign a form stating that your HIV test might return an incorrect result"

So might this caus any problem during the whole process ?

Coeurdelion said...

No, you can still use that health check (for whatever reason!).

Anonymous said...

Went today. far as heck, but very easy. Also, you can only pick up on the same day if your visa is about to expire.