Circular No. 08/2025/TT-BTP stipulates the authority of local governments at two levels and the delegation of authority within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Justice.

CIRCULAR

Regulations on the delineation of authority of two-level local administrations

and decentralization in the field of state administration under the Ministry of Justice

On the basis of The Government Organization Law 2025;

On the basis of The Local Government Organization Law 2025;

Pursuant to Resolution No. Decision 190/2025/QH15 dated February 19, 2025 of the National Assembly regarding handling certain issues related to the restructuring of the state apparatus;

Decree No. Decision No. 120/2025/NĐ-CP dated June 11, 2025 of the Government stipulating the delineation of authority of two-level local administrations in the field of state administration under the Ministry of Justice;

Decree No. Decision No. 121/2025/NĐ-CP dated June 11, 2025 of the Government stipulating decentralization and delegation in the field of state administration under the Ministry of Justice;

Decree No. Decree No. 39/2025/NĐ-CP dated February 26, 2025 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Justice;

At the proposal of the Director of the Department of Legislative Drafting;

The Minister of Justice promulgates this Circular stipulating on the delineation of authority of two-level local governments and decentralization in the field of state administration under the Ministry of Justice.

PART I
GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope of Regulation

This Circular stipulates the delineation of authority, guidance on the performance of tasks, procedures, and formalities for implementing tasks and authorities when organizing two-level local administrations; decentralization and procedures for implementing certain delegated tasks of units under the Ministry of Justice; forms for administrative procedures in certain fields of state administration under the Ministry of Justice.

Article 2. Principles for exploitation and utilization of electronic data

The agency implementing administrative procedures shall be responsible for exploiting electronic data already available in the National Population Database and other specialized databases to supplement information into the files of individuals and organizations implementing administrative procedures electronically, without requiring individuals and organizations to submit or present documents and materials whose information has been extracted from these databases; except in cases where such data is used for purposes of verifying and rechecking the authenticity of the information, documents, and materials that have been digitized.

Chapter II
DELINEATION OF AUTHORITY WHEN ORGANIZING TWO-LEVEL LOCAL ADMINISTRATIONS AND GUIDANCE ON THE PERFORMANCE OF DELEGATED TASKS

Article 3. Authority, Procedures, and Formalities for Registering Household Records

1. The People's Committee of communes, wards, and special administrative zones directly under provinces (hereinafter referred to as the People's Committee at commune level) shall implement the authority to register household records as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 8, Clause 2, Article 11, Clause 1, Article 15, Clause 1, Article 20, and Clause 2, Article 22 of Circular No. 04/2020/TT-BTP dated May 28, 2020 of the Minister of Justice detailing the implementation of certain provisions of the Household Registration Law and Decree No. 123/2015/NĐ-CP dated November 15, 2015 of the Government detailing certain provisions and measures to implement the Household Registration Law, which was amended and supplemented in 2022 and 2024 (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 04/2020/TT-BTP).

2. The People's Committee at commune level shall accept and process the registration of household records as prescribed in Clause 1 of this Article according to the procedures and formalities for handling the registration of household records as stipulated in Article 5 of Decision No. 120/2025/NĐ-CP dated June 11, 2025 of the Government stipulating the delineation of authority of two-level local administrations in the field of state administration under the Ministry of Justice (hereinafter referred to as Decision No. 120/2025/NĐ-CP) and relevant provisions in Circular No. 04/2020/TT-BTP.

When implementing the procedures and formalities prescribed in Clause 1, Article 11, Clause 3, Article 15, and Clause 1, Article 20 of Circular No. 04/2020/TT-BTP, the tasks of the People's Committee at district level and the District Justice Office will be transferred correspondingly to the People's Committee at commune level and judicial civil servants.

