Law on Vietnamese Nationality
(No. 24/2008/QH12)
Pursuant to the 1992 Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, which was amended and supplemented under Resolution No. 51/2001/QH10;
The National Assembly promulgates the Law on Vietnamese Nationality.
Chapter I GENERAL PROVISIONS
Article 1. Vietnamese nationality
Vietnamese nationality reflects the cohesive relationship between individuals and the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, giving rise to rights and obligations of Vietnamese citizens toward the State and rights and responsibilities of the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam toward Vietnamese citizens.
Article 2. Rights to nationality
1. In the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, every individual is entitled to a nationality. Vietnamese citizens will not be deprived of their Vietnamese nationality, except for cases prescribed in Article 31 of this Law.
2. The State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a unified state of all ethnic groups living in the Vietnamese territory; all members of ethnic groups are equal in their right to have Vietnamese nationality.
Article 3. Interpretation of terms
In this Law, the terms below are construed as follows:
1. “Foreign nationality” is the nationality of a country other than the Vietnamese nationality.
2. “Stateless person” is a person who has neither Vietnamese nationality nor foreign nationality.
3. “Overseas Vietnamese” are Vietnamese citizens and persons of Vietnamese origin who permanently reside in foreign countries.
4. “Persons of Vietnamese origin residing abroad” are Vietnamese people who used to have Vietnamese nationality which had been determined at the time of their birth on the consanguinity principle and their offsprings and grandchildren are permanently residing in foreign countries.
5. “Foreigners residing in Vietnam” are foreign nationals and stateless persons who permanently or temporarily reside in Vietnam.
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