Veterinary Practice Certificate in Vietnam: Eligibility, Application Documents, and Procedures

A Veterinary Practice Certificate is an important legal requirement for individuals who directly carry out certain professional veterinary activities, such as vaccination, animal treatment and surgery, animal examination, diagnosis and disease testing, veterinary consultancy, veterinary drug trading, and certain activities related to the manufacture, testing, field trials, export, and import of veterinary drugs.

From 2026, several provisions concerning the authority to issue, application requirements, re-issuance, and extension of Veterinary Practice Certificates have changed. Applicants should therefore avoid relying on outdated checklists without first comparing them with the regulations and administrative procedures currently in force.

Under the Law on Veterinary Medicine as amended by Law No. 146/2025/QH15:

• The Chairperson of the Provincial People’s Committee has authority to issue, re-issue, and extend Veterinary Practice Certificates.
• A certificate is valid for five years.
• The certificate may be used nationwide.

Rather than collecting every possible document first, a more effective approach is to determine which type of veterinary practice applies to you, because professional qualification requirements differ between vaccinators, veterinary practitioners providing examination and treatment, veterinary drug sellers, and technical managers of veterinary establishments.

Quick check before applying: 5 questions to answer

Question	What to check
Does my work require a Veterinary Practice Certificate?	Identify the correct type of veterinary practice under the Law on Veterinary Medicine
Does my current qualification meet the requirement?	Requirements differ for vaccination, diagnosis and treatment, veterinary drug trading, and technical management
What does a new application in 2026 require?	Application form, professional qualification or training confirmation, health certificate, and additional documents for foreign applicants
Where should the application be submitted?	The authority assigned by the Chairperson of the Provincial People’s Committee to handle the procedure
When is extension or re-issuance required?	The certificate is valid for five years; extension and re-issuance are separate procedures

1. First determine whether your work requires a Veterinary Practice Certificate

Not everyone working on a farm, in a veterinary clinic, or for a veterinary business automatically requires a certificate.

The key question is whether the individual’s actual work falls within a type of veterinary practice regulated by law.

These activities include:

1. Animal vaccination, treatment, surgery, and consultancy relating to veterinary activities.
2. Animal examination, disease diagnosis, and disease testing.
3. Trading in veterinary drugs.
4. Manufacture, testing, field trials, export, and import of veterinary drugs.

The certificate is issued to an individual

A Veterinary Practice Certificate confirms that an individual meets the requirements to perform the professional activities covered by the certificate.

The certificate should not be used to perform work outside the professional scope for which it was issued.

An individual certificate does not replace establishment-level requirements

It is important to distinguish between two groups of requirements.

Veterinary Practice Certificate

This relates to:

• The individual.
• Professional qualifications.
• Scope of practice.

Conditions or certificates applicable to the establishment

These may relate to:

• Premises.
• Facilities.
• Equipment.
• Personnel.
• Storage conditions.
• Hygiene.
• Biosecurity.
• Other technical requirements.

Therefore:

An individual holding a Veterinary Practice Certificate does not automatically mean that the establishment has satisfied every legal requirement for operation.

Conversely, an establishment that meets its operational requirements does not replace an individual certificate where a particular position legally requires one.

2. Professional qualification requirements differ by type of practice

A common mistake is to assume that holding any “veterinary qualification” allows a person to register for every veterinary activity.

In practice, the requirement depends on the work being performed.

Vaccination

A person providing animal vaccination services must, at minimum, have completed training in vaccination techniques in accordance with the applicable requirements.

The qualification requirements for veterinary examination and treatment should therefore not be applied mechanically to vaccination work.

Diagnosis, treatment, surgery, and veterinary consultancy

Individuals performing these activities must generally hold at least an intermediate-level qualification in an appropriate discipline.

For terrestrial animals, relevant disciplines commonly include:

• Veterinary Medicine.
• Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine.

For aquatic animal health, relevant disciplines may include:

• Aquaculture.
• Aquatic Animal Pathology.