Article 4. Acceptance of Applications and Issuance of Results for Household Record Registration

The acceptance of applications and issuance of results for household record registration shall be carried out in accordance with Clause 1 and Clause 2 of Article 3 of Circular No. 04/2020/TT-BTP and the following provisions:

1. Individuals requesting household record registration may submit certified copies from original documents or copies issued from original registers (hereinafter referred to as certified copies) or photographs accompanied by original documents or electronic versions thereof, including integrated and displayed documents on the Electronic Identity Application (VNeID).

In cases where individuals submit photographs accompanied by original documents, the person accepting the application shall be responsible for checking and comparing the photographs with the originals and signing to confirm, without requiring submission of certified copies of those documents.

For documents presented during household record registration, the person accepting the application shall be responsible for checking, comparing, recording information, or taking photographs and signing to confirm for retention in the file and returning to the presenter, without requiring submission of certified copies or photographs of those documents.

2. When issuing results for marriage registration and re-registration of marriage, both parties must be present; the person issuing the result shall be responsible for guiding the individuals requesting marriage registration to check the contents of the Marriage Certificate and Marriage Registration Book.

If both parties find the contents correct and consistent with the marriage registration file, they shall sign and write their full names in the Marriage Certificate and Marriage Registration Book according to the instructions of the person issuing the result.

Article 5. Recording in Household Registers and Civil Status Documents

The recording in Household Registers and Civil Status Documents shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Clauses 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6, Points a, b, c, đ, e, and h Clause 7, Clause 9 Article 29 of Circular No. 04/2020/TT-BTP and the following provisions:

1. The recognition of parent-child relationships and the determination of parent-child relationships of Vietnamese citizens that have been resolved by competent authorities abroad shall be recorded in the Register of Parent-Child Recognition. In cases where the child has already been registered for birth, the People's Committee of the commune shall notify the authority that previously registered the birth or record the previous birth registration in the Household Register or the authority currently storing the Birth Registration Book to make additional entries in the Birth Registration Book and update the Civil Status Electronic Database as prescribed.

2. The divorce or annulment of marriage of Vietnamese citizens that have been resolved by competent authorities abroad shall be recorded in the Divorce Note Register. If the previous marriage registration was conducted by a Vietnamese authority, the People's Committee of the commune shall notify the authority that previously registered the marriage or record the previous marriage registration in the Household Register or the authority currently storing the Marriage Registration Book to make additional entries in the Marriage Registration Book and update the Civil Status Electronic Database as prescribed.

3. The agency responsible for registering and managing household registers that are currently storing the Household Register shall implement the recording in the Household Register according to Clause 6 Article 29 of Circular No. 04/2020/TT-BTP immediately upon receipt of the judgment or decision (including civil status documents) as prescribed.

4. Administrative place names in Household Registers and Civil Status Documents shall be recorded in accordance with the guidance provided in Clause 3 Article 12 of this Circular.

Article 6. Deletion of Civil Status Electronic Data

The examination and approval of legitimate requests to delete civil status electronic data from the People's Committee of the commune; allowing the restoration of civil status electronic data before adjustment or deletion pursuant to effective legal documents permitting restoration on the Common Civil Status Registration and Management Software as stipulated in Clause 3 Article 13 of Circular No. 01/2022/TT-BTP dated January 4, 2022 issued by the Minister of Justice detailing certain provisions and measures for implementing Decree No. 87/2020/NĐ-CP dated July 28, 2020 of the Government regarding the Civil Status Electronic Database and Online Civil Status Registration, amended and supplemented in 2023 (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 01/2022/TT-BTP) falls within the purview of the Chairman of the People's Committee of the province.

Article 7. Re-registration of Signature Samples

When re-registering signature samples as prescribed in Article 19 of Circular No. 01/2020/TT-BTP dated March 3, 2020 issued by the Minister of Justice detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of Decree No. 23/2015/NĐ-CP dated February 16, 2015 of the Government on issuing certified copies from original books, certifying copies from originals, certifying signatures, and certifying contracts and transactions (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 01/2020/TT-BTP), the assistant must submit a request for re-registration of signature samples and sign three signature samples in the Request for Re-registration of Signature Samples. The signing of the three signature samples must be done in the presence of the Chairman of the People's Committee of the commune.

