Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of the Law on Vietnamese Nationality No. 79/2025/QH15 dated June 24, 2025 of the National Assembly

LAW

AMENDING AND SUPPLEMENTING A NUMBER OF ARTICLES OF THE LAW ON VIETNAMESE NATIONALITY

Pursuant to the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, as amended and supplemented by the Resolution No. 203/2025/QH15;

The National Assembly promulgates the Law Amending and Supplementing a Number of Articles of the Law on Vietnamese Nationality No. 24/2008/QH12, which was amended and supplemented by the Law No. 56/2014/QH13.

Article 1. Amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Vietnamese Nationality

1. To amend and supplement Clause 4, to add Clauses 5, 6, 7 and 8 after Clause 4 Article 5 as follows:

“4. Within the territory of Vietnam, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam shall only recognize Vietnamese nationality for Vietnamese citizens who hold both Vietnamese nationality and foreign nationality in interaction with competent Vietnamese agencies, except for otherwise defined in international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a contracting party. Rights and obligations of overseas Vietnamese citizens who also hold foreign nationality shall comply with relevant law regulations.

5. Individuals nominated, elected, approved, appointed, or designated to hold positions or titles for a term in agencies of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the State, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, or political-social organizations at central or local levels; individuals working in cipher organizations; and individuals participating in the armed forces of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam must possess only Vietnamese nationality and permanently reside in Vietnam.

6. Civil servants and public employees other than those defined in Clause 5 of this Article must possess only Vietnamese nationality, unless it is beneficial to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, does not harm Vietnam's national interests, and they must permanently reside in Vietnam. The Government shall detail this Clause.

7. In cases where other laws enacted before the effective date of this Law contain provisions on nationality different from Clauses 5 and 6 of this Article, this Law shall apply; in cases where other laws enacted after the effective date of this Law contain provisions on nationality different from Clauses 5 and 6 of this Article, the specific contents subject or not subject to compliance with this provision, and the contents subject to compliance with such other law must be clearly defined.

8. Administrative decisions of competent Vietnamese state agencies related to Vietnamese nationality as specified by this Law, shall not be subject to complaints or lawsuits.”.

2. To amend and supplement a number of clauses of Article 11 as follows:

a) To amend and supplement Clause 2 as follows:

“2. People’s identity card; citizen’s identity card; identity card; electronic identity;”;

b) To amend and supplement Clause 4, to add Clause 5 after Clause 4 as follows:

“4. Decision on permission of the naturalization in Vietnam, decision on permission of the restoration of Vietnamese nationality, decision on recognition of the adoption of a foreign child, and decision on permission of a foreigner to adopt a Vietnamese child;

5. Other papers defined by the Government.”.

3. To amend and supplement Clause 2, to add Clause 3 after Clause 2 Article 13 as follows:

“2. Overseas Vietnamese who have not yet lost Vietnamese nationality as prescribed by Vietnamese law before the effective date of this Law may retain their Vietnamese nationality.

Vietnamese people residing abroad who have not lost Vietnamese nationality but do not possess documents proving Vietnamese nationality as defined in Article 11 of this Law shall submit a request to a overseas Vietnamese representative mission to have their Vietnamese nationality certified.

3. The Government shall specify the order of and procedures for certification of Vietnamese nationality.”.

4. To amend and supplement Clause 2 Article 16 as follows:

“2. A child with one parent being a Vietnamese citizen and the other being a foreign citizen shall have Vietnamese nationality if the parents agree to choose Vietnamese nationality for their child when carrying out birth registration procedures at a competent Vietnamese agency in accordance with the Government's guidance. In case a child is born in the Vietnamese territory but his/her parents fail to reach an agreement on the selection of his/her nationality, the child has Vietnamese nationality.”.

5. To amend and supplement Article 19 as follows:

“Article 19. Conditions for naturalization in Vietnam

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

a) Having the full civil act capacity as prescribed by Vietnam’s laws, except for minors applying for naturalization in Vietnam with their father or mother, or minors whose father or mother is a Vietnamese citizen;

b) Obeying the Constitution and laws of Vietnam; respecting the culture, traditions, customs and practices of the Vietnamese nation;

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

d) Currently reside permanently in Vietnam;

dd) Having resided in Vietnam for 05 years or more, until the time of application for naturalization;

e) Being capable of making their livelihood in Vietnam.

