Why Vietnam’s Health Certificate (Giấy Khám Sức Khỏe) Trips Up So Many Expats
You have your job offer in Vietnam. Your employer’s HR team is preparing your work permit dossier. Everything looks good — until someone asks for your giấy khám sức khỏe. You have never heard of it. You ask if a health check from your home country will do. The answer is not always yes.
Or maybe you have a valid foreign driver’s license and you want to convert it to a Vietnamese one. You assume the conversion is a simple administrative swap. Then you learn that a Vietnamese medical certificate is required, and it must come from a hospital authorized by the Ministry of Health.
This is where thousands of expats get stuck every year. The health certificate is not a generic medical note. It is a specific official document issued on a government- mandated form, by a designated medical facility, with a strict validity period. Use the wrong form, the wrong hospital, or an expired certificate, and your work permit application is rejected.
This guide uses the official Vietnamese regulatory framework — Decree 219/2025/NĐ-CP, Circular 14/2013/TT-BYT, Circular 36/2024/TT-BYT, and Joint Circular 24/2015/TTLT-BYT-BGTVT — to give you a copy-paste-ready system. You will get the exact document checklist, the official form structure with field-by-field English translations, the submission procedure, and the mistakes that get applications rejected.
Official Legal Basis: Which Rules Govern Your Health Certificate?
The legal framework for health certificates in Vietnam has evolved significantly. The key instruments you need to understand are as follows.
- Decree 219/2025/NĐ-CP, Article 8 — Sets out the dossier for a foreign worker’s work permit. A health certificate issued by a qualified medical facility is a mandatory document. Foreign-issued health certificates are accepted only if Vietnam and the issuing country have a mutual recognition treaty or agreement, and the certificate is not more than 12 months old.
- Circular 14/2013/TT-BYT — The Ministry of Health’s guidance on health examinations. It establishes the two standard form templates: one for persons under 18 years old and one for persons 18 years old and above. Health certificates issued under this circular are valid for 12 months.
- Circular 32/2023/TT-BYT — Updates the health examination procedures. It specifies that the doctor signing the conclusion must be a specialist at grade I or a medical master or higher.
- Circular 36/2024/TT-BYT — Effective January 1, 2025. This circular specifically governs health standards and health examinations for drivers. It divides driver health standards into three groups and extends the validity of driver health certificates to 12 months.
- Joint Circular 24/2015/TTLT-BYT-BGTVT — Issued jointly by the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Transport. It provides the official form template for the driver’s license health certificate (Mẫu giấy khám sức khỏe của người lái xe).
Critical distinction: The work permit health certificate and the driver’s license health certificate are not interchangeable. The work permit certificate follows the Circular 14/2013/TT-BYT form, while the driver’s license certificate follows the Joint Circular 24/2015/TTLT-BYT-BGTVT form (updated by Circular 36/2024/TT-BYT). If you need both, you may need two separate examinations or a facility that can issue both forms.
Required Documents Checklist for the Health Examination
Based on the official guidance from Vietnamese health authorities and the standard procedure at designated hospitals, here is what you must bring to your health examination appointment.
- Passport (original) — Your valid passport must be presented at the hospital reception desk. Some facilities may also require a copy, so bring both the original and a photocopy of the photo page.
- Visa or temporary residence card — Proof of legal entry or residence in Vietnam. The hospital will record your visa status on the examination form.
- Two color photographs — Size 4 cm × 6 cm. White background, face looking straight ahead, head uncovered (no hat), and no glasses. One photo is affixed to the health certificate, and the second is kept on file.
- Health examination request form — In many hospitals, this is provided at the reception desk. For some facilities, you may need to fill out a pre-examination form (Phiếu khám sức khỏe trước khi bố trí làm việc) before the examination.
- Previous medical records (if any) — If you have ongoing medical conditions or are taking regular medication, bring relevant records or a list of medications. This helps the examining doctor make an accurate assessment.