Technical manager of an examination, diagnostic, surgical, or animal-disease testing establishment

The requirements are higher.

The technical manager must hold at least a university degree in an appropriate discipline.

For terrestrial animals:

• Veterinary Medicine.
• Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine.

For aquatic animal health:

• Aquaculture.
• Aquatic Animal Pathology.

Veterinary drug trading

The practitioner must hold at least an intermediate-level qualification in an appropriate discipline as required by law.

Manufacture, testing, field trials, export, and import of veterinary drugs

Qualification requirements vary according to:

• Type of veterinary drug.
• Activity.
• Professional position.

Relevant disciplines may include:

• Veterinary Medicine.
• Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine.
• Pharmacy.
• Medicinal Chemistry.
• Chemistry.
• Biology.
• Aquaculture.
• Aquatic Animal Pathology.

Health requirements must also be met

In addition to professional qualifications, applicants must meet the applicable health requirements for veterinary practice.

An appropriate diploma or qualification is therefore only one part of the overall eligibility requirements.

3. New applications in 2026: what documents are required?

Applicants should not simply reuse an old application checklist for 2026.

Under the current procedure, a new application focuses on three main categories of documents.

1. Application form

Use:

Form No. 01.HNTY

The applicant should provide accurate information concerning:

• Personal details.
• Type of veterinary practice.
• Requested scope of practice.
• Other information required by the form.

2. Diploma or confirmation of professional training

Depending on the type of practice, the application may include:

• An appropriate professional diploma; or
• Confirmation of relevant professional training where applicable.

If the diploma does not clearly state the applicant’s field of study, additional confirmation of the discipline from the educational institution may be required.

3. Health certificate

The applicant must provide a health certificate as required for the Veterinary Practice Certificate application.

What must foreign applicants provide?

In addition to the above documents, a foreign applicant must provide either:

• A work permit; or
• Confirmation that the individual is exempt from the requirement to obtain a work permit.

Documents that should not automatically be treated as general mandatory requirements

Based on the current application procedure, the following documents should not automatically be listed as universally mandatory unless the relevant procedure specifically requires them:

• Citizen Identity Card.
• Portrait photograph.
• Work-experience confirmation.
• Criminal record certificate.

This is particularly important when using checklists or guidance written before the 2026 regulatory changes.

However, when applying online, applicants should still review the local electronic procedure to determine whether additional information, identity verification, or specific electronic file formats are required.

Forms 01.HNTY, 02.HNTY, and 03.HNTY are included in Appendix IB issued with Decree No. 32/2026/ND-CP.

4. From preparing the application to receiving the result: a 4-step process

Rather than viewing the procedure as one long checklist, it can be divided into four stages.

Step 1: Identify the type of veterinary practice

Before completing the application form, determine:

• Actual job duties.
• Animal group involved.
• Professional scope.
• Qualification requirements.
• Whether the applicant will serve as a technical manager.

If the category is identified incorrectly from the beginning, the applicant’s qualifications may not match the requested scope of practice.

Step 2: Complete the appropriate application

Prepare:

• Form No. 01.HNTY.
• Diploma or professional training confirmation.
• Health certificate.
• Additional documents for foreign applicants where applicable.

Before submission, check:

• Full name.
• Field of study.
• Type of practice being registered.
• Consistency between the application and qualification documents.

Step 3: Submit the application

The application is submitted to the authority assigned by the Chairperson of the Provincial People’s Committee to handle administrative procedures in livestock production and veterinary medicine.

Applications may generally be submitted:

• In person.
• Online.
• By postal service.

The actual procedure may differ between localities.

Before submitting, applicants should therefore check:

• The public-service portal currently being used.
• Receiving authority.
• Electronic-document requirements.
• Method for paying the applicable fee.
• Processing time currently published by the locality.

Step 4: Application processing

The National Public Service Portal currently lists a processing time of 05 working days from receipt of a complete and valid application for the general new-issuance procedure.