2. Those applying for Vietnamese nationality whose spouse or natural child is a Vietnamese citizen may be permitted for naturalization in Vietnam without having to fully meet the conditions prescribed at Points c, dd and e Clause 1 of this Article.

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

a) Having a natural parent, paternal grandparents or maternal grandparents being Vietnamese citizens;

b) Have made meritorious contributions to Vietnam’s national construction and defense;

c) Being helpful to the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam;

d) Being a minor applying for Vietnamese nationality with their father or mother.

4. Persons applying for Vietnamese nationality must have Vietnamese names or names in another Vietnamese ethnic language. If persons applying for Vietnamese nationality wish to retain their foreign nationality, they may choose a combined name consisting of a Vietnamese name and a foreign name. These names may be selected by the applicants and written in the decisions on naturalization in Vietnam.

5. Persons applying for Vietnamese nationality may not be permitted for naturalization if such naturalization is detrimental to Vietnam’s national interests.

6. Persons applying for Vietnamese nationality specified in Clauses 2 and 3 of this Article may retain their foreign nationality if they meet the following conditions and are permitted by the President:

a) The retention of foreign nationality is consistent with the laws of that country;

b) Not using their foreign nationality to harm the legitimate rights and interests of agencies, organizations, or individuals, or to infringe upon the security, national interests, social order, and safety of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

7. The Government shall detail this Article.”.

6. To amend and supplement a number of points and clauses of Article 20 as follows:

a) To amend and supplement Point d Clause 1 as follows:

“d) Documents proving judicial record information issued by a competent foreign agency in accordance with the laws of that country for the period the person applying for Vietnamese nationality reside abroad. The documents proving judicial record information must be issued no more than 90 days prior to the date of dossier submission;”;

b) To amend and supplement Clause 2 as follows:

“2. For persons exempt from several conditions on naturalization in Vietnam specified in Clauses 2 and 3, Article 19 of this Law, papers corresponding to exempted conditions are not required.”.

7. To amend and supplement a number of clauses of Article 21 as follows:

a) To amend and supplement Clauses 1 and 2; to add Clause 2a after Clause 2 as follows:

“1. A person applying for Vietnamese nationality shall submit a dossier to the provincial-level Department of Justice if he/she resides in Vietnam, or to the Vietnamese representative mission of the host country if he/she resides overseas. In case the dossier is incomplete under Clause 1, Article 20 of this Law or invalid, the receiving agency shall immediately notify the person applying for Vietnamese nationality for supplementation and completion of the dossier.

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

Within 30 days after the receipt of the provincial-level Department of Justice’s request, the provincial-level Public Security Department shall conduct verification and send verification results to the provincial-level Department of Justice. During this period, the provincial-level Department of Justice shall examine papers in the dossier of application for naturalization in Vietnam.

Within 5 working days after the receipt of verification results, the provincial-level Department of Justice shall complete the dossier for submission to the chairperson of provincial-level People’s Committee.

Within 5 working days after the receipt of a request from the provincial-level Department of Justice, the chairperson of provincial-level People’s Committee shall consider, make conclusion and send his/her proposal to the Ministry of Justice.

2a. Within 20 days from the date of receiving a complete and valid dossier, the overseas Vietnamese representative mission shall verify and transfer the dossier, together with its opinions on the naturalization in Vietnam to the Ministry of Justice; and send the information to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for coordination in performance of the function of state management regarding nationality.

The Ministry of Public Security shall be responsible for verifying the identity of the applicant for naturalization in Vietnam at the request of the Ministry of Justice.”;

b) To amend and supplement Clause 3 as follows:

“3. Within 20 days after the receipt of the proposal from the Chairperson of provincial-level People’s Committee, or after the receipt of the verification results from the Ministry of Public Security for the dossier sent by an overseas Vietnamese representative mission, the Ministry of Justice shall re-examine the dossier, if finding that all conditions for naturalization in Vietnam are met, the Ministry of Justice 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.