- Interpreter (if needed) — If you are not proficient in Vietnamese and the hospital does not have English-speaking staff, you must arrange for a qualified interpreter. The doctor and the examinee must share a common language, or an interpreter with a valid practicing certificate must be present.
Official Form Field-by-Field Translation: Health Certificate Layout
The work permit health certificate follows the form template attached to Circular 14/2013/TT-BYT. Below is the field structure with English translations. Note that the form is primarily in Vietnamese, with some English headings for reference.
CỘNG HÒA XÃ HỘI CHỦ NGHĨA VIỆT NAM
Độc lập – Tự do – Hạnh phúc
------------ GIẤY KHÁM SỨC KHỎE
(MEDICAL EXAMINATION CERTIFICATE) Số: ......../........ (No: ......./.......) Họ và tên (Full name): ……………………………………………………………
Giới tính (Sex): Nam ☐ / Nữ ☐ (Male ☐ / Female ☐)
Ngày tháng năm sinh (Date of birth): ……/……/…………
Quốc tịch (Nationality): ……………………………………………………………
Số hộ chiếu hoặc CMND (Passport No. / ID No.): ……………………………
Địa chỉ thường trú (Permanent address): ………………………………………
Lý do khám sức khỏe (Purpose of health examination): Khám khi tuyển dụng (Pre-employment) ☐ Khám định kỳ (Periodic) ☐ Khám khác (Other) ☐ TIỀN SỬ SỨC KHỎE (MEDICAL HISTORY)
[Checklist of medical conditions — eye disease, ear/nose/throat, cardiovascular, respiratory, blood disorder, endocrine, diabetes, etc.] PHẦN KHÁM (EXAMINATION SECTION)
I. KHÁM THỂ LỰC (PHYSICAL EXAMINATION): Chiều cao (Height): …………… cm Cân nặng (Weight): …………… kg Mạch (Pulse): …………… lần/phút Huyết áp (Blood pressure): ……………/………… mmHg II. KHÁM LÂM SÀNG (CLINICAL EXAMINATION):
[Detailed examination by specialty: Internal medicine, surgery, ophthalmology, ENT, dermatology, psychiatry, obstetrics/gynecology, etc.] III. KHÁM CẬN LÂM SÀNG (PARACLINICAL EXAMINATION):
1. Xét nghiệm máu (Blood tests): - HIV: ………………… - Viêm gan B (Hepatitis B): ………………… - Viêm gan C (Hepatitis C): ………………… - Giang mai (Syphilis): …………………
2. Xét nghiệm ma túy (Drug test): …………………
3. X-quang phổi (Chest X-ray): ………………… IV. KẾT LUẬN (CONCLUSION): Phân loại sức khỏe (Health classification): Loại ………… Đủ sức khỏe làm việc (Fit to work): Có ☐ / Không ☐ Ngày … tháng … năm ……
Bác sĩ khám (Examining doctor): [Signature and full name]
Giám đốc bệnh viện (Hospital Director): [Signature and seal]Key field notes:
- Purpose of examination: Check the box for “Khám khi tuyển dụng” (pre-employment examination) if the certificate is for a work permit. This ensures the certificate is issued for the correct purpose.
- Health classification: The classification (Loại) is typically recorded as Loại I, II, III, IV, or V. For work permit purposes, you generally need a classification that confirms you are “đủ sức khỏe” (fit for health) to work.
- Doctor’s qualification: Under Circular 32/2023/TT-BYT, the doctor who signs the conclusion must be a specialist at grade I or a medical master or higher. Check that the signing doctor’s qualifications are recorded on the form.
- Validity: The certificate is valid for 12 months from the date of issuance for work permit purposes. For driver’s license purposes, the certificate is also valid for 12 months under Circular 36/2024/TT-BYT.
