Navigating Vietnam’s public health insurance system as a foreigner can feel like decoding a secret language. You have your work permit, your temporary residence card, and your labor contract—but the paperwork for BHYT (Bảo hiểm y tế) often involves unfamiliar Vietnamese forms and strict eligibility rules that are easy to misunderstand. This guide breaks down the official requirements for compulsory BHYT participation, translates the key form fields, and gives you a copyable cover letter so you can submit your file with confidence.
Who Qualifies for Compulsory BHYT in Vietnam? (The Official Legal Basis)
Vietnam’s health insurance framework applies to foreign nationals under specific conditions. The core rule is that foreign workers who meet the labor and permit requirements must participate in the same compulsory social insurance system as Vietnamese employees.
The legal foundation comes from the Law on Health Insurance (Law No. 25/2008/QH12), amended most recently by Law No. 51/2024/QH15, together with Decree 143/2018/NĐ-CP and Decree 146/2018/NĐ-CP. Under these rules, you are subject to compulsory BHYT if you:
- Hold a work permit or a practicing certificate issued by a competent Vietnamese authority.
- Have a labor contract with a Vietnamese employer that is either indefinite or definite with a term of 12 months or more.
- Are not an intra-corporate transferee under Decree 11/2016/NĐ-CP.
- Have not reached retirement age at the time the labor contract is signed.
Required Documents Checklist (Strictly from Official Data)
Your employer usually handles the submission, but you are responsible for preparing your personal documents. The standard file includes:
- Tờ khai tham gia, điều chỉnh thông tin BHXH, BHYT (Mẫu TK1-TS) – the declaration form for social and health insurance participation.
- A copy of your passport (the page with your personal details and the visa/residence stamp).
- A copy of your work permit or practicing certificate.
- A copy of your labor contract showing a term of 12 months or more.
- A copy of your temporary residence card (for identity verification and address confirmation).
If your employer requests additional internal forms (such as a company list of participants), they will provide them. Do not submit originals unless specifically asked—certified copies or copies with originals for comparison are typically sufficient.
Mẫu TK1-TS: Field-by-Field Translation & Breakdown for Foreigners
Form TK1-TS is the backbone of the registration. Below is a direct English translation of the key fields you must complete. Vietnamese authorities require foreign names to be written in capital letters exactly as they appear on your passport.
FORM TK1-TS – DECLARATION FOR REGISTRATION / ADJUSTMENT OF SOCIAL INSURANCE AND HEALTH INSURANCE INFORMATION
(Issued together with Decision No. 366/QĐ-BHXH dated 29/4/2026 of Vietnam Social Security) Social Insurance Code: .................................. A. REGISTRATION I. GENERAL INFORMATION [01] Full name (as in passport, CAPITAL LETTERS): ........................................
[02] Gender: [ ] Male [ ] Female
[03] Date of birth (dd/mm/yyyy): ....../....../..........
[04] Passport number: ........................................
[05] Ethnicity: ........................................
[06] Nationality: ........................................ (write "Foreign" for non-Vietnamese)
[07] Phone number: ........................................
[08] Email address: ........................................
[09] Initial healthcare registration facility (not applicable for voluntary SI): ........................................
[10] Receive administrative result as: [ ] Electronic [ ] Paper
[11] Paper result address: [11.1] Street address / hamlet: ........................................ [11.2] Commune / ward / special zone: ........................................ [11.3] Province / city: ........................................ B. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION (if applicable)
... (complete only if instructed by your employer or the social insurance officer)Key filling rules:
- Write your name in the exact order printed on your passport (e.g., SURNAME GIVEN NAME).
- For field [06] Nationality, you can write the name of your country; the form note specifically says to record “foreign” for foreign nationals.
- Select a designated initial healthcare facility in field [09]. This is the hospital or clinic where your BHYT card will be registered. Choosing a convenient public facility saves you reimbursement headaches later.
Copyable Cover Letter for Submitting Your BHYT File
If you are submitting the documents yourself (or accompanying your employer’s HR representative), attach a brief cover letter in Vietnamese to help the one-stop desk process your file smoothly. Replace the bracketed placeholders with your details.