Article 8. Authentication of signatures of translators who are not collaborators

The authentication of signatures of translators who are not collaborators is regulated under Clause 2, Article 17 of Circular No. 01/2020/TT-BTP and falls within the jurisdiction of the People's Commune Council.

Article 9. Approval of the list of translation collaborators

The approval of the list of translation collaborators shall be carried out in accordance with Clause 1, Article 18 of Circular No. 01/2020/TT-BTP and the following provisions:

1. The People's Commune Council shall prepare a list to propose to the Department of Justice for the approval of translation collaborators, accompanied by extracts from each individual's information including their surname, middle name, and given name; date of birth; place of birth; Citizen Identification Card/Citizen Identity Card/Electronic Citizen Identity Card/Certificate of Citizen Identity; place of residence; documents proving language proficiency or a commitment to fluency in non-common languages.

2. Upon receiving the proposal from the People's Commune Council, within five working days, the Department of Justice shall review the proposed list for approval of translation collaborators. If those proposed meet the criteria and conditions stipulated in Article 27 of Decree No. 23/2015/NĐ-CP dated February 16, 2015 of the Government on issuing certified copies from original records, authenticating copies from originals, authenticating signatures, and authenticating contracts and transactions, the Department of Justice shall issue a decision to approve the list of translation collaborators; for those who do not meet the criteria and conditions, the Department of Justice shall reject the approval and notify in writing to the People's Commune Council.

3. Annually, the People's Commune Council shall be responsible for reviewing the list of translation collaborators. In cases where collaborators no longer meet the criteria and conditions or have not worked as translation collaborators at that People's Commune for twelve months or more without valid reasons, the People's Commune Council shall submit a written request to the Department of Justice to issue a decision to remove such individuals from the list of translation collaborators.

Article 10. Responsibility for nullifying the legal validity of authenticated documents and papers that do not comply with legal regulations

1. The issuance of decisions to nullify the legal validity of authenticated documents and papers is regulated under Clause 2, Article 7 of Circular No. 01/2020/TT-BTP and falls within the jurisdiction of the Chairman of the People's Commune Council.

The Chairman of the People's Commune Council shall be responsible for issuing decisions to nullify the legal validity of authenticated documents and papers as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 7 of Circular No. 01/2020/TT-BTP for documents and papers authenticated by his own agency. The nullification of the legal validity of authenticated documents and papers previously authenticated by the People's District, County, Town, City Councils under provinces falls within the jurisdiction of the Chairman of the new People's Commune Council where the authentication records, Authentication Books, authenticated documents, and papers are stored.

2. After issuing the decision to nullify the authenticated documents and papers, the Chairman of the People's Commune Council shall be responsible for notifying and requesting the Office of the People's Provincial Council to publish information about authenticated documents and papers that are no longer legally valid on the electronic portal of the People's Provincial Council.

Article 11. Liability when accepting applications for notarization of signatures, contracts, and transactions at the One-Stop Service Center at local level

When accepting applications for notarization of signatures, contracts, and transactions at the One-Stop Service Center at local level as prescribed in Article 8 of Circular No. 01/2020/TT-BTP, the person receiving the application shall be responsible for carefully checking the application and verifying the authenticity of the signature of the person requesting notarization. The person receiving the application must ensure that the person requesting notarization of the signature is mentally sound, has full awareness and control over their actions; all parties involved in the contract or transaction have civil capacity and voluntarily enter into the contract or transaction.

Article 12. Issuance of forms for administrative procedures in the field of state management by the Ministry of Justice

1. Issuing 61 forms to handle administrative procedures in the field of state management by the Ministry of Justice as specified in Appendix II and Appendix III attached to this Circular.