Copyable Hospital Appointment Request and Cover Letter Templates
While most hospitals have their own reception procedures, a written request can help you confirm the appointment and clarify your needs in advance. Use the following template if you need to communicate with the hospital administration in writing.
REQUEST FOR HEALTH EXAMINATION CERTIFICATE
(Đơn đề nghị khám sức khỏe) Date: [Date] To: [Hospital/Clinic Name]
Address: [Hospital Address] I, [Full Name], passport number [Passport Number], nationality [Nationality],
currently residing at [Address in Vietnam], hereby request a health examination
and the issuance of a Health Certificate (Giấy khám sức khỏe) for the purpose of: ☐ Work permit application (Khám khi tuyển dụng)
☐ Driver's license application/conversion (Khám sức khỏe lái xe) I understand that the examination will follow the official form under Circular
14/2013/TT-BYT (for work permit) or Joint Circular 24/2015/TTLT-BYT-BGTVT as
amended by Circular 36/2024/TT-BYT (for driver's license). I am not proficient in Vietnamese and will require an interpreter.
Interpreter name: [Interpreter Full Name]
Interpreter phone: [Interpreter Phone] Supporting documents I will bring:
1. Original passport and copy
2. Visa or temporary residence card
3. Two 4x6 cm color photos (white background, no hat, no glasses)
4. Previous medical records (if applicable) Please confirm the following before my appointment:
- Whether your facility is authorized to issue this certificate for a foreign national.
- Whether the certificate can be issued on the same day.
- The current examination fee. Sincerely,
[Full Name]
[Phone Number]
[Email Address]Step-by-Step Official Procedure for Getting the Health Certificate
Follow this sequence based on standard practice at authorized medical facilities in Vietnam.
- Confirm which certificate you need. If you need a work permit health certificate, use the Circular 14/2013/TT-BYT form. If you need a driver’s license health certificate, use the Joint Circular 24/2015/TTLT-BYT-BGTVT form. If you need both, ask the hospital if they can issue both forms during the same visit.
- Select an authorized hospital. Use a facility that has publicly announced its eligibility to conduct health examinations for foreign nationals. The list of authorized facilities varies by province and is updated periodically by the provincial Department of Health.
- Schedule an appointment. Call the hospital’s international patient department or general reception to schedule your examination. Ask about the required documents, the fee, and the expected processing time.
- Bring the required documents. Passport, visa, photos, and any previous medical records. Arrive early — health examination departments can be busy, especially in major cities.
- Complete the examination. The examination typically includes: physical measurements (height, weight, blood pressure), clinical examination by specialty (internal medicine, surgery, ophthalmology, ENT, etc.), blood tests (HIV, hepatitis B and C, syphilis), drug testing, chest X-ray, and any additional tests indicated by the examining doctor.
- Wait for the certificate. Some hospitals can issue the certificate on the same day. Others may require one to three working days for laboratory results to be processed and the certificate to be signed.
- Verify the certificate. Before leaving the hospital, check that: your full name and passport number are correctly spelled, the purpose of examination is marked as “pre-employment” (for work permit), the doctor’s signature and hospital seal are present, and the certificate number is recorded.
- Submit the certificate with your dossier. The original certificate must be submitted with your work permit application or driver’s license conversion application. Keep a photocopy for your own records.
Common Mistakes and Rejection Warnings
- Using a foreign health certificate that is not recognized. A health certificate issued by a foreign medical facility is accepted only if Vietnam and the issuing country have a mutual recognition treaty or agreement, and the certificate is not more than 12 months old. Most expats from the United States, the United Kingdom, or Australia cannot simply use a health check from home without an additional examination in Vietnam.
- Going to an unauthorized hospital. Not every hospital can issue health certificates for work permit purposes. Some small clinics or general hospitals are not authorized to issue the official form. Using an unauthorized facility means your certificate will be rejected.
- Using the wrong form for the purpose. The work permit form and the driver’s license form are different. Submitting a driver’s license health certificate for a work permit application — or vice versa — will result in rejection.