Within 10 working days after the receipt of a written permission for the applicant to renounce his/her foreign nationality, the Minister of Justice shall report the case to the Prime Minister for submission to the President for consideration and decision.

In case the applicant wishes to retain his/her foreign nationality or is a stateless person, within 20 days after the receipt of the proposal from the Chairperson of provincial-level People’s Committee or after the receipt of the verification results from the Ministry of Public Security for a dossier sent by an overseas Vietnamese representative mission, the Ministry of Justice shall re-examine the dossier, if finding that the applicant is eligible for naturalization in Vietnam, the Ministry of Justice shall report the case to the Prime Minister for submission to the President for consideration and decision.”.

8. To amend and supplement the title and a number of clauses of Article 23 as follows:

a) To amend and supplement the title of Article 23 as follows:

“Article 23. Conditions for restoration of Vietnamese nationality”;

b) To amend and supplement Clause 1 as follows:

“1. A person who has lost his/her Vietnamese nationality as prescribed in Article 26 of this Law and applies for restoration of Vietnamese nationality shall be considered to restore his/her Vietnamese nationality.”;

c) To amend and supplement Clauses 4, 5 and 6 as follows:

“4. Persons applying for restoration of Vietnamese nationality shall use their previous Vietnamese names. If persons applying for restoration of Vietnamese nationality wish to retain their foreign nationality, they may choose a combined name consisting of a Vietnamese name and a foreign name. Such name must be clearly stated in the Decision on permission of restoration of Vietnamese nationality.

5. Persons applying for restoration of Vietnamese nationality may retain their foreign nationality if they meet the following conditions and are permitted by the President:

a) The retention of foreign nationality is consistent with the laws of that country;

b) Not using their foreign nationality to harm the legitimate rights and interests of agencies, organizations, or individuals, or to infringe upon the security, national interests, social order, and safety of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

6. The Government shall detail this Article.”.

9. To amend, supplement and repeal a number of points of Clause 1 Article 24 as follows:

a) To amend and supplement Point d as follows:

“d) Documents proving judicial record information issued by a competent foreign agency in accordance with the laws of that country for the period the person applying for restoration of Vietnamese nationality reside abroad. The documents proving judicial record information must be issued no more than 90 days prior to the date of dossier submission;”;

b) To repeal Point e.

10. To amend and supplement Clauses 3 and 4 Article 25 as follows:

“3. Within 20 days after receiving a valid and complete dossier, the overseas Vietnamese representative mission shall verify and transfer the dossier, together with its opinions on the restoration of Vietnamese nationality to the Ministry of Justice; and send the information to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for coordination in performance of the function of state management regarding nationality.

The Ministry of Public Security shall be responsible for verifying the identity of the applicant for restoration of Vietnamese nationality at the request of the Ministry of Justice.

4. Within 20 days after the receipt of the written proposal of the Chairperson of provincial-level People’s Committee or after the receipt of the verification results from the Ministry of Public Security for a dossier sent by an overseas Vietnamese representative mission, the Ministry of Justice shall re-examine the dossier, if finding that the applicant is eligible for restoration of Vietnamese nationality, it shall send a written notification to the applicant for carrying out procedures to renounce his/her foreign nationality, unless the applicant wishes to retain his/her foreign nationality or is a stateless person.

Within 10 working days after the receipt of the certificate of renunciation of his/her foreign nationality, the Minister of Justice shall report the case to the Prime Minister for submission to the President for consideration and decision.

In case the person applying for restoration of Vietnamese nationality wishes to retain his/her foreign nationality or is a stateless person, within 15 days after the receipt of the proposal of the Chairperson of provincial-level People’s Committee or after the receipt of the verification results from the Ministry of Public Security for a dossier sent by an overseas Vietnamese representative mission, the Ministry of Justice shall re-examine the dossier, if finding that the applicant is eligible for restoration of Vietnamese nationality, it shall report the case to the Prime Minister for submission to the President for consideration and decision.”.

11. To add Clause 2a after Clause 2 Article 26 as follows:

“2a. Having the decisions on the grant of Vietnamese nationality or decisions permission of the restoration of Vietnamese nationality annulled.”.

