China imposes no travel insurance requirement at the border, yet medical care for foreigners ranks among the most expensive in Asia: surgery in Beijing or Shanghai can run to several thousand euros. A medical repatriation from Asia involves costs that few travellers can absorb alone. This page helps you choose the right cover for your trip to China.
Get my quoteIs travel insurance compulsory in China?
Travel insurance is not a legal requirement for entering China. That said, private clinics accessible to foreign visitors charge very high fees, and the French Sécurité sociale only refunds a flat-rate portion on your return. Yupwego recommends travelling with cover, whatever the length of your stay.
Why take out travel insurance for China?
- High medical costs: At international private clinics in Beijing or Shanghai, surgical procedures can cost between 5,000 and 10,000 €. With insurance, your insurer settles the bill directly with the hospital, so you pay nothing upfront.
- Costly repatriation: In the event of serious hospitalisation, a medical flight from China back to France represents a considerable expense. This benefit is included in Yupwego policies: both the logistics and the costs are fully covered.
- Cancellation or pre-departure events: Illness, a strike or an unexpected event before you leave, the cancellation benefit reimburses non-refundable expenses already incurred, subject to your policy terms.
- Lost or stolen baggage: Personal belongings lost in transit or stolen at your hotel are covered up to the limit set out in your policy, with no complicated procedures.
- Third-party liability: An accident that injures someone or damages property in China can lead to significant costs. Your travel insurance covers your civil liability under the terms of your policy.
What your Yupwego China travel insurance covers
To travel to China with complete peace of mind, Yupwego recommends a minimum cover of 500,000 € to meet all medical and repatriation costs.
- Medical expenses and hospitalisation: Your insurer settles the hospital bill directly, even at international private clinics, so you pay nothing on the spot.
- Medical repatriation: If your condition is serious, a medical flight will bring you back to France: all logistics and costs are fully covered.
- Cancellation and trip interruption: Whether your trip is cancelled before departure or cut short mid-stay, non-refundable costs are covered under your policy.
- Baggage and personal belongings: Theft or loss of your belongings during transit or at your accommodation, you are compensated up to the limit specified in your policy.
- Third-party liability: Should you accidentally cause damage or injury to a third party in China, your insurance responds on your behalf, under the terms of your policy.
Health and healthcare in China
In China, foreigners are most commonly directed to international private clinics, whose fees are considerably higher than those in the public sector. The main health risks to be aware of include hepatitis A, typhoid (especially in rural areas and on extended stays), dengue fever in southern regions, and Japanese encephalitis depending on your itinerary: consult a doctor or an international vaccination centre before you travel. Without insurance, you will need to pay all medical costs upfront, as the French Sécurité sociale only reimburses a flat-rate portion after your return.
Entry requirements for China
French nationals benefit from a visa exemption for tourist stays of up to 30 days, valid until 31 December 2026. Your passport must remain valid for six months after your entry date. An E-Arrival Card (electronic arrival card) has been mandatory since November 2025: complete it free of charge on the National Immigration Administration website within 72 hours before your arrival. For a longer stay or a professional posting, see our long-stay travel insurance or our expat insurance.
Car hire and road accidents in China
Before renting a vehicle in China, check with the rental company and the embassy whether your French driving licence is valid locally. When collecting the vehicle, take out the CDW damage waiver offered by the rental company: your travel insurance does not cover material damage to the hire vehicle, nor your third-party liability in the event of a road accident. Your medical expenses, hospitalisation and repatriation following a personal injury accident do, however, remain covered under your Yupwego policy.