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
Independence – Freedom – Happiness [City/Province], [Date] To: The Social Insurance Agency of [District/City] [Address of the Social Insurance Agency] COVER LETTER FOR REGISTRATION OF COMPULSORY HEALTH INSURANCE (BHYT) Dear Sir/Madam, I am [Full Name], a foreign national holding Passport No. [Passport Number] and Work Permit No. [Work Permit Number]. I am currently employed by [Company Name] under a labor contract dated [Contract Date] with a term of [Contract Duration, e.g., 24 months]. Pursuant to the Law on Health Insurance and Decree 143/2018/ND-CP, I am submitting my dossier for compulsory health insurance registration. The enclosed documents include: 1. Declaration Form TK1-TS (completed and signed)
2. Copy of Passport (personal details page)
3. Copy of Work Permit / Practicing Certificate
4. Copy of Labor Contract
5. Copy of Temporary Residence Card I respectfully request that you review the file and issue my health insurance card in accordance with current regulations. I am available at [Phone Number] or [Email Address] should any clarification be required. Thank you for your time and assistance. Respectfully,
[Signature]
[Full Name]Step-by-Step Official Submission Procedure
The process is employer-driven in most cases. Here is the standard workflow based on the official procedure:
- HR prepares the internal list. Your employer compiles a list of foreign employees who need to be registered (often using internal form Mẫu D03-TS or a similar list) and generates a TK1-TS for each person.
- You complete and sign the TK1-TS. Check every field against your passport and work permit. Sign and date the declaration.
- HR submits to the social insurance agency. The employer sends the file (TK1-TS + supporting copies) to the district-level social insurance agency, either in person or through the postal system.
- The agency processes and issues the card. Once the file is accepted, the agency updates the database and issues the BHYT card. Your employer receives the card and distributes it to you.
Contribution Rates & What You Pay
The BHYT contribution rate for foreign workers mirrors the domestic employee rate: 4.5% of your monthly salary. Of this, the employer pays 3% and you contribute 1.5%. This amount is deducted from your salary each month alongside social insurance contributions.
If your salary is paid in a foreign currency, the contribution base is converted to Vietnamese dong according to the official exchange rate at the time of payment. The exact amount deducted may vary slightly based on your declared salary.
Processing time and card issuance timelines are not fixed in the source regulations and can vary by locality. Ask your HR department or the receiving social insurance office for the current expected turnaround in your province.
Common Mistakes That Get Files Rejected
- Writing your name in lowercase or in a different order. Vietnamese social insurance systems often reject files where the name does not match the passport in exact capital-letter sequence.
- Submitting an expired work permit or residence card. All supporting documents must be valid at the time of submission.
- Using an outdated TK1-TS form. The current form is issued under Decision 366/QĐ-BHXH (dated 29/4/2026). Older versions from 2018 or 2023 may not be accepted.
- Trying to join household BHYT. As confirmed by Ho Chi Minh City Social Insurance, foreigners with temporary or permanent residence cards are not permitted to participate in the household category.
- Forgetting to select an initial healthcare facility. Field [09] on the TK1-TS is mandatory for compulsory participants. Leaving it blank can delay card issuance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: Can I buy household BHYT as a foreigner with a temporary residence card?
No. Official guidance states that foreigners holding permanent or temporary residence cards are currently not covered by the household BHYT category. Your eligibility for public health insurance comes from compulsory participation through your employer.
Q2: What is the contribution rate for foreign workers under BHYT?
The total contribution is 4.5% of your monthly salary. The employer pays 3% and the employee pays 1.5%.
Q3: Which form do I need to fill out for BHYT registration?
You must complete Form TK1-TS, titled “Tờ khai tham gia, điều chỉnh thông tin BHXH, BHYT,” issued under Decision 366/QĐ-BHXH dated 29/4/2026.
Q4: Do I need a work permit to qualify for BHYT?
Yes. Foreign workers must hold a work permit or practicing certificate issued by a competent Vietnamese authority, along with a labor contract of 12 months or more, to be subject to compulsory BHYT.
Q5: Can I register for BHYT if I am already at retirement age?
No. If you have reached retirement age at the time of signing the labor contract, you are not subject to compulsory BHYT participation under the current rules.