However, some localities have implemented a reduced 03-working-day processing time under 2026 administrative simplification measures. Current procedures published in locations including An Giang and Hanoi reflect this reduction.

Applicants should therefore check the procedure currently published for the locality where the application will be processed rather than assuming one processing time applies nationwide.

5. Important dates and information after the certificate is issued

Receiving the certificate does not mean that no further document management is required.

Three points are particularly important.

The certificate is valid for five years

The validity period is:

Five years from the date of issue.

Individuals and establishments employing certificate holders should record the expiry date in their compliance or personnel-management systems.

Applicants should not wait until the certificate has expired before preparing an extension application.

The certificate may be used nationwide

Under the current framework, a Veterinary Practice Certificate may be used throughout Vietnam.

However, an establishment operating in a particular locality may still need to comply with establishment-specific legal conditions, administrative procedures, and other requirements.

Current regulations expressly provide that Veterinary Practice Certificates may be used nationwide.

The professional scope must still be respected

Nationwide validity does not mean that a certificate holder may perform every type of veterinary activity.

The individual must continue to practise:

• Within the authorised occupation.
• Within the professional scope.
• In accordance with the content of the certificate.

6. Extension and re-issuance: two different procedures

Extension and re-issuance should not be treated as the same procedure.

Situation	Main procedure
Certificate is approaching expiry	Apply for extension
Certificate contains an error	May qualify for re-issuance
Relevant information has changed	Apply for re-issuance as prescribed
Certificate is lost or damaged	Check the specific procedure currently published by the locality

Certificate extension

Certificate holders should take action before their certificate expires.

The extension application uses:

Form No. 02.HNTY

together with the corresponding documents required under the current procedure.

Processing time:

03 working days from receipt of a complete and valid application.

Certificate re-issuance

Under Decree No. 32/2026/ND-CP, re-issuance applies in circumstances such as:

• Errors in the certificate.
• Changes to relevant information.

The application uses:

Form No. 03.HNTY.

Processing time:

03 working days from receipt of a complete and valid application.

An important point is:

A re-issued certificate is only valid until the expiry date of the previously issued certificate.

For example, if the previous certificate has only one year remaining, re-issuance does not automatically begin a new five-year validity period.

What if the certificate is lost or damaged?

Because the re-issuance rules and published administrative procedures changed in 2026, older guidance should not be applied automatically.

Certificate holders should check:

• The procedure currently published by their locality.
• The receiving authority.
• How their specific case is handled.

7. When may an applicant fail to meet the requirements for issuance?

Holding a professional qualification does not automatically guarantee that a Veterinary Practice Certificate will be issued.

For a complete assessment, it is useful to distinguish between:

• Article 108 of the Law on Veterinary Medicine, which sets out conditions for veterinary practice; and
• Article 111, which specifies cases in which a Veterinary Practice Certificate is not issued.

Relevant issues may include:

• Failure to hold an appropriate diploma or professional certificate.
• Failure to have required vaccination training where applicable.
• Failure to meet the health requirements for veterinary practice.
• Being prohibited from practising under a court judgment or decision.
• Being subject to disciplinary action related to veterinary professional activities.
• Being under criminal prosecution.
• Serving a criminal sentence or being subject to certain compulsory administrative measures.
• Having limited or lost civil act capacity.

This distinction is important because Article 111 is indeed the relevant provision for “non-issuance” of the certificate, while some broader practice requirements, including health requirements, are found in Article 108.

What changed regarding professional ethics?

A separate professional-ethics eligibility condition previously contained in Article 108(1)(b) was repealed from 2026.

However, this should not be interpreted to mean that professional ethics has disappeared entirely from certificate compliance. The current consolidated Law on Veterinary Medicine still lists violations of professional ethics and relevant legal requirements among the grounds for certificate revocation under Article 112.

