If you are about to visit or be admitted to a hospital in China, the hardest part is rarely the medicine — it is the paperwork. Almost every form you are handed is written in Chinese, and busy staff may ask you to sign without walking you through what each document actually is. This guide explains the hospital admission paperwork in China you are most likely to meet, in the order you meet it, so you know what each form is for and how to get it explained before you put your signature on it. HealthBridge plans checkups and hospital visits for foreigners in China, and part of that work is making sure you never sign something you do not understand.
HealthBridge is a checkup planning service, not a package seller, so we do not push a fixed list of forms or fees on anyone. What we do is map your visit to the right hospital and department, then help you work through the documents cleanly. To see how this looks for real people, read our case studies.
The Paper Trail Starts at Registration
Your first encounter with hospital paperwork in China happens before any test: the registration step, where the hospital creates your record and hands you your first document.
The Registration (挂号) Slip
The registration slip is the first document you receive. It records your name, the department you are visiting, and the physician you are assigned to. For a foreigner, your name will normally be written in pinyin, so check that it matches your passport exactly before you leave the counter. This slip is your ticket through the system — you will show it at each department, and it links your tests and results to you.
Make Every Name and Date Match Your Passport
Names and dates must match your passport exactly on every form. A single mismatched letter between your registration name, your test labels, and your passport can cause problems later, especially when you submit an insurance claim back home. Compare the spelling and your date of birth on each document before you sign. If you are still arranging your trip, our medical visa checklist covers the entry documents you will want in order first.
Consent Forms You Will Be Asked to Sign
Whenever a procedure involves any risk, a Chinese hospital will ask for your informed consent in writing. These forms are called 知情同意书 (zhīqíng tóngyì shū), the Chinese term for an informed consent document, and you are entitled to have them explained before you sign.
Procedure and Anaesthesia Consent
For anything invasive — a biopsy, an endoscopy, or a procedure done under sedation or anaesthesia — you will be handed a consent form listing what is being done, the steps, and the possible complications. It is almost always in Chinese. You have the right to ask for a translation or a bilingual copy, and to have a staff member or interpreter walk you through it line by line before you sign.
Contrast Agents and Invasive Tests
If your visit involves imaging with a contrast agent, such as an enhanced CT scan, there is usually a separate consent form about the contrast medium and the small risk of an allergic reaction. Do not treat it as routine. Read it, ask what the contrast is for, and mention any allergies you have — especially to shellfish or iodine — before signing.
Payment and Admission Paperwork
If your visit turns into an overnight stay or an admission, the paperwork multiplies, and most of it is about money and responsibility.
The Self-Pay Acknowledgement (自费同意书)
Because you are not part of China’s resident medical scheme, you will usually sign a self-pay acknowledgement confirming that you are paying out of pocket or through insurance reimbursement rather than through the local scheme. This is not a bill — it is a declaration of how the charges will be handled. Ask whether your insurer is accepted and whether the hospital offers direct billing, because the answer changes how you pay. For a sense of how costs vary by facility, see our China medical cost comparison.
The Admission Packet and Deposit (押金)
When you are admitted, you will fill in the admission record and sign a deposit agreement. Before you sign, ask three questions: what the deposit covers, how the refund works when you are discharged, and whether any of it is non-refundable. The deposit amount varies by hospital and by the planned treatment — request a quote rather than assuming a figure. Never sign a blank or partially filled form; every field should be completed before your signature goes on it.
The Documents That Matter After You Leave
The paperwork does not end when you walk out. Two documents from your discharge will matter more than almost anything you signed on the way in.
The Discharge Summary (出院小结)
The discharge summary is a one- or two-page record of why you were admitted, what was done, and what follow-up is recommended. It is the single most useful document for your doctor back home, so request it on the day you leave, not later. Ask for an English or bilingual version if one is available.
The Itemized Bill for Insurance Claims
Alongside the discharge summary, ask for an itemized bill that lists every charge line by line. This is what your insurer will want when you claim reimbursement. Photograph every page before you leave the hospital, and keep the originals together — a missing page is far harder to replace once you have left the building.
A few simple habits turn an intimidating paper trail into a manageable one: photograph every page, ask for a bilingual copy of anything you sign, and never sign a blank or half-filled form. If the forms feel overwhelming, ask the hospital’s international or VIP desk to walk you through each one line by line. When you are planning a checkup or hospital visit in China, send us your situation and we will build a plan around it, including what paperwork to expect and how to handle it. Contact HealthBridge and we will map out the visit and the documents before you ever reach the registration desk.