A health certificate from a Ministry of Health-authorised hospital is mandatory for Vietnam work permits — chest X-ray for TB is included and the certificate is valid for 12 months.
Overview
Vietnam requires a health certificate (Giấy Chứng Nhận Sức Khỏe) as a mandatory component of the work permit application dossier submitted to the Provincial People's Committee under Decree 152/2020 as amended. From 1 January 2024, all health examinations must comply with Circular 32/2023/TT-BYT issued by the Ministry of Health, which sets the mandatory examination package: physical assessment (height, weight, BMI, pulse, blood pressure), clinical examination across 9 specialties (internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics/gynaecology for females, ophthalmology, ENT, dental, dermatology, psychiatry, and addiction), and sub-clinical tests including blood panel, urinalysis, chest X-ray (which screens for tuberculosis and other pulmonary conditions), and ECG. Certificates must be signed by a Level I specialist (Chuyên Khoa I) or higher and are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Vietnam does not use a panel physician (designated physician) system — examinations can be conducted at any Ministry of Health-authorised hospital or polyclinic. No separate tuberculosis test result is required independently; the chest X-ray within the standard package satisfies the TB screening requirement. Verified against moh.gov.vn and vbpl.vn as of June 2026.
Mandatory Health Examination Package under Circular 32/2023/TT-BYT
| Examination category | Components | Relevance to immigration |
|---|---|---|
| Physical assessment | Height, weight, BMI, pulse, blood pressure, general health classification | Required for all work permit applicants |
| Clinical — 9 specialties | Internal medicine, surgery, obstetrics/gynaecology (F), ophthalmology, ENT, dental, dermatology, psychiatry, addiction assessment | Assesses fitness for the declared work role |
| Sub-clinical — Chest X-ray | Standard PA chest radiograph; screens for tuberculosis, other pulmonary conditions | Satisfies TB screening requirement; no separate TB test needed |
| Sub-clinical — Blood panel | Full blood count, liver function, kidney function, blood sugar | Part of standard work permit health package |
| Sub-clinical — Urinalysis | Standard dipstick + microscopy | Part of standard work permit health package |
| Sub-clinical — ECG | 12-lead electrocardiogram | Required for applicants over 40 or with cardiac risk factors; included in full package |
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See Paid Plans →Frequently Asked Questions
Can I get my health certificate at any hospital in Vietnam, or only at designated facilities?
The certificate must be issued by a hospital or polyclinic authorised by the Ministry of Health under Circular 32/2023/TT-BYT. Any MoH-authorised general hospital of district level or above can conduct the examination — Vietnam does not use a 'designated panel physician' system as Australia and Canada do. Major public hospitals (Bach Mai in Hanoi, Cho Ray in Ho Chi Minh City) and accredited private hospitals (Vinmec, FV Hospital) all offer work permit health packages. Call ahead to confirm current availability and the fee (typically VND 500,000–1,500,000 depending on facility and package).
Does the Vietnam work permit health exam screen for tuberculosis?
Yes. The chest X-ray included in the standard work permit health examination package under Circular 32/2023/TT-BYT screens for tuberculosis and other pulmonary conditions. A standard PA (posteroanterior) chest radiograph is mandatory. No separate sputum test or tuberculin skin test (TST/Mantoux) is required by Vietnam's immigration health package — the chest X-ray is the sole TB-related requirement. If the X-ray reveals a pulmonary abnormality, the examining specialist may recommend further investigation.
How long is the Vietnamese health certificate valid for a work permit application?
A health certificate issued under Circular 32/2023/TT-BYT is valid for 12 months from the date of issue. This 12-month window typically provides sufficient time for the full work permit application process. However, if your work permit application is substantially delayed (e.g., due to dossier incompleteness or employer demand approval delays), check whether the certificate is still within its validity period before final dossier submission. If it has expired, you must repeat the examination.
I had a health examination in my home country — can I use that certificate for a Vietnam work permit?
The standard requirement under Decree 152/2020 is a health certificate issued by a Vietnamese MoH-authorised facility. Some Provincial People's Committees may accept a foreign-issued certificate if it is apostilled (or consular-legalised) and accompanied by a Vietnamese-language notarised translation, but this is not uniformly accepted. The safest approach is to obtain the health certificate in Vietnam after arrival, which is straightforward — most MoH-authorised hospitals can complete the package within 1 business day and issue the certificate within 3–5 days.
Is HIV status a ground for refusing a work permit in Vietnam?
No. Vietnam removed HIV status as a ground for immigration or work permit refusal. The health certificate under Circular 32/2023/TT-BYT does not include mandatory HIV testing, and HIV status alone cannot be used to refuse a work permit application under current Vietnamese law. This reflects Vietnam's rights-based approach to HIV adopted over the past decade. The health certificate assesses general physical fitness for work rather than HIV serostatus.
Do my dependants need health certificates for their TRC applications?
TRC applications for dependant family members (TT category — spouse and minor children of a foreign worker) do not require a health certificate of the same standard as the work permit applicant. The TRC application dossier for dependants, as published at xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn, focuses on proof of relationship (marriage certificate, birth certificate — authenticated and translated), the primary holder's TRC, and the standard application form. Verify the current dependant TRC dossier requirements at xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn, as requirements can be updated.