Applicants and practitioners should therefore distinguish between:

• Eligibility conditions for veterinary practice.
• Grounds for non-issuance.
• Grounds for subsequent revocation.

8. Fees and processing times: key figures to remember

Under the fee schedule currently applicable in 2026:

• Standard fee: VND 50,000 per certificate issuance.
• From 1 July 2025 through 31 December 2026, the reduced fee currently applicable is VND 25,000.

From 1 January 2027, applicants should check the fee schedule in force at that time.

Procedure	Current processing-time guidance
New issuance	National Public Service Portal currently lists 05 working days; some localities have reduced this to 03 working days under 2026 simplification measures
Extension	03 working days
Re-issuance	03 working days

These periods apply after receipt of a complete and valid application.

Because the new-issuance processing time is now reflected differently in some updated local procedures, applicants should confirm the current timeline on the portal of the locality handling the application.

9. Establishments and businesses should manage certificates as time-limited personnel compliance records

Veterinary Practice Certificates are not only relevant to self-employed practitioners.

For businesses, farms, veterinary clinics, or veterinary drug establishments, certificates may be connected with:

• Personnel records.
• Technical managers.
• Employment contracts.
• Service agreements.
• Establishment operating conditions.
• Inspection records.
• Certification records.
• Veterinary drug trading or use.

At a minimum, an establishment should monitor four areas.

1. Expiry date

Avoid situations in which personnel continue practising after the certificate has expired.

2. Scope of practice

Compare the authorised scope with the work the individual is actually performing.

3. Professional qualifications

This is particularly important for technical-manager positions.

4. Consistency of records

Information appearing on:

• The certificate.
• Employment or service contracts.
• Personnel records.
• Establishment legal documents.

should be reviewed for consistency.

A Veterinary Practice Certificate should not be used to legitimise work outside the scope stated on the certificate.

10. What penalties may apply for practising without a certificate or outside its scope?

From 1 August 2026, administrative penalties in the veterinary sector are governed by Decree No. 204/2026/ND-CP.

Some notable fines applicable to individuals include:

Violation	Fine
Using an expired Veterinary Practice Certificate	VND 4–5 million
Lending, borrowing, renting out, or renting a certificate	VND 5–6 million
Providing vaccination, treatment, surgery, examination, diagnosis, animal-disease testing, or veterinary consultancy without the required certificate	VND 6–7 million
Making false declarations in an application for a Veterinary Practice Certificate	VND 7–8 million
Practising outside the occupation or professional scope stated on the certificate	VND 1–2 million

The specific sanction depends on the actual violation.

In addition to monetary penalties, certain cases may also involve:

• Return or surrender of the certificate.
• Other remedial measures prescribed by law.

Certificate compliance therefore involves more than simply asking whether a person “has a certificate.”

It is also necessary to check:

• Is it still valid?
• Is it being used by the correct person?
• Does it cover the work being performed?
• Was the application information truthful?

11. 2026 application checklist

If applying for a new certificate

Check each of the following:

• Identify the correct type of veterinary practice.
• Confirm qualification requirements.
• Check whether the diploma reflects the required discipline.
• If the discipline is unclear on the diploma, obtain confirmation from the educational institution.
• Check training requirements if providing vaccination services.
• Prepare the health certificate.
• Use the correct Form No. 01.HNTY.
• Identify the competent receiving authority in the province.
• Check whether submission is online, in person, or by post.
• Confirm the currently applicable fee.
• Confirm the processing time published for the locality.
• Keep the application reference number and receipt.

If you already hold a certificate

Periodically check:

• Expiry date.
• Professional scope.
• Whether personal information has changed.
• Whether current job duties remain consistent with the certificate.
• When the extension process should be started.

If you operate an establishment or business

Monitor:

• The technical manager’s certificate.
• Expiry date.
• Professional qualifications.
• Scope of duties.
• Employment status.
• Consistency between establishment records and personnel records.

12. Frequently asked questions about Veterinary Practice Certificates

How long is a Veterinary Practice Certificate valid?

