Spouses, parents and adult children accompanying a patient travel on a Chinese F-visa. Same hospital invitation letter, same processing window, USD 130–190 per applicant.
Family members accompanying a patient to China for medical treatment travel on a Chinese F-visa (探亲访友 / visitor) — issued on the basis of a companion invitation letter from the same hospital as the patient. Fees are USD 130–190 per applicant (US citizens; varies by nationality), processing matches the patient's M-visa at 5–10 business days standard or 2–3 days expedited .
The Short Answer
Family members accompanying a patient to China for medical treatment travel on a Chinese F-visa (探亲访友 / visitor) — issued on the basis of a companion invitation letter from the same hospital as the patient. Fees are USD 130–190 per applicant (US citizens; varies by nationality), processing matches the patient's M-visa at 5–10 business days standard or 2–3 days expedited.
Who Can Travel as a Companion
Hospital companion invitation letters typically cover:
- Spouse (married or de-facto partner with documentation).
- Parents of the patient (any age).
- Adult children of the patient.
- Adult siblings on a case-by-case basis.
Unrelated friends and extended family typically need a standard tourist visa rather than an F-visa.
Documents Required
- Passport — original, 6+ months validity, 2 blank visa pages.
- Completed COVA application form (V.2013) — signed and printed.
- Companion invitation letter from the receiving Chinese hospital — issued at the same time as the patient's letter.
- Proof of relationship — marriage certificate, birth certificate, or family registry (with translation if not in English or Chinese).
- One 33×48mm colour passport photo.
Cost (US Citizens, 2026)
- F-visa application fee: USD 130 (single entry / double entry / 6-month multi-entry).
- USD 5 visa book.
- ~USD 40 expedited service.
- USD 40–60 CVASC / CIBT service fee.
- Typical total: USD 175–235 per companion.
Fingerprinting is required in person, same as M-visa.
Companion-Specific Logistics
- Accommodation — Class A international medical departments offer a "companion bed" in the patient's room for USD 30–60/night. For longer stays, partner hotels offer family rooms at USD 80–180/night.
- Meals — most international wards run a separate companion meal service (USD 12–25/day).
- Daytime activities — coordinator-arranged neighborhood walks, museum visits and language-buddy programmes are increasingly common (Shanghai, Beijing).
- Phone and SIM — companion gets a local SIM at hospital arrival for free in most international programmes.
Special Cases
- Minor children — under 18 typically also travel on F-visa via the parent's invitation letter. Both biological / legal parents' consent letter is required if only one parent is travelling.
- Companion with own M-visa — if the companion is also under treatment (e.g., second-opinion consult, executive physical), they may travel on their own M-visa with their own invitation letter.
- Caregiver / professional companion — paid professional caregivers travel on F-visa, generally with the home agency's letter of engagement plus the hospital companion letter.
Hiring an In-Country Companion
For patients without a family caregiver, the partner network offers professional medical companions (bilingual, hospital-experienced) for USD 90–180/day. See companions in China for credentialing and language coverage.
For a country-specific companion-visa pathway, see the US → China visa page. For the patient's M-visa guide, see our M-visa walkthrough.
Sources: Chinese Embassy in the United States F-visa requirements 2026; CVASC fee schedules; partner-network companion-programme logistics.