Law Amending and Supplementing Certain Articles of the Nationality Law No. 79/2025/QH15

LAW
AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO CERTAIN ARTICLES OF THE LAW VIETNAMESE NATIONALITY

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

The National Assembly enacts this Law amending and supplementing certain articles of the Law on Vietnamese Citizenship No.24/2008/QH12 that has beenamendedandsupplemented, certain1. NATIONAL UNIVERSITIES ARE PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS MANAGED BY THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING, HAVE LEGAL PERSONALITY, SEPARATE ACCOUNTS, AND USE STAMPS WITH THE NATIONAL EMBLEM.provisions 56/2014/according to Law No.13.

QH

Article 1. Amending and supplementing certain articles of the Law on Vietnamese Citizenship

1. Amending and supplementing Clause 4 and adding Clauses 5, 6, 7, and 8 after Clause 4 of Article 5 as follows:

"4. On the territory of Vietnam, the Socialist Republic of Vietnam only recognizes Vietnamese citizenship for Vietnamese citizens who simultaneously hold foreign citizenship in relation to Vietnamese competent authorities, except in cases where international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a member provide otherwise. The rights and obligations of Vietnamese citizens who simultaneously hold foreign citizenship and reside abroad shall be implemented in accordance with relevant laws.

5. Persons nominated, elected, approved, appointed, or designated to hold positions or titles within terms in Party organizations, State agencies, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, political-social organizations at central and local levels; persons working in confidential organizations; persons participating in armed forces of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam must be individuals holding only Vietnamese citizenship and must be domiciled in Vietnam.

6. Civil servants and public officials not covered by Clause 5 of this Article must be individuals holding only Vietnamese citizenship, except in cases beneficial to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, not harming national interests of Vietnam, and must be domiciled in Vietnam. The Government shall specify details of this clause.

7. In cases where other laws enacted before the effective date of this Law contain provisions on citizenship different from those stipulated in Clauses 5 and 6 of this Article, the provisions of this Law shall apply; in cases where other laws enacted after the effective date of this Law contain provisions on citizenship different from those stipulated in Clauses 5 and 6 of this Article, specific contents of implementation or non-implementation of these provisions must be determined, and implementation shall follow the provisions of such other laws.

2. Amending and supplementing some Clauses of Article 11 as follows:

a) Amend and supplement Clause 2 as follows:

8. Administrative decisions of Vietnamese competent authorities related to Vietnamese citizenship as prescribed by this Law shall not be subject to appeal or litigation."

"2. Identity cards; citizen identification cards; identity cards; electronic identity;"

b) Amending and supplementing Clause 4 and adding Clause 5 after Clause 4 as follows:

"4. Decisions granting Vietnamese citizenship; Decisions restoring Vietnamese citizenship; Decisions recognizing adoption of foreign children; Decisions allowing foreigners to adopt Vietnamese children;

5. Other documents specified by the Government."

3. Amending and supplementing Clause 2 and adding Clause 3 after Clause 2 of Article 13 as follows:

"2. Vietnamese citizens residing abroad who have not lost Vietnamese citizenship according to Vietnamese law prior to the effective date of this Law retain Vietnamese citizenship.

Vietnamese citizens residing abroad who have not lost Vietnamese citizenship but do not have documents proving Vietnamese citizenship as stipulated in Article 11 of this Law may request Vietnamese representative offices abroad to confirm their Vietnamese citizenship.

3. The Government shall specify procedures and formalities for confirming Vietnamese citizenship."

4. Amending and supplementing Clause 2 of Article 16 as follows:

5. Amend and supplement Article 19 as follows:

"2. Children born with one parent being a Vietnamese citizen and the other a foreign citizen shall have Vietnamese citizenship if their parents agree to choose Vietnamese citizenship for the child when registering birth with Vietnamese competent authorities according to the guidance of the Government. If children born on Vietnamese territory cannot reach an agreement on choosing citizenship with their parents, they shall have Vietnamese citizenship."