12. To amend, supplement and repeal a number of points and clauses of Article 28 as follows:

a) To amend and supplement Point e Clause 1 as follows:

“e) The written certification of clearance of tax debts, issued by the tax administration office of the locality where the applicant resides;”;

b) To repeal Point d Clause 1;

c) To amend and supplement Clause 2 as follows:

“2. Vietnamese citizens who do not permanently reside in Vietnam are not required to submit papers specified at Points e and g Clause 1 of this Article.”.

13. To amend and supplement Clauses 4 and 5 Article 29 as follows:

“4. Within 20 days from the date of receiving a complete and valid dossier, the overseas Vietnamese representative mission shall verify and transfer the dossier, together with its opinions on the renunciation of Vietnamese nationality to the Ministry of Justice; and send the information to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for coordination in performance of the function of state management regarding nationality.

The Ministry of Public Security shall be responsible for verifying the identity of the applicant for renunciation of Vietnamese nationality at the request of the Ministry of Justice. For cases eligible for exemption from verification under this Law, the Ministry of Justice shall request the Ministry of Public Security to conduct verification if deemed necessary.

5. Within 20 days after the receipt of the proposal of the Chairperson of provincial-level People’s Committee or the overseas Vietnamese representative mission, or after the receipt of the verification results from the Ministry of Public Security for cases subject to certification of identity, the Ministry of Justice shall re-examine the dossier, if finding that the applicant is eligible for renunciation of Vietnamese nationality, the Ministry shall report the case to the Prime Minister for submission to the President for consideration and decision.”.

14. To amend and supplement the title of Section 4 of Chapter III as follows:

“Section 4

ANNULMENT OF DECISIONS ON PERMISSION OF THE NATURALIZATION IN VIETNAM OR DECISIONS ON PERMISSION OF THE RESTORATION OF VIETNAMESE NATIONALITY”.

15. To amend and supplement Article 33 and Article 34 as follows:

“Article 33. Grounds for annulment of decisions on permission of the naturalization in Vietnam or decisions on permission of the restoration of Vietnamese nationality

1. A person who has been naturalized in Vietnam or has his/her Vietnamese nationality restored under Article 19, Article 23 of this Law, regardless of whether he/she resides inside or outside the Vietnamese territory, has the decision on permission of the naturalization in Vietnam or decision on permission of the restoration of Vietnamese nationality annulled if he/she conducts one of the following acts:

a) Intentionally making false declarations or commitments, or forged papers in applying for naturalization in Vietnam or restoration of Vietnamese nationality;

b) Using his/her naturalization in Vietnam or restoration of Vietnamese nationality, or using his/her foreign nationality retained upon naturalization in Vietnam or restoration of Vietnamese nationality to harm the legitimate rights and interests of agencies, organizations, or individuals, or to infringe upon the security, national interests, social order, and safety of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

2. The annulment of decisions on permission of the naturalization in Vietnam or decisions on permission of the restoration of Vietnamese nationality of a person will not alter the nationality of his/her spouse.

Article 34. Order and procedures for annulment of decisions on permission of the naturalization in Vietnam or decisions on permission of the restoration of Vietnamese nationality

1. Within 15 days after the date of detecting or receiving a complaint or denunciation about an act prescribed in Clause 1, Article 33 of this Law, the provincial-level People’s Committee or overseas Vietnamese representative mission shall conduct verification, if obtaining sufficient grounds, it shall compile a dossier to propose the President to annul the decision on permission of the naturalization in Vietnam or decision on permission of the restoration of Vietnamese nationality for the person committing such act.

Courts which have adjudicated persons committing acts defined in Clause 1, Article 33 of this Law shall compile dossiers to propose the State President to annul the decisions on permission of the naturalization in Vietnam or decisions on permission of the restoration of Vietnamese nationality to the convicted persons.

The Government shall specify papers in the dossiers of proposal for annulment of decisions on permission of the naturalization in Vietnam or decisions on permission of the restoration of Vietnamese nationality.

2. Dossiers of proposal for annulment of decisions on permission of the naturalization in Vietnam or decisions on permission of the restoration of Vietnamese nationality shall be sent to the Ministry of Justice.