2. The phrase “citizen identification card” or “ID card” in the forms issued pursuant to Circular No. 04/2020/TT-BTP, Circular No. 01/2022/TT-BTP, Circular No. 09/2019/TT-BTP dated December 10, 2019 of the Minister of Justice stipulating measures to support and guide victims in implementing procedures to claim state compensation (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 09/2019/TT-BTP), and Circular No. 04/2018/TT-BTP dated May 17, 2018 of the Minister of Justice promulgating certain forms in the work of state compensation shall be amended to read “Citizen Identification Card/Electronic Citizen Identification Card/Citizen Identification Card”.

The phrase "ID number/Citizen Identification Card number/Personal identification number" in the forms issued pursuant to Circular No. 10/2023/TT-BTP dated December 29, 2023 amending and supplementing several articles of Circular No. 08/2017/TT-BTP dated November 15, 2017 of the Minister of Justice detailing certain provisions of the Legal Aid Law and guiding documents in legal aid activities, and Circular No. 12/2018/TT-BTP dated August 28, 2018 of the Minister of Justice guiding certain operational activities and quality management of legal aid cases shall be amended to read "Citizen Identification Card number/Citizen Identification Card number/Personal identification number".

The phrase “ID number/Citizen Identification Card number/Personal identification number” in the forms issued pursuant to Circular No. 05/2021/TT-BTP dated June 24, 2021 of the Minister of Justice guiding certain provisions and implementation measures of the Lawyers Law and Decree detailing certain provisions and implementation measures of the Lawyers Law amended and supplemented in 2024 (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 05/2021/TT-BTP); Circular No. 05/2020/TT-BTP dated August 28, 2020 of the Minister of Justice detailing certain provisions and implementation measures of Government Decree No. 08/2020/NĐ-CP dated January 8, 2020 on the organization and operation of Notaries amended and supplemented in 2024; Circular No. 12/2012/TT-BTP dated November 7, 2012 of the Minister of Justice promulgating certain forms regarding the organization and operation of commercial arbitration amended and supplemented in 2024; Circular No. 11/2020/TT-BTP dated December 31, 2020 of the Minister of Justice stipulating the model, procedures, and issuance of new and replacement judicial expert cards amended and supplemented in 2024; Circular No. 01/2010/TT-BTP dated February 9, 2010 of the Minister of Justice detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of Government Decree No. 77/2008/NĐ-CP dated July 16, 2008 on legal consultation amended and supplemented in 2024; and Circular No. 19/2024/TT-BTP dated December 31, 2024 of the Minister of Justice detailing and guiding the implementation of certain provisions of the Auction Law shall be amended to read "Citizen Identification Card number/Citizen Identification Card number/Personal identification number".

3. Recording administrative boundaries in the forms shall be carried out according to the current two levels of administration.

4. State management units under the Ministry shall be responsible for announcing administrative procedures within their functional scope, ensuring consistency with the content prescribed in Government Decree No. 120/2025/NĐ-CP and Government Decree No. 121/2025/NĐ-CP dated June 11, 2025 on decentralization and delegation of authority in the field of state management by the Ministry of Justice (hereinafter referred to as Government Decree No. 121/2025/NĐ-CP) and this Circular.

Article 13. Responsibility to Support and Guide Victims to Carry Out Procedures for State Compensation Claims

The People's Committee of the province where the victim resides, where the damaged organization has its headquarters, or the People's Committee of the province where the headquarters of the agency directly managing the public servant causing damage is located shall be responsible for supporting and guiding victims to carry out procedures for state compensation claims as follows:

1. Guide victims to carry out procedures for state compensation claims according to the contents prescribed in Article 6 of Circular No. 09/2019/TT-BTP.

2. Support victims to carry out procedures for state compensation claims according to the contents prescribed in Clause 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 of Article 4 and Clause 2 of Article 5 of Circular No. 09/2019/TT-BTP.

The Department of Justice assists the People's Committee of the province in performing the tasks prescribed in this Article.