- Expired certificate. The health certificate must be valid at the time of submission. For work permit applications, the certificate must be issued within 12 months. For driver’s license applications, the certificate must also be within its 12-month validity period. An expired certificate means starting the process over.
- Missing photos. The certificate requires a 4 cm × 6 cm color photo with a white background, bareheaded and without glasses. Photo booth photos that do not meet these specifications will be rejected.
- Doctor’s qualification not meeting requirements. Under Circular 32/2023/TT-BYT, the doctor who signs the conclusion must be a specialist at grade I or a medical master or higher. If the signing doctor does not meet this requirement, the certificate may be challenged.
- Language barrier without an interpreter. If you and the examining doctor do not share a common language, a qualified interpreter must be present. The interpreter must have a valid practicing certificate. A friend or colleague without formal interpretation credentials may not be accepted.
Processing Time, Fees, and Where to Submit
The official source data provides the following details. No specific fee amount is stated in the official regulatory documents. You must verify the current fee at the hospital where you undergo the examination.
- Work permit health certificate validity: 12 months from the date of issuance (Circular 14/2013/TT-BYT).
- Driver’s license health certificate validity: 12 months from the date of conclusion (Circular 36/2024/TT-BYT, effective January 1, 2025). This is an increase from the previous 6-month validity period.
- Driver’s license health certificate groups: Group 1 (A1, B1, specialized motorbikes), Group 2 (A and B), Group 3 (C1, C, D1, D2, D, BE, C1E, CE, D1E, D2E, DE).
- Where to get the examination: An authorized hospital or medical facility that has publicly announced eligibility to conduct health examinations for foreign nationals. Lists are maintained by provincial Departments of Health. Major cities like Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City have multiple designated hospitals with English-speaking staff.
- Where to submit the certificate: The original health certificate is submitted as part of the work permit dossier to the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (via the Public Administration Service Center) or as part of the driver’s license application to the Department of Transport.
- Fees: Not specified in the official source data. Contact the hospital directly to confirm the current examination fee. Do not rely on any figure you find online unless confirmed by the receiving medical facility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use a health certificate from my home country for a Vietnam work permit?
A: Only if Vietnam and your home country have a mutual recognition treaty or agreement, and the certificate was issued within 12 months of submission. Most expats from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia cannot use a home-country health certificate for a Vietnam work permit. In practice, undergoing the examination at an authorized hospital in Vietnam is the most straightforward approach.
Q: Is the health certificate for a work permit the same as the one for a driver’s license?
A: No. They are two different documents issued on different official forms. The work permit health certificate follows the Circular 14/2013/TT-BYT form. The driver’s license health certificate follows the Joint Circular 24/2015/TTLT-BYT-BGTVT form, as amended by Circular 36/2024/TT-BYT. You may need two separate examinations, or you can ask a hospital if they can issue both forms during the same visit.
Q: How long is the health certificate valid?
A: For work permit purposes, the certificate is valid for 12 months from the date of issuance. For driver’s license purposes, the certificate is also valid for 12 months from the date of conclusion, under Circular 36/2024/TT-BYT, effective January 1, 2025. This is an increase from the previous 6-month validity period for driver’s certificates.
Q: Where can I get a health certificate as a foreigner in Vietnam?
A: You must go to a hospital or medical facility that has publicly announced eligibility to conduct health examinations for foreign nationals. Lists of authorized facilities are maintained by provincial Departments of Health. Major cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Da Nang have multiple designated hospitals with experience serving expats, including English-speaking staff.
Q: Do I need an interpreter for the health examination?
A: If you and the examining doctor do not share a common language, a qualified interpreter must be present. The interpreter must have a valid practicing certificate under Vietnamese law. Many international hospitals in major cities have English-speaking doctors, so an interpreter may not be necessary if you use those facilities. Confirm with the hospital before your appointment.