Within 15 days after the receipt of a proposal dossier from the provincial-level People’s Committee, the overseas Vietnamese representative mission or court, the Ministry of Justice shall examine the dossier of proposal for annulment of decision on permission of the naturalization in Vietnam or decision on permission of the restoration of Vietnamese nationality and report the case to the Prime Minister for submission to the President for consideration and decision.

3. The President shall consider and make decision within 20 days after the receipt of the Prime Minister’s proposal.”.

16. To amend and supplement Clause 1, to add Clause 1a after Clause 1 Article 35 as follows:

“1. When the nationality of the parents changes as a results of naturalization in Vietnam, restoration of Vietnamese nationality, the nationality of the minor child who is living with his/her parents will be changed accordingly.

1a. When the nationality of the parents changes as a results of renunciation of Vietnamese nationality, the nationality of the minor child who is living with his/her parents will be changed accordingly, unless otherwise requested by his/her parents.”.

17. To amend and supplement Article 36 as follows:

“Article 36. Nationality of minor children whose parents are deprived of Vietnamese nationality or have their decisions on permission of the naturalization in Vietnam or decisions on permission of the restoration of Vietnamese nationality annulled

The nationality of a minor child will not change when both of his/her parents are or either of them is deprived of Vietnamese nationality or the decision on permission of the naturalization in Vietnam or decision on permission of the restoration of Vietnamese nationality is annulled.”.

18. To amend and supplement Article 38 as follows:

“Article 38. Tasks and powers of the President for nationality

1. To decide on the grant, restoration, renunciation and deprivation of Vietnamese nationality and annulment of decisions on permission of the naturalization in Vietnam and decisions on permission of the restoration of Vietnamese nationality.

2. To decide on the negotiation and conclusion of nationality treaties under this Law and the Law on Treaties.”.

19. To amend and supplement Clause 2, to add Clause 7 after Clause 6 Article 39 as follows:

a) To amend and supplement Clause 2 as follows:

“2. To negotiate and conclude nationality treaties or propose the President to decide on the negotiation and conclusion of nationality treaties in accordance with this Law and the Law on Treaties.”;

b) To add Clause 7 after Clause 6 as follows:

“7. Based on the socio-economic conditions, the demands, and implementation capacity in each period, the Government shall prescribe the handling of nationality dossiers in an electronic environment.”

20. To amend and supplement Clauses 4 and 5 Article 40 as follows:

“4. Provincial-level People’s Committees shall consider and propose their opinions on cases of application for naturalization in Vietnam, restoration of Vietnamese nationality, renunciation of Vietnamese nationality, deprivation of Vietnamese nationality and annulment of decisions on permission of the naturalization in Vietnam and decisions on permission of the restoration of Vietnamese nationality under this Law; and annually, make statistics on Vietnamese nationality-related matters already settled for reporting to the Ministry of Justice.

5. Overseas Vietnamese representative missions shall consider and propose their opinions on cases of application for naturalization in Vietnam, restoration of Vietnamese nationality, renunciation of Vietnamese nationality, deprivation of Vietnamese nationality and annulment of decisions on permission of the naturalization in Vietnam or decisions on permission of the restoration of Vietnamese nationality; and annually, make statistics on Vietnamese nationality-related matters already settled for reporting to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice.”.

21. To amend and supplement Article 41 as follows:

“Article 41. Announcement and publicization of results of settlement of nationality-related matters

The Ministry of Justice shall be responsible for sending the results of nationality-related matters to provincial-level People's Committees or overseas Vietnamese representative missions to inform the requesters and for posting the information on the Ministry of Justice's website.”.

Article 2. Implementation provisions

1. This Law takes effect on July 01, 2025.

2. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and relevant agencies shall review; amend, and supplement according to their authority or propose competent agencies to amend and supplement legal normative documents with content related to the rights and obligations of Vietnamese citizens who also hold foreign nationality (if any) within 02 years from the effective date of this Law.

Article 3. Transitional provision

Dossiers of application for naturalization in Vietnam, restoration of Vietnamese nationality, or renunciation of Vietnamese nationality received before the effective date of this Law shall be resolved in accordance with this Law.

_____________

This Law was adopted on June 24, 2025, by the XV^thNational Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at its 9^th session.

THE CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Tran Thanh Man