Article 14. Responsibility for Coordinating to Implement Support and Guidance for Victims to Carry Out Procedures for State Compensation Claims

When implementing support and guidance for victims to carry out procedures for state compensation claims as prescribed in Article 18 of Decree No. 121/2025/NĐ-CP; in cases requiring unified content of support and guidance, the People's Committee of the province where the victim resides, where the damaged organization has its headquarters, or the People's Committee of the province where the headquarters of the agency directly managing the public servant causing damage is located shall take the lead and coordinate with relevant agencies to support and guide victims to carry out procedures for state compensation claims.

Article 15. Directly Implementing Support and Guidance for Victims to Carry Out Procedures for State Compensation Claims

The direct implementation of support and guidance for victims to carry out procedures for state compensation claims by the People's Committee of the province shall be carried out at the office of the Department of Justice where the request for support and guidance arises.

Chapter III
DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY OF THE MINISTER OF JUSTICE TO SUBORDINATE UNITS IN CERTAIN AREAS

Article 16. Authority and Responsibility of the Administrative Justice Department in the Field of Adoption

1. Find substitute families for children in accordance with Point d, Clause 2, Article 15 of the Law on Adoption 2010 (hereinafter referred to as the Law on Adoption), Point b and Point c, Clause 3, Article 6 of Government Decree No. 19/2011/NĐ-CP dated March 21, 2011 detailing certain provisions of the Law on Adoption amended in 2016, 2019, 2025 (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 19/2011/NĐ-CP).

2. Accept adoption application files from adoptive parents in accordance with Clause 3, Article 31 of the Law on Adoption and Article 17 of Decree No. 19/2011/NĐ-CP.

3. Accept confirmation documents that children meet the conditions to be adopted abroad and children’s files sent by the Department of Justice in accordance with Clause 2, Article 33 of the Law on Adoption and Clause 3, Article 16 of Decree No. 19/2011/NĐ-CP.

4. Review, assess, and transfer adoption application files of adoptive parents to the Department of Justice in accordance with Article 34 of the Law on Adoption, Articles 18 and 19 of Decree No. 19/2011/NĐ-CP.

5. Issue documents requesting overseas adoption offices in Vietnam to find suitable persons for caring for and raising disabled children and children with serious illnesses designated for adoption and resolve for children to be adopted abroad in accordance with Clause 2, Article 19 of Decree No. 19/2011/NĐ-CP.

6. Check the introduction of children for overseas adoption; implement requirements for introducing children for overseas adoption, notify the competent authority of the country where the adoptive parent usually resides about the results of the introduction of children, and notify the Department of Justice to complete the adoption process in accordance with Clause 2 and Clause 3, Article 36 of the Law on Adoption and Clause 3, Article 20 of Decree No. 19/2011/NĐ-CP.

7. Accept decisions allowing children to be adopted abroad by the provincial People's Committee and adoption handover records in accordance with Clause 4, Article 37 of the Law on Adoption. Send decisions allowing children to be adopted abroad to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in accordance with Clause 5, Article 37 of the Law on Adoption.

8. Accept notifications from Vietnamese representative offices abroad regarding the resolution of adoption at the representative office, request domestic authorities to verify and respond to requests from the representative office in accordance with Clause 3 and Clause 4, Article 27 of Decree No. 19/2019/NĐ-CP.

9. Accept reports from adoptive parents and foreign adoption organizations licensed to operate in Vietnam about humanitarian aid contributions and reports from care facilities about receiving, managing, and using humanitarian aid contributions from adoptive parents and foreign adoption organizations licensed to operate in Vietnam in accordance with Point b and Point c, Clause 3, Article 4 of Decree No. 19/2011/NĐ-CP.

10. Publish on the Ministry of Justice's official website the list of countries with cooperative relations with Vietnam under international treaties on adoption in accordance with Clause 3, Article 30 of Decree No. 19/2011/NĐ-CP.

11. Collect registration fees for foreign adoptions, issue and extend licenses for foreign adoption organizations as prescribed in Clause 3, Article 5 of Government Decree No. 114/2016/NĐ-CP dated July 8, 2016 detailing registration fees for foreign adoptions and fees for issuing operating licenses for foreign adoption organizations amended in 2025.

