The Shanghai Work Permit Health Check, Fasting and All

The short version. If you are staying in Shanghai a year or more to work or study, one health check is mandatory for your work and residence permit. It happens only at the Shanghai International Travel Healthcare Center, costs around 700 to 800 RMB, takes one to two hours as a numbered circuit of rooms, and the certificate is ready about four working days later. Book on WeChat ahead, and fast for about eight hours first.

If you are moving to Shanghai to work or study for a year or more, there is one appointment nobody quite prepares you for: the mandatory health check. It is a required step for your work permit and residence permit, it happens at one specific government centre, and it is far more of a conveyor belt than a doctor's visit. I remember standing in a paper gown holding a little basket of vials wondering if I had missed a memo. You have not. Here is the whole thing, in order, so you walk in knowing exactly what happens.

Do I actually need a health check for my Shanghai work permit?

Yes. Expats applying to live, work or study in Shanghai for a year or more must complete a health examination at the Shanghai International Travel Healthcare Center, and the certificate it produces is required for your work permit and residence permit application. Tourists and short-stay visitors do not need it. It is a screening exam, not a treatment, and for the vast majority of people it is a straightforward box to tick on the way to your permit.

Where do I go for the health check in Shanghai?

The exam is done at the Shanghai International Travel Healthcare Center (上海国际旅行卫生保健中心), on the ground floor of Building 1, No. 15 Jinbang Road, Changning District. This is the designated centre whose certificate the authorities accept, so this is where you go even if a private hospital offers something similar. Give yourself time to find it and to queue, especially in the busy post-summer season when new hires and students arrive together.

How do I book an appointment?

Booking moved online and you should reserve in advance rather than just turning up. Since early 2024 reservations are handled through the centre's official WeChat account, which you find by searching the WeChat public account for the Shanghai International Travel Healthcare Center and following the booking (预约) prompts. Aim to book at least a couple of weeks ahead, because slots fill and appointments can run out in peak periods. Exam sessions are generally mornings, commonly Monday to Friday from around 8am to 11am, with some afternoon and Saturday availability depending on demand. Go early in your appointment window; the earlier you arrive, the shorter the queues.

What do I need to bring?

Turn up with everything, because a missing document can cost you the trip:

• Your passport, plus photocopies of the photo page, the visa page and any relevant update pages.
• Two or three recent passport photos (2-inch, full face, no hat).
• The application and consent forms, signed. These are provided when you book or on arrival.
• For work applicants: an employment certificate and a photocopy of your employer's business licence.
• For students: your admission letter or student ID.
• For accompanying family: supporting documents such as the sponsor's business licence.
• Any previous health check report from the last six months, if you have one, which can sometimes save you repeating tests.
• Your payment method: Alipay or WeChat Pay work smoothly here, so make sure your app is set up.

What does the exam actually involve?

The check is a standard screening battery, done as a circuit of rooms you move through in sequence. Expect roughly the following, though the exact stations vary:

1. Registration and payment, where you hand over documents and photos.
2. Height, weight and blood pressure.
3. A blood test (go prepared for this to be part of it).
4. A chest X-ray.
5. An electrocardiogram (ECG), done lying down.
6. An ultrasound of the abdomen.
7. A brief general check of vision, and a short physical.

The whole circuit usually takes one to two hours depending on the queues. It is efficient rather than personal, and the staff have done it thousands of times, so follow the numbered flow and you will be fine.

Should I fast before the health check?

Because the exam includes a blood test and an abdominal ultrasound, it is sensible to fast beforehand: do not eat for around eight hours before, and try to avoid a heavy meal the night before. Water is generally fine. Wear comfortable clothes without metal around the chest for the X-ray and ECG, and bring a snack for straight after, because you will be hungry once you are done. Confirm the exact fasting instructions when you book, since guidance can be updated.

When do I get the certificate, and what happens next?

You do not get the result on the day. The health certificate is typically ready about four working days later, and you can collect it in person or arrange delivery. That certificate then feeds into your work permit and residence permit paperwork, so build these few days into your timeline rather than leaving the health check to the last minute before a permit deadline. If your results flag something, the centre will advise on any follow-up; for ordinary medical care after that, our guide on how to see a doctor in Shanghai as an expat covers registering and getting seen.

How the health check fits your permit timeline

The health check is one station in a longer bureaucratic relay: entry visa, health check, work permit, residence permit, and your neighbourhood police registration. Doing the health check early, right after you arrive, keeps the rest moving. Two companions worth reading alongside this: our guide to temporary residence registration and the 24-hour police rule, which is another arrival must-do, and our guide to health insurance for expats, so you are covered once you are settled.

Sun Tzu wrote 知己知彼，百战不殆, know yourself and know the other and you are never in danger. Walk in knowing what they will measure and what your own body will show, and a fasting morning loses its power to unsettle you.