I. Overview

(1) Scope of application:

This guide stipulates the type of matters reviewed, the basis for the review, the accepting organization, the decision-making body, quantity limits, application conditions, prohibitions, the application materials list, application acceptance, basic processes, handling methods, time limits, standard charges, results, result delivery and other requirements for the licensing of foreign physicians applying for short-term medical practice in the Mainland.

This guide is intended for foreign physicians.

(2) Accepting organization: Chongqing Municipal Health Commission.

(3) Decision-making body: Chongqing Municipal Health Commission.

(4) Quantity limit: No limit.

(5) Handling method: Online processing and processing in person at service window.

(6) Type of matters reviewed: Approval after review.

(7) Legal time limit: 30 days (excluding the time required for hearing, bidding, auction, inspection, testing, quarantine, appraisal and expert review according to law).

(8) Commitment time: 15 working days (excluding the time required for hearing, bidding, auction, inspection, testing, quarantine, appraisal and expert review according to law).

(9) Fee applicable: None.

(10) Result: License for Short-term Practice of Medicine by Foreign Physicians.

(11) Consulting telephone: 023-68811756.

(12) Complaint telephone: 023-68810000.

II. Application conditions

1. Applicants shall be physicians legally qualified to practice medicine in a foreign country who are invited, employed or apply to come to China for clinical diagnosis and treatment of no more than one year;

2. Applicants shall be invited or employed by medical institutions in China. The inviting or employing unit can be one or more people;

3. For applicants who are employed, if there are multiple employers, the agreements must be signed separately. The agreement must include the following contents: purpose, specific project, location, time, responsibilities. If an agreement is not signed, the relevant civil liability involved shall be borne by the inviting or employing unit;

4. Applicants shall obtain entry visas in advance according to law, and handle the residence or stay permits in accordance with relevant regulations after entry;

5. Applicants shall comply with Chinese laws and regulations and respect Chinese customs and habits.

III. Application materials list

(1) Source of materials

The Application Form for the License for Short-term Practice of Medicine by Foreign Physicians can be obtained from the administrative examination and approval service hall of the Chongqing Municipal Health Commission, or by logging onto the online hall of Chongqing Municipality (http://zwfw.cq.gov.cn), or by downloading the instructions and application form from the website of the Chongqing Health Inspection Bureau (http://www.cqwsjds.com). Other materials shall be provided by the applicant.

(2) Material preparation

All the materials are required to be printed on A4 paper, stamped with an official seal, and packed in the order set out below. Where the materials required to be submitted are copies, clear indication of "copy" shall be made, and the originals shall be provided for verification.

(1) The original Application Form for the License for Short-term Practice of Medicine by Foreign Physicians in Chongqing (application by individual foreign physicians); the original application form (invited or employed by a unit);
(2) The original diploma and one original of the notarial certificate for foreign physician, the contents of which must be notarized;

(3) The original practice qualification or certificate of practicing medicine in a foreign country and the original notarial certificate, the contents of which must be notarized;

(4) The original certificate for physical health;

(5) An original bareheaded front half-length recent photo (3.5cmX4.5cm);

(6) The original certificate and agreement or the statement on the relevant civil liability issued by the inviting or employing unit;

(7) One copy of the applicant's passport. 

IV. Basic process

(1) Application
1. After the applicant has conducted real-name registration through the online administrative examination and approval hall of Chongqing Municipality (http://zwfw.cq.gov.cn), the applicant can make an online application according to the service guide. The Chongqing Municipal Health Commission will review the application materials online, and if the application materials pass the review, the online administrative examination and approval will then be conducted.

2. The applicant can also apply in the administrative examination and approval hall of the Chongqing Municipal Health Commission. The relevant materials will be directly accepted and reviewed at the hall. The Certificate of Receiving Materials on Application for Permission to Practice Health and Family Planning Service will be issued to the eligible applicants, and the online processing will be conducted in time according to the procedures.

3. Online application: Conduct real-name registration, login, perform online application, fill in business information, upload electronic materials, wait for the pass for preliminary review, submit paper materials or express deliver paper materials to the accepting organization within 3 days after receiving the notification;

4. If the application materials have errors that can be corrected on the spot, the accepting personnel should allow the applicant to correct.

5. If the application materials are incomplete or do not conform to the statutory form, the accepting personnel shall inform the applicant of all the materials that need to be corrected or complemented on the spot or within five working days, and issue a Notice on Correction and Complement of the Materials on Application for Permission to Practice Health and Family Planning Service. If the notice is not made within the time limit, it is deemed that the application has been accepted.

(2) Acceptance

1. If the application is within the limits of functions and powers, the application materials are complete and conform to the statutory form, the application materials shall be accepted on the spot or on the day of receipt of the materials, or if the applicant submits all the application materials in accordance with the requirements of the administrative organ, the application shall also be accepted and the Notice of Acceptance of the Application for Permission to Practice Health and Family Planning Service stamped with the special seal of the health administrative department shall be issued. Then, according to the authority of administrative examination and approval, the application materials will be distributed to the relevant offices.

2. If the application is not within the limits of functions and powers, or does not require an administrative license, the applicant shall be informed of the reasons for the non-acceptance on the spot, and the Notice of Non-acceptance of the Application for Permission to Practice Health and Family Planning Service stamped with the special seal of the health administrative department shall be issued. The applicant shall also be informed of the right to apply for administrative reconsideration or file an administrative lawsuit according to law. 

(3) Review

1. The Health Service Permit Acceptance Office of the Chongqing Health Inspection Bureau is responsible for receiving application materials and accepting applications, and submitting the application materials to the Division of Comprehensive Supervision of the Chongqing Municipal Health Commission within 2 working days after acceptance.

2. The Division of Comprehensive Supervision shall review the application materials in accordance with laws, regulations, rules and relevant standards and requirements.

(4) Decision-making
1. According to the result of the review, the License for Short-term Practice of Medicine by Foreign Physicians will be issued to eligible applicants within the commitment time.

2. If a written decision not to grant an administrative license is made in accordance with the law, the reasons shall be explained, and the Decision on Non-approval of the Application for Permission to Practice Health and Family Planning Service shall be issued, and the applicant shall be informed of the right to apply for administrative reconsideration or file an administrative lawsuit according to law.

(5) Delivery
The applicant can obtain the license in the administrative examination and approval service hall of the Chongqing Municipal Health Commission, or contact the hall to apply for mailing.

V. Office address and time

Office hours: 9 am-12 pm, 2 pm-6 pm, except for legal holidays;

Office address: No 104, 6 Qilong Rd, Yubei district, Chongqing.

(This English version is only for reference. To learn more, please refer to the authoritative Chinese version)