12. Collect costs for resolving foreign adoptions as prescribed in Clause 2, Article 47 of Decree No. 19/2011/NĐ-CP.

Accept reports from the Department of Justice on the use of allocated funds as prescribed in Clause 1, Article 49 of Decree No. 19/2011/NĐ-CP.

13. Implement management of foreign adoption organizations in Vietnam as prescribed in Article 37 of Decree No. 19/2011/NĐ-CP and Clause 1, Articles 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 15 of Circular No. 21/2011/TT-BTP dated November 21, 2011 on the Management of Foreign Adoption Offices in Vietnam amended in 2021, 2025 (hereinafter referred to as Circular No. 21/2011/TT-BTP).

Article 17. The authority and responsibility of the Administrative Justice Department in issuing, extending, amending, and revoking the Operating License for foreign adoption organizations in Vietnam

1. Issuing the operating license for foreign adoption organizations to operate in Vietnam in accordance with Article 31, Article 33 of Decree No. 19/2011/NĐ-CP and Article 5 of Circular No. 21/2011/TT-BTP.

2. Extending the operating license for foreign adoption organizations in Vietnam in accordance with Article 34 of Decree No. 19/2011/NĐ-CP and Clause 1 of Article 5 of Circular No. 21/2011/TT-BTP.

3. Implementing the amendment of the operating license for foreign adoption organizations in Vietnam in accordance with Article 35 of Decree No. 19/2011/NĐ-CP and point a of Clause 1 of Article 5 of Circular No. 21/2011/TT-BTP.

4. Revoking the operating license for foreign adoption organizations in Vietnam in accordance with Article 36 of Decree No. 19/2011/NĐ-CP and Clause 3 of Article 6 of Circular No. 21/2011/TT-BTP.

Article 18. The authority and responsibility of the Administrative Justice Department in monitoring the development situation of Vietnamese children given up for international adoption and protecting Vietnamese children given up for international adoption when necessary

1. Receiving notifications on the development situation of adopted children in accordance with Article 39 of the Adoption Law, Article 4 of Joint Circular No. 03/2016/TTLT-BTP-BNG-BCA-BLĐTBXH dated February 22, 2016 issued by the Minister of Justice, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Public Security, and the Minister of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs guiding the monitoring of the development situation of Vietnamese children given up for international adoption and protection of children when necessary (hereinafter referred to as Joint Circular No. 03/2016/TTLT-BTP-BNG-BCA-BLĐTBXH).

2. Implementing requests to foreign adoption organizations or the Central Agency for International Adoption of the receiving country to urge adoptive parents to notify the development situation of children in accordance with Article 5 of Joint Circular No. 03/2016/TTLT-BTP-BNG-BCA-BLĐTBXH, point b of Clause 3 of Article 6 of Circular No. 21/2011/TT-BTP; requesting foreign adoption offices to report on the development situation of Vietnamese children adopted abroad in accordance with Clause 2, Clause 3 of Article 9 of Circular No. 21/2011/TT-BTP.

3. Collecting, monitoring, summarizing, and storing reports on the development situation of children as stipulated in Clause 1 of Article 6 of Joint Circular No. 03/2016/TTLT-BTP-BNG-BCA-BLĐTBXH.

4. Preparing evaluation reports on the development situation of children given up for international adoption as stipulated in Article 7 of Joint Circular No. 03/2016/TTLT-BTP-BNG-BCA-BLĐTBXH.

5. Supporting adopted children to understand information about their origin as stipulated in Article 9 of Joint Circular No. 03/2016/TTLT-BTP-BNG-BCA-BLĐTBXH.

6. Notifying decisions for Vietnamese children to be adopted abroad as stipulated in Article 10 of Joint Circular No. 03/2016/TTLT-BTP-BNG-BCA-BLĐTBXH.

