Health Check for Work Permit in Vietnam

Getting a health check is non-negotiable for foreigners intending to apply for a work permit in Vietnam. What does a health check for work permit in Vietnam include? Where can you get your medical examination done?

Regulations on health check for work permit in Vietnam

The Vietnam Ministry of Health has issued Circulars specifying several regulations on health check for work permit applications as follows:

1. ● Validity of the health check certificate: Within 12 months before the submission date of the work permit application.
2. ● Requirements for physicians: Medical doctors (Specialist, Level 1/Master of Medicine/Higher qualifications)
3. ● Requirements for medical establishments: Medical establishments providing health check services must hold business licenses permitting medical practice as per Vietnam’s Law on Medical Examination and Treatment. Moreover, these medical establishments must have dedicated departments for clinical and subclinical examinations meeting the standards of the Ministry of Health.

When applying for a work permit in Vietnam, it’s best to do your homework thoroughly to make sure you know exactly how to prepare and what to expect. This helps you avoid potential issues and improves your chances of success.

Can I submit a health check from my home country to apply for work permit in Vietnam?

In order for a foreign health check certificate to be accepted, it must have a minimum validity of 6 months and must be issued by a country that has a bilateral treaty with Vietnam regarding the recognition of such health check certificates.

In addition, the foreign health check certificate must be translated into Vietnamese and notarized by competent authorities as per Vietnam’s regulations. However, in practice, submitting a foreign-issued health check certificate may likely complicate your work permit application process.

We’re speaking from experience. In one of Thao & Co.’s previous work permit translation projects, we helped an American client translate and legalize their health check certificate which they obtained in the US. However, their health check certificate was denied by the work permit officer.

When we asked the officer why the US health certificate was not accepted, we were informed that per Vietnam’s law, for a health certificate to be considered valid, it must be signed by a medical doctor. Meanwhile, the certificate our client provided was signed by a nurse practitioner.

In the Vietnamese healthcare system, a nurse practitioner is not recognized as a medical doctor. This means our client could not use their American health check certificate and had to get a new one in Vietnam. We helped them revise their work permit application to ensure that it was approved.

Such complication often stems from the differences in the medical frameworks and administrative systems among countries. To ensure a smooth application process, you may consider getting your health checked in Vietnam.

In addition, you may also need to exchange your driver’s license to a Vietnamese one in order to participate in traffic here. You should thoroughly understand this procedure to avoid any legal troubles.

Health check for work permit in Vietnam: What to expect?

For your work permit health check, you will need to get several medical examinations as follows:

1. ● Physical examination: Blood pressure, height, weight, BMI, etc.
2. ● Clinical examination: General internal examination (respiratory, digestive, cardiovascular, kidney-urinary, neurological, musculoskeletal health), external examination, as well as gynecological, dental, ENT (ear, nose, and throat), eye, and dermatological exams where applicable.
3. ● Sub-clinical examination: blood test, blood biochemistry panel, x-rays, urinalysis, etc.

Additionally, in your health check for work permit in Vietnam, you may also need to take the following tests:

1. ● Complete blood count (CBC), glucose tolerance test, blood urea nitrogen test (BUN), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT, or SGPT), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST, or SGOT)
2. ● Test for malaria parasites
3. ● Serological test for syphilis
4. ● HIV test
5. ● HBsAg test
6. ● Normal chest radiography
7. ● Abdominal ultrasound
8. ● Electrocardiography (ECG)

Health check cost for work permit application in Vietnam

The cost of your health check will depend on a few things:

1. ● The type of health check: The Ministry of Health has different requirements depending on your profession.
2. ● Your gender: Some tests may differ for men and women.
3. ● The clinic or hospital you choose: Different medical facilities have their own pricing structures.

The health checks are offered in packages designed for men and women, which reflects some differences in testing needs.

1. ● Male package: 2,000,000-3,500,000 VND
2. ● Female package: 2,200,000-4,000,000 VND

Where to get a good work permit health check service in Vietnam?

You have a variety of options when it comes to choosing a health check provider. From public and private hospitals to general clinics, there are plenty of facilities to choose from.

In fact, the demand for work permit health checks is growing, so even more providers are opening their doors to meet this need.

Choosing the right health check provider can make a big difference in your experience. Here are some key factors to consider:

1. ● Make sure the facility is licensed by Vietnamese authorities to perform work permit health checks. This ensures they meet the required standards.
2. ● Look for a facility with a good reputation for quality care and patient satisfaction. Online reviews and recommendations from colleagues can be helpful resources.
3. ● Consider choosing a clinic or hospital with a proven track record and a team of experienced medical professionals.
4. ● Ideally, the facility should be well-equipped with modern technology to ensure accurate testing.
5. ● Compare costs from different providers and choose one that offers transparent and competitive pricing.

Here’s a list of reputable medical facilities in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City authorized to conduct these exams:

In Hanoi

1. ● E Hospital
2. ● Xanh Pon General Hospital
3. ● Hanoi Medical University Hospital
4. ● Bach Mai Hospital
5. ● Central Military Hospital 108
6. ● Dong Da General Hospital

In Ho Chi Minh City

1. ● Sai Gon General Hospital
2. ● Nguyen Tri Phuong Hospital
3. ● People’s Hospital 115
4. ● Trung Vuong Hospital
5. ● Gia Dinh People’s Hospital
6. ● FV Hospital
7. ● Van Hanh General Hospital
8. ● Vinmec Central Park International Hospital
9. ● Tam Anh General Hospital

For any foreign national seeking to work in Vietnam, a health check-up is a mandatory requirement. While some might see it as just a hurdle to jump through, the health check can also be a valuable tool. 

The results can help you make informed decisions about your career path based on your overall health and well-being. Given the potential benefits of the health check, it’s important to choose a dependable and competent healthcare establishment to conduct it.

If you have a health certificate issued outside of Vietnam, you’ll need to have it translated into Vietnamese and notarized to make it legally valid in Vietnam.

Applying for a work permit in Vietnam can feel overwhelming. Don’t get lost in a maze of service providers! Thao & Co. is your one-stop shop for streamlined work permit applications.

With years of experience translating health certificates specifically for work permit applications, we ensure your documents are accurate and meet all requirements.

Focus on your new job in Vietnam, not paperwork. Our personalized consultation helps you navigate the process and frees you from tedious administrative tasks.

Here are what makes Thao & Co. your perfect partner for work permit translations:

1. ● Get your regular paperwork translations completed within 24 hours, giving you peace of mind and time to focus on other aspects of your application.
2. ● No matter your language needs, we’ve got you covered. We translate into over 50 languages, including English, Russian, German, Spanish, and Vietnamese.
3. ● We offer clear and competitive quotes upfront, so you know exactly what to expect.
4. ● Your information is safe with us. We comply with strict Non-Disclosure Agreements (NDAs) to ensure complete confidentiality.
5. ● Need Consular Authentication or Notarized Translations? We offer these services at a reasonable rate, saving you time and hassle.
6. ● Our proprietary platform allows you to conveniently monitor your project progress from anywhere, anytime.

Get a free quote from Thao & Co. today and let our translation specialists handle the paperwork for you. We’ll ensure your work permit application is smooth sailing, so you can focus on your exciting new career in Vietnam.