Recognition of Foreign Medical Practice Licenses

Recognition of Foreign Medical Practice Licenses granted by competent foreign authorities ensures that individuals are eligible to practice legally in Vietnam. This process requires equivalence in professional qualifications, training programs, and practice standards between Vietnam and the licensing country. This article analyzes the procedure in detail according to the latest regulations.

Requirements and conditions for recognition of medical practice licenses issued by competent authorities or organizations of foreign countries.

Requirements are specified in Clause 1, Article 29 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023 and detailed in Article 37 of Decree 96/2023/ND-CP:

1. Applicant: Must be a Vietnamese person, or a person working at a medical examination and treatment establishment in Vietnam, or a person granted a work permit under the Labor Code.
2. Basis for Recognition: The license must be recognized under:
   • International treaties to which Vietnam is a member; or
   • International agreements; or
   • The license is granted by a foreign authority/organization whose training and licensing system has been evaluated and recognized by the Ministry of Health of Vietnam.
3. Validity: The foreign license must be valid at the time of the request for recognition.
4. Professional Title: Information on the professional title in the foreign license must be equivalent to the titles prescribed in Article 26 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023 (Doctor, Physician, Nurse, Midwife, Medical Technician, Clinical Nutritionist, Out-of-hospital Emergency Paramedic, Clinical Psychologist).

The competent authority is responsible for reviewing and recognizing foreign medical practice licenses.

Based on Clause 2, Article 29 of the Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023 and Article 37 of Decree 96/2023/ND-CP, the Ministry of Health is the sole authority competent to receive dossiers and issue decisions.

Note: Provincial Departments of Health do not have the authority to perform this procedure.

Required Dossier for requesting recognition of a medical practice license issued by a foreign organization or agency.

According to Clause 2, Article 37 of Decree 96/2023/ND-CP, the dossier includes:

1. Request Form: Request for recognition of medical practice license (Form No. 08, Appendix I, Decree 96/2023/ND-CP).
2. License Copy: Valid copy of the granted medical practice license.

>>> See more at: New Medical Practice License in Vietnam

Procedure for submitting a request for recognition of a medical practice license.

According to Clause 3, Article 37 of Decree 96/2023/ND-CP:

Step 1: Submission The applicant sends 01 dossier set to the Ministry of Health.

Step 2: Processing

• Case 1 (Evaluated Licensor): If the foreign licensing authority has already been evaluated and recognized:
  • Within 30 days from receipt, the Ministry issues a written reply on recognition or non-recognition.
  • If verification of training is needed: The time limit is 30 days from the verification result date.
• Case 2 (Unevaluated Licensor): If the foreign licensing authority has not been evaluated:
  • The Ministry performs the evaluation procedure (per Article 38, Decree 96/2023/ND-CP).
  • Within 30 days from the evaluation result date, the Ministry issues a written reply.
  • If verification of training is needed: The time limit is 30 days from the verification result date.

Step 3: Result Return The Ministry of Health issues a document recognizing or refusing recognition of the practice license.

>>> See more at: Medical License for Foreigners in Vietnam

Long Phan provides consulting services for the procedures to request recognition of medical practice licenses issued by competent foreign authorities and organizations.

Long Phan Consulting Company provides comprehensive legal solutions for international qualification recognition:

• Consulting & Evaluation: Analyzing the practice capacity dossier; checking equivalence against international treaties and the Ministry of Health’s recognized list.
• Dossier Preparation: Drafting the Request Form; guiding the preparation of diplomas/certificates; supporting translation, notarization, and consular legalization.
• Representation: Submitting the dossier to the Ministry of Health; monitoring progress; explaining or supplementing information upon verification request.
• Evaluation Support: Advising on the process for evaluating foreign authorities that have not yet been recognized.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the Request for Recognition of Medical Practice Licenses Issued by Competent Authorities or Organizations of Foreign Countries

Below are some frequently asked questions regarding the consideration of recognizing medical practice licenses issued by foreign countries; please refer to them:

Must the foreign license undergo consular legalization?

Yes. A “valid copy” means it must be consularly legalized and notarized/translated into Vietnamese, unless exempt under international treaties. (Legal Basis: Clause 2, Article 37, Decree 96/2023/ND-CP).

Must the recognized practitioner take a competency assessment test?

No. Practitioners with recognized foreign licenses are exempt from taking the assessment test required under Article 24 of the Law. (Legal Basis: Clause 4, Article 29, Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023).

Must the recognized practitioner undergo an 18-month practice period?

No. They are exempt from the practice period (e.g., 18 months for doctors) prescribed in Article 23 of the Law. (Legal Basis: Clause 4, Article 29, Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023).

What if the professional title is not exactly the same?

It is recognized only if the title is equivalent to one of the titles in Article 26 of the Law (Doctor, Nurse, etc.). If not equivalent, it cannot be recognized. (Legal Basis: Point c, Clause 1, Article 29, Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023).

What does the evaluation of a foreign licensor entail?

It involves evaluating: (1) The medical training system; and (2) The licensing system, procedures, and scope of practice regulations of that country. (Legal Basis: Clause 3, Article 29, Law on Medical Examination and Treatment 2023).

Conclusion

The Recognition of Foreign Medical Practice Licenses requires a thorough understanding of judicial assistance treaties and health regulations. Long Phan Consulting Company is ready to support clients in perfecting dossiers and executing the process accurately. Please contact Hotline 1900636389 for optimal legal solutions.