Article 19. Conditions for acquiring Vietnamese citizenship

"Article 19. Conditions for acquiring Vietnamese citizenship

a) Having full civil capacity as provided by Vietnamese law, except for minors applying for Vietnamese citizenship through their parents or minors having a Vietnamese citizen parent;

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

c) Knowing Vietnamese sufficiently to integrate into the Vietnamese community;

d) Being permanently resident in Vietnam;

đ) Having resided in Vietnam for five years or more up to the date of application for Vietnamese citizenship;

a) Having full civil capacity under Vietnamese law, except in cases where minors seek Vietnamese citizenship through their father or mother, or minors whose father or mother is a Vietnamese citizen;

2. A person seeking Vietnamese citizenship who has a spouse or biological child who is a Vietnamese citizen may acquire Vietnamese citizenship without having to meet the conditions set out in points c, d, and e of Clause 1 of this Article.

3. Applicants for Vietnamese citizenship falling into one of the following categories may acquire Vietnamese citizenship without meeting the conditions set out in points c, d, đ, and e of Clause 1 of this Article:

a) Having a father or mother or paternal grandfather and grandmother or maternal grandfather and grandmother who are Vietnamese citizens;

b) Having made special contributions to the cause of building and defending the Socialist Republic of Vietnam;

c) Being beneficial to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam;

3. A person seeking Vietnamese citizenship who falls into one of the following categories may acquire Vietnamese citizenship without having to meet the conditions set out in points c, d, and e of Clause 1 of this Article:

4. Applicants for Vietnamese citizenship must have a name in Vietnamese or another ethnic language of Vietnam. If an applicant for Vietnamese citizenship also applies to retain foreign citizenship, they may choose a combined name between the Vietnamese name and the foreign name. The chosen name shall be clearly stated in the Decision granting Vietnamese citizenship.

5. Applicants for Vietnamese citizenship shall not acquire Vietnamese citizenship if it would harm the national interests of Vietnam.

6. Applicants for Vietnamese citizenship specified in Clause 2 and Clause 3 of this Article may retain foreign citizenship if they meet the following conditions and are permitted by the President of the State:

4. A person seeking Vietnamese citizenship must have a name in Vietnamese or another ethnic language of Vietnam. If a person seeking Vietnamese citizenship also seeks to retain foreign citizenship, they may choose a combined name between their Vietnamese name and foreign name. The chosen name shall be clearly stated in the Decision granting Vietnamese citizenship.

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

7. The Government shall specify details of this Article."

6. Amending and supplementing certain points and clauses of Article 20 as follows:

a) Amending and supplementing point d of Clause 1 as follows:

b) Amend and supplement Clause 2 as follows:

"d) Documents proving judicial records issued by competent authorities of the country where the person seeking Vietnamese citizenship resides, in accordance with the laws of that country for the period of residence abroad. Such documents must not be older than 90 days from the date of submission;"

"2. Persons exempted from certain conditions for acquiring Vietnamese citizenship as stipulated in Clauses 2 and 3 of Article 19 of this Law shall be exempted from corresponding documents related to the exempted conditions."

7. Amending and supplementing certain clauses of Article 21 as follows:

"1. The person applying for Vietnamese nationality shall submit the application to the Department of Justice if residing within the country, or to the Vietnamese representative agency abroad if residing outside the country. In case the application does not contain all the required documents as stipulated in Clause 1, Article 20 of this Law or is not valid, the receiving authority shall immediately notify the applicant to supplement and complete the application."

"2. Within five working days from the date of receipt of a complete and valid application, the Department of Justice shall send a request to the provincial Public Security agency to verify the personal background of the applicant for Vietnamese nationality."

"Within thirty days from the date of receipt of the request from the Department of Justice, the provincial Public Security agency shall be responsible for verifying and sending the results to the Department of Justice. During this period, the Department of Justice must review the documents in the application for Vietnamese nationality."

Within five working days from the date of receipt of the verification results, the Department of Justice shall have the responsibility to complete the application and submit it to the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee.

Within five working days from the date of receipt of the request from the Department of Justice, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee shall have the responsibility to examine, conclude and propose opinions to the Ministry of Justice.

"2a. Within twenty days from the date of receipt of a complete and valid application, the Vietnamese representative agency abroad shall be responsible for reviewing the documents in the application for Vietnamese nationality and transferring the application along with a recommendation on the application for Vietnamese nationality to the Ministry of Justice; at the same time, it shall send information to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for coordination in performing state management functions regarding nationality."