7. Receiving and verifying information and reflecting the status of children who need protection as stipulated in Article 12 of Joint Circular No. 03/2016/TTLT-BTP-BNG-BCA-BLĐTBXH.

8. Implementing child protection work when necessary as stipulated in Article 13 of Joint Circular No. 03/2016/TTLT-BTP-BNG-BCA-BLĐTBXH.

9. Resolving cases where children given up for international adoption must return to Vietnam as stipulated in Clause 1, Clause 2 of Article 14 of Joint Circular No. 03/2016/TTLT-BTP-BNG-BCA-BLĐTBXH.

Article 19. Competence and responsibilities of the Administrative Justice Department in nationality work

1. Guide and train professional skills in handling nationality dossier.

2. Issue documents to police agencies for verification of the identity of persons applying for acquisition, renunciation, or resumption of Vietnamese nationality.

3. Issue documents to relevant agencies during the process of handling nationality dossiers.

4. Coordinate with related units to publish results of acquisition, resumption, renunciation, deprivation of Vietnamese nationality, revocation of decisions on acquisition of Vietnamese nationality, and revocation of decisions on resumption of Vietnamese nationality on the Ministry of Justice's Electronic Information Portal.

5. Provide search results regarding nationality information.

Article 20. Competence and responsibilities of the Judicial Support Department in issuing, reissuing, changing contents, revoking Licenses for establishment, termination of operations of foreign law firms' branches, foreign law companies, and branches of foreign law companies in Vietnam; issuing, reissuing, extending, and revoking Practice Permits for foreign lawyers in Vietnam

1. Issue Licenses for establishing branches and foreign law companies according to Article 78 of the Lawyers Law 2006 amended in 2012 and 2015 (hereinafter referred to as the Lawyers Law).

The procedures for issuing Licenses for establishing branches and foreign law companies shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Section I of Appendix I attached hereto.

2. Issue Licenses for establishing branches of foreign law companies in Vietnam according to Article 81 of the Lawyers Law.

The procedures for issuing Licenses for establishing branches of foreign law companies in Vietnam shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Section II of Appendix I attached hereto.

3. Change the contents of Licenses for establishing branches and foreign law companies according to Article 80 of the Lawyers Law.

The procedures for changing the contents of Licenses for establishing branches and foreign law companies shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Section III of Appendix I attached hereto.

4. Reissue Licenses for establishing branches and foreign law companies according to Circular No. 05/2021/TT-BTP.

The procedures for reissuing Licenses for establishing branches and foreign law companies shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Section IV of Appendix I attached hereto.

5. Merge foreign law companies according to Article 32 of Government Decree No. 123/2013/NĐ-CP dated October 14, 2013 detailing certain provisions and measures to implement the Lawyers Law amended in 2018 (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 123/2013/NĐ-CP).

The procedures for merging foreign law companies shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Section V of Appendix I attached hereto.

6. Consolidate foreign law companies according to Article 33 of Decree No. 123/2013/NĐ-CP.

The procedures for consolidating foreign law companies shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Section VI of Appendix I attached hereto.

7. Convert branches of foreign legal service organizations into wholly foreign-owned limited liability law firms in Vietnam according to Article 34 of Decree No. 123/2013/NĐ-CP.

The procedures for converting branches of foreign legal service organizations into wholly foreign-owned limited liability law firms in Vietnam shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Section VII of Appendix I attached hereto.

8. Convert foreign law companies into Vietnamese law firms according to Article 35 of Decree No. 123/2013/NĐ-CP.

The procedures for converting foreign law companies into Vietnamese law firms shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Section VIII of Appendix I attached hereto.

9. Terminate the operations of branches and foreign law companies according to Article 39 of Decree No. 123/2013/NĐ-CP.

The procedures for terminating the operations of branches and foreign law companies shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Section IX of Appendix I attached hereto.

10. Revoke Licenses for establishing branches and foreign law companies according to Article 40 of Decree No. 123/2013/NĐ-CP.

The procedures for revoking Licenses for establishing branches and foreign law companies shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Section X of Appendix I attached hereto.

