Application for Vietnamese nationality

1. Foreign nationals and stateless persons permanently residing in Viet Nam who file applications for Vietnamese nationality may be permitted for naturalization in Viet Nam if they satisfy the following conditions:

a/ Having the full civil act capacity as prescribed by Vietnamese laws;

b/ Complying with the Constitution and laws of Viet Nam; respecting the traditions, customs and practices of the Vietnamese nation;

c/ Understanding Vietnamese sufficiently enough to integrate themselves into the Vietnamese community;

d/ Having resided in Viet Nam for 5 years or more by the time of application for naturalization;

e/ Being capable of making their livelihood in Viet Nam.

2. Those who apply for Vietnamese nationality may be permitted for naturalization in Viet Nam without having to fully meet the conditions prescribed at Points c, d and e, Clause 1 of this Article if they fall into one of the following cases:

a/ Being spouses, natural parents or natural offsprings of Vietnamese citizens;

b/ Having made meritorious contributions to Viet Nam's national construction and defense;

c/ Being helpful to the State of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam.

3. Persons naturalized in Viet Nam shall renounce their foreign nationality, except for those defined in Clause 2 of this Article in special cases, if so permitted by the President.

4. Persons applying for Vietnamese nationality must have Vietnamese names. These names may be selected by the applicants and written in the decisions on naturalization in Viet Nam.

5. Persons applying for Vietnamese nationality may not be permitted for naturalization if such naturalization is detrimental to Viet Nam national interests.

6. The Government shall specify conditions for naturalization in Viet Nam.

Dossiers of application for Vietnamese nationality

1. A dossier of application for Vietnamese nationality comprises:

a/ An application for Vietnamese nationality;

b/ A copy of the birth certificate, passport or other substitute papers;

c/ A curriculum vitae;

d/ A judicial record issued by a competent Vietnamese authority for the period the applicant resides in Viet Nam and a judicial record issued by a competent foreign authority for the period the applicant resides in the foreign country. Judicial records must be issued within 90 days before the date of filing the dossier;

e/ Papers proving his/her Vietnamese language skills;

f/ Papers proving his/her place and period of residence in Viet Nam;

g/ Papers proving his/her ability to make livelihood in Viet Nam.

2. For persons exempt from several conditions on naturalization in Viet Nam specified in Clause 2, Article 19 of this Law, papers corresponding to exempted conditions are not required.

3. The Government shall specify papers in dossiers of application for Vietnamese nationality.

Order of and procedures for processing of dossiers of application for Vietnamese nationality

1. A person applying for Vietnamese nationality shall file a dossier to the provincial-level Justice Service of the locality where he/she resides. In case the dossier is incomplete under Clause 1, Article 20 of this Law or invalid, the provincial-level Justice Service shall immediately notify the applicant thereof for supplementation arid completion of the dossier.

2. Within 5 working days after the receipt of a complete and valid dossier, the provincial-level Justice Service shall send to the provincial-level Public Security Department a request for verification of the applicant's identity.

Within 30 days after the receipt of a request from the provincial-level Justice Service, the provincial-level Public Security Department shall conduct verification and send verification results to the provincial-level Justice Service. During this period, the provincial-level Justice Service shall examine papers in the dossier of application for Vietnamese nationality.

Within 10 working days after the receipt of verification results, the provincial-level Justice Service shall complete the dossier for submission to the Chairman of the provincial-level People's Committee.

Within 10 working days after the receipt of a request from the provincial-level Justice Service, the Chairman of the provincial-level People's Committee shall consider, make conclusion and send his/her proposal to the Ministry of Justice.

3. Within 20 working days after the receipt of the proposal from the Chairman of the provincial-level People's Committee, the Ministry of Justice shall re-examine the dossier, if finding that all conditions for naturalization in Viet Nam are met, the Ministry shall send a written notification to the applicant for carrying out procedures to renounce his/her foreign nationality, except the case in which the applicant wishes to retain his/her foreign nationality or is a stateless person.