What is the Medical Certificate and why are domestic helpers required to get it?

All foreign domestic helpers are required to undergo a pre-employment medical examination before commencing work in Hong Kong.

As stated in Clause 17 of the Standard Employment Contract, the domestic helper should submit his/her medical certificate to the employer for inspection. All employers are advised to scrutinize the medical certificate before sponsoring the domestic helper’s application for an employment visa for Hong Kong.

What is a Medical Certificate?

A medical certificate can only be produced by a clinic accredited by the relevant health ministries. It can state whether the domestic helper is “Fit-to-Work” or “Unfit-to-Work” and shows the test results of the domestic helper’s medical examination.

For domestic helpers processing outside of Hong Kong, a medical or health certificate for overseas workers is issued by an accredited clinic of the relevant government authority.

• Philippines: Department of Health – List of Medical Facility for Overseas Workers and Seafarers as of March 31, 2023
• Indonesia: Ministry of Health, Ministry of Manpower and Transmigration, Ministry of Transportation (Directorate General of Sea Transportation), and the National Agency for the Placement and Protection of Indonesian Overseas Workers (BNP2TKI) – List of Medical Facility and Laboratories for Overseas Workers

Government-accredited clinics have a nationally standardized format for pre-employment medical examinations which include a specific set of medical tests for physical health, pregnancy (for women), and psychological or mental health.

The medical certificate has a validity of 3 months from the date of examination.

Pre-employment Medical Exam for domestic helpers: Obtaining a Medical Certificate in the Philippines

Before a domestic helper is cleared to depart for Hong Kong, the Philippine government requires them to obtain a “fit to work” medical certificate. The basic screening fee is often included within an agency’s service coverage, providing the following tests to workers:

• Medical history and physical examination
• Dental examination
• Visual acuity
• Chest X-ray
• Blood typing and blood count
• STD test
• Pregnancy test
• Urinalysis
• Psychological assessment
• ECG and Blood pressure tests (for workers aged 40 and above)

After the basic medical check up, the results are shared with the domestic helper and the employer. The “fit to work” result should indicate that the individual is of sound physical and mental health to work in Hong Kong, and that they are not currently pregnant.

Pre-employment Medical Exam for domestic helpers: Obtaining a Medical Certificate in Hong Kong

A domestic helper who is allowed to process the new visa application in Hong Kong should undergo a basic medical check before starting employment. Common pre-employment health checks include the following tests:

• VDRL (Blood test for syphilis)
• HBsAg (Blood test for Hepatitis B)
• HIV
• Stool Routine
• Urine for Routine
• Urine for Pregnancy
• Chest X-Ray

Only medical professionals and accredited medical centers can certify if a worker is fit or unfit for duty. In Hong Kong, a Medical Certificate is given to certify the date of attendance, hospitalization period, sick leave granted, follow-up date and period of avoiding heavy physical duty of the patient. Since a pre-employment medical check is for the purpose of inspection, the domestic helper will usually obtain a report of medical exam findings after he/she completed the pre-employment check up. 

In situations where the medical report shows abnormal findings, the domestic helper and the employer can ask for a follow up consultation with the clinic physician or seek advice from a family doctor. The medical professional will be able to determine whether additional tests should be done.

How much does the medical examination cost?  

While the basic medical examination package is standardized, the testing fees may vary depending on the clinic.

Philippines: From Php2,500 to Php4,000

Indonesia: From Rp970,000 to Rp1,870,000

Hong Kong: From HK$500 to HK$1,920

Additionally, workers may be required by the clinic to redo a test or undergo additional testing to rule out abnormal findings. This is more common for pre-employment medical exams overseas in order to qualify and obtain the “Fit to Work” certificate. For this reason, the process can take additional time and cost more than initially quoted by the clinic.

Who should pay for the medical examination cost?

The employer is responsible for covering or providing reimbursement for any medical examination fees. Workers should provide the correct receipts (or suitable documentation of payment). This is set out in the Hong Kong Standard Employment Contract for Domestic Helpers in Hong Kong (Clause 8). Some agencies, like Fair Employment Agency, will reimburse workers for the basic pre-employment medical examination. Check with your agency to understand what specific tests are covered in your service fee.

If there are any findings from the basic medical check-up, the domestic helper may be asked to undergo additional health checks. Know more about the different situations why you should consider providing additional follow-up medical exams to the domestic helper in this article.

I am renewing the contract with my helper in Hong Kong. Is the medical examination still necessary?

The aim for the medical examination, as stated on the Hong Kong Standard Employment Contract for Domestic Helpers (Clause 17), is to check for the domestic helper’s fitness for employment and that his/her medical certificate has been produced for inspection by the employer. In some situations, the domestic helper may have a health check during the 2-year contract for valid reasons. The employer may consider these medical reports for inspection even though it does not coincide with the timing of contract renewal. By signing a new employment contract, both the domestic helper and employer declare that the domestic helper has undergone a medical examination. However, the Hong Kong Immigration does not require the presentation of medical reports or medical certificates during the visa application process.