11. Issue Practice Permits for foreign lawyers in Vietnam according to Article 82 of the Lawyers Law.

The procedures for issuing Practice Permits for foreign lawyers in Vietnam shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Section XI of Appendix I attached hereto.

12. Extend Practice Permits for foreign lawyers practicing in Vietnam according to Article 82 of the Lawyers Law.

The procedures for extending Practice Permits for foreign lawyers in Vietnam shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Section XII of Appendix I attached hereto.

13. Reissue Practice Permits for foreign lawyers in Vietnam according to Circular No. 05/2021/TT-BTP.

The procedures for reissuing Practice Permits for foreign lawyers in Vietnam shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Section XIII of Appendix I attached hereto.

14. Revoke Practice Permits for foreign lawyers in Vietnam according to Article 41 of Decree No. 123/2013/NĐ-CP.

The procedures for revoking Practice Permits for foreign lawyers in Vietnam shall be carried out in accordance with the provisions of Section XIV of Appendix I attached hereto.

Article 21. Competence and responsibilities of the Department for Legal Document Inspection and Administrative Violation Management in inspecting and handling normative legal documents

1. Issue conclusions on inspections of unlawful documents in accordance with Article 18 of Decree No. 79/2025/NĐ-CP dated April 1, 2025 of the Government on inspection, review, systematization, and handling of normative legal documents (hereinafter referred to as Decree No. 79/2025/NĐ-CP), except for conclusions on normative legal documents issued by a Minister or Head of a ministerial-level agency or jointly issued, and conclusions of inter-ministerial inspection teams led by a Ministry Leader.

2. Urge the handling of unlawful documents in accordance with Clause 2, Article 24 of Decree No. 79/2025/NĐ-CP.

3. Urge, direct, and inspect the implementation of inspection and handling of documents by ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and local authorities in accordance with Point b, Clause 2, Article 58 of Decree No. 79/2025/NĐ-CP.

4. Guide and train skills and expertise in inspecting and handling documents nationwide; organize and manage a team of document inspection collaborators in accordance with Point c, Clause 2, Article 58 of Decree No. 79/2025/NĐ-CP.

Article 22. Competence and responsibilities of the Department for Popularizing Legal Education and Legal Aid Industry and the recognition and removal of legal propagandists

1. Recognize and remove legal propagandists working at units under the Ministry of Justice.

2. The procedures and formalities for recognizing and removing legal propagandists working at units under the Ministry of Justice shall be carried out in accordance with Section XV and Section XVI of Appendix I attached to this Circular.

Chapter III
IMPLEMENTING PROVISIONS

Article 23. Effectiveness of Implementation

1. This Circular takes effect from July 1, 2025.

2. This Circular ceases to be effective from March 1, 2027 except for the following cases:

a) If Decree No. 120/2025/NĐ-CP and Decree No. 121/2025/NĐ-CP extend the application period in whole or in part, then the relevant provisions in this Circular will also be allowed to extend the application period.

b) Laws, resolutions of the National Assembly, ordinances, resolutions of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly, decrees, resolutions of the Government, decisions of the Prime Minister, other circulars of the Minister of Justice that provide for the competence, responsibility for state management, procedures, and formalities stipulated in this Circular, which are adopted or issued from July 1, 2025 and take effect before March 1, 2027, then the corresponding provisions in this Circular shall become invalid upon the effectiveness of those normative legal documents.

3. During the period when the provisions of this Circular are effective, if the provisions on competence, responsibility for state management, procedures, and formalities in this Circular differ from related normative legal documents, they shall be implemented in accordance with the provisions of this Circular.

Article 24. Implementation Organization

1. The Chairperson of the People's Committee of the province, the Heads of units under the Ministry, and related agencies, organizations, and individuals are responsible for implementing the provisions of this Circular.

2. During the implementation process, if there are difficulties, please reflect them to the Ministry of Justice for guidance and resolution./.