Five years from the date of issue.

After this period, the practitioner must follow the applicable extension procedure.

Can a certificate issued in one province be used in another province?

Yes.

Under the current framework, a Veterinary Practice Certificate may be used throughout Vietnam. Establishments where certificate holders work must still satisfy any other legal requirements applicable to their activities.

Can a Veterinary Practice Certificate be applied for online?

Potentially, where the relevant procedure has been implemented online.

Available submission channels may include:

• In person.
• Online.
• Postal service.

Applicants should check the procedure currently published by the locality before preparing electronic documents.

Does a new application require a Citizen Identity Card or portrait photograph?

Under the current general application-document list, these are not listed as universal mandatory supporting documents.

However, applicants should still check any technical or identity-verification requirements imposed by the electronic public-service system being used.

Is proof of work experience required?

The current general new-issuance document list does not identify proof of work experience as a universal mandatory document.

The key requirements instead depend on:

• Qualification level.
• Field of study.
• Type of veterinary practice.

What should be done when the certificate is approaching expiry?

Apply for an extension in accordance with the current procedure.

Certificate holders should avoid waiting until expiry because continuing to practise with an expired certificate may result in regulatory penalties.

A complete and valid extension application currently has a processing time of 03 working days.

Is veterinary practice without a certificate subject to a fine?

Yes, where the activity legally requires a Veterinary Practice Certificate.

For example, an individual carrying out:

• Vaccination.
• Animal treatment.
• Surgery.
• Examination.
• Diagnosis.
• Disease testing.
• Veterinary consultancy.

without the required certificate may face a fine of VND 6–7 million under the rules effective from 1 August 2026.

Updating Regulatory Knowledge and Professional Capacity at VIETSTOCK 2026

From 2026, several requirements relating to Veterinary Practice Certificates have changed, including the issuing authority, application requirements, processing procedures, re-issuance, and extension. For veterinary practitioners and establishment operators, following current rules can help reduce the risk of relying on outdated documentation, expired certificates, or personnel working outside their authorised professional scope.

At VIETSTOCK 2026 – Vietnam’s Premier International Feed, Livestock & Meat Industry Show, the livestock and veterinary community can exchange professional knowledge, follow developments affecting the sector, and connect with organisations across the livestock and animal health value chain. The event is expected to bring together more than 300 brands, over 10,000 sqm of exhibition area, and 13,000 trade visitors from more than 40 countries and territories.

For veterinarians, veterinary practitioners, and establishments seeking to keep their professional knowledge up to date, participants can:

• Attend conferences and technical programmes: follow policy developments, industry trends, and emerging issues in livestock production and veterinary medicine.
• Exchange knowledge with experts and industry organisations: gain broader perspectives on professional requirements, operational practices, and developments across the sector.
• Explore veterinary technologies: learn about diagnostic equipment, animal-health solutions, and technologies that support professional veterinary work.
• Expand professional networks: connect with businesses, associations, technical experts, and organisations across the livestock and veterinary value chain.

Policy and professional-capacity issues are also addressed at the One Health Forum on 22 October 2026. The official programme includes the session “Policy, Government, and Capacity Building for One Health in Vietnam,” with participation from the Department of Animal Health & Production, Ministry of Agriculture & Environment of Viet Nam.

For veterinary professionals, this provides an opportunity to follow broader policy directions and professional-capacity development as the One Health approach becomes increasingly important across the sector.

Date: 21–23 October 2026
Venue: Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), 799 Nguyen Van Linh Street, Tan My Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Event website: https://www.vietstock.org/en/

Register to visit now: https://ers-vn.informa-info.com/vs26

👉 VIETSTOCK 2026 Visitor Registration Information

👉 Learn more about the One Health Forum

Contact information:

Exhibiting: Ms. Sophie Nguyen – [email protected]
Visitor Support: Ms. Phuong – [email protected]
Marcom Support: Ms. Anita Pham – [email protected]