"The Ministry of Public Security shall be responsible for verifying the personal background of the applicant for Vietnamese nationality upon the request of the Ministry of Justice."

b) Amend and supplement Clause 3 as follows:

"3. Within twenty days from the date of receipt of the recommendation of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee or the verification result from the Ministry of Public Security for applications sent by the Vietnamese representative agency abroad, the Ministry of Justice shall be responsible for rechecking the application. If it is found that the applicant meets the conditions for Vietnamese nationality, the Ministry of Justice shall issue a written notification to the applicant to proceed with the procedure to renounce foreign nationality, except in cases where the applicant requests to retain foreign nationality or is a stateless person."

"Within ten working days from the date of receipt of the certificate of renunciation of foreign nationality from the applicant for Vietnamese nationality, the Minister of Justice shall report to the Prime Minister for submission to the President for consideration and decision."

"In cases where the applicant for Vietnamese nationality requests to retain foreign nationality or is a stateless person, within twenty days from the date of receipt of the recommendation of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee or the verification result from the Ministry of Public Security for applications sent by the Vietnamese representative agency abroad, the Ministry of Justice shall be responsible for rechecking the application. If it is found that the applicant meets the conditions for Vietnamese nationality, the Ministry of Justice shall report to the Prime Minister for submission to the President for consideration and decision.”

"8. Amend and supplement the name of Article and some clauses of Article 23 as follows:"

a) Amend and supplement the name as follows:

"Article 23. Conditions for Reacquiring Vietnamese Nationality;"

b) Amend and supplement Clause 1 as follows:

"1. A person who has lost Vietnamese nationality according to the provisions of Article 26 of this Law may apply to reacquire Vietnamese nationality;"

"c) Amend and supplement Clauses 4, 5, and 6 as follows:"

"4. The person applying to reacquire Vietnamese nationality must restore their former Vietnamese name. In cases where the person applying to reacquire Vietnamese nationality also requests to retain foreign nationality, they may choose a combined name between the Vietnamese name and the foreign name. This name must be clearly stated in the Decision to Reacquire Vietnamese Nationality."

"5. The person applying to reacquire Vietnamese nationality may retain foreign nationality if they meet the following conditions and are permitted by the President:"

6. Applicants for Vietnamese citizenship specified in Clause 2 and Clause 3 of this Article may retain foreign citizenship if they meet the following conditions and are permitted by the President of the State:

4. A person seeking Vietnamese citizenship must have a name in Vietnamese or another ethnic language of Vietnam. If a person seeking Vietnamese citizenship also seeks to retain foreign citizenship, they may choose a combined name between their Vietnamese name and foreign name. The chosen name shall be clearly stated in the Decision granting Vietnamese citizenship.

6. The Government shall provide detailed regulations for this Article.”

"9. Amend and supplement some points of Clause 1, Article 24 as follows:"

"a) Amend and supplement Point d as follows:"

"d) Documents proving judicial record information issued by the competent authority of the foreign country in accordance with the laws of that country during the period when the person applying to reacquire Vietnamese nationality resided abroad. Such documents must not be more than ninety days old as of the date of submission of the application;"

"b) Repeal Point e."

"10. Amend and supplement Clause 3 and Clause 4 of Article 25 as follows:"

"3. Within twenty days from the date of receipt of a complete and valid application, the Vietnamese representative agency abroad shall be responsible for reviewing the documents in the application for reacquiring Vietnamese nationality and transferring the application along with a recommendation on the application for reacquiring Vietnamese nationality to the Ministry of Justice; at the same time, it shall send information to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for coordination in performing state management functions regarding nationality."

The Ministry of Public Security shall be responsible for verifying the identity of the person applying to return to Vietnamese nationality upon the request of the Ministry of Justice.

"4. Within twenty days from the date of receipt of the recommendation document of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee or from the date of receipt of the verification result from the Ministry of Public Security for applications sent by the Vietnamese representative agency abroad, the Ministry of Justice shall be responsible for rechecking the application. If it is found that the applicant meets the conditions for reacquiring Vietnamese nationality, the Ministry of Justice shall issue a written notification to the applicant to proceed with the procedure to renounce foreign nationality, except in cases where the applicant requests to retain foreign nationality or is a stateless person."

"Within ten working days from the date of receipt of the certificate of renunciation of foreign nationality from the applicant for reacquiring Vietnamese nationality, the Minister of Justice shall report to the Prime Minister for submission to the President for consideration and decision."

"In cases where the applicant for reacquiring Vietnamese nationality requests to retain foreign nationality or is a stateless person, within fifteen days from the date of receipt of the recommendation document of the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee or from the date of receipt of the verification result from the Ministry of Public Security for applications sent by the Vietnamese representative agency abroad, the Ministry of Justice shall be responsible for rechecking the application. If it is found that the applicant meets the conditions for reacquiring Vietnamese nationality, the Ministry of Justice shall report to the Prime Minister for submission to the President for consideration and decision.”

"11. Add Clause 2a after Clause 2 of Article 26 as follows:"

"2a. Revocation of the Decision to Grant Vietnamese Nationality, the Decision to Reacquire Vietnamese Nationality."

"12. Amend and supplement some points and clauses of Article 28 as follows:"

"a) Amend and supplement Point e of Clause 1 as follows:"

"e) Certificate of no tax arrears issued by the tax management agency where the person applying to renounce Vietnamese nationality resides;"

"b) Repeal Point d of Clause 1;

c) Amend and supplement Clause 2 as follows:

"2. In case a Vietnamese citizen does not reside within the country, they are not required to submit the documents specified in points e and g of Clause 1 of this Article."

13. Amend and supplement Clause 4 and Clause 5 of Article 29 as follows:

"4. Within twenty days from the date of receiving complete and valid application files, the Vietnamese representative office abroad shall be responsible for reviewing the documents in the application file for renunciation of Vietnamese nationality and transferring the file along with a recommendation regarding the application for renunciation of Vietnamese nationality to the Ministry of Justice; at the same time, send information to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for coordination in performing state management functions over nationality.

The Ministry of Public Security shall be responsible for verifying the personal background of the applicant for renunciation of Vietnamese nationality upon the request of the Ministry of Justice. For cases exempted from verification according to this Law, the Ministry of Justice may request the Ministry of Public Security to conduct verification if necessary.

5. Within twenty days from the date of receiving the proposal document from the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, the Vietnamese representative office abroad, or from the date of receiving the verification results from the Ministry of Public Security for cases requiring verification of personal background, the Ministry of Justice shall be responsible for rechecking the file. If it is determined that the applicant for renunciation of Vietnamese nationality meets the conditions for renunciation of Vietnamese nationality, the Ministry of Justice shall report to the Prime Minister for submission to the President for consideration and decision."

14. Amend and supplement the name of Section 4 of Chapter III as follows:

"Section 4

REVOCATION OF DECISIONS TO GRANT VIETNAMESE NATIONALITY AND DECISIONS TO REACQUIRE VIETNAMESE NATIONALITY"

15. Amend and supplement Article 33 and Article 34 as follows:

"Article 33. Grounds for revocation of decisions to grant Vietnamese nationality and decisions to reacquire Vietnamese nationality

1. A person who has acquired Vietnamese nationality or reacquired Vietnamese nationality pursuant to Articles 19 and 23 of this Law, residing either inside or outside the territory of Vietnam, shall have their decision to grant Vietnamese nationality or decision to reacquire Vietnamese nationality revoked when committing any of the following acts:

b) Exploiting the acquisition or restoration of Vietnamese nationality, or exploiting the retention of foreign nationality while acquiring or restoring Vietnamese nationality to harm the legitimate rights and interests of agencies, organizations, or individuals, or to endanger national security, interests, public order, and social safety of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

b) Exploiting the acquisition or reacquisition of Vietnamese nationality; exploiting the retention of foreign nationality while acquiring or reacquiring Vietnamese nationality to harm the legitimate rights and interests of agencies, organizations, or individuals, or to endanger national security, national interests, social order, and public safety of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

2. The revocation of the Decision on acquisition of Vietnamese nationality or the Decision on resumption of Vietnamese nationality of a spouse shall not affect the Vietnamese nationality of the other spouse.

Article 34. Procedures and formalities for revoking Decisions on granting Vietnamese citizenship, Decisions on restoring Vietnamese citizenship

1. Within fifteen days from the date of discovery or receipt of a complaint letter regarding the act stipulated in Clause 1 of Article 33 of this Law, the provincial People's Committee or the Vietnamese representative office abroad shall be responsible for investigating. If there is sufficient evidence, they shall establish a file and recommend to the President to revoke the decision to grant Vietnamese nationality or the decision to reacquire Vietnamese nationality of the person committing such act.

The court that has adjudicated against the defendant committing the act stipulated in Clause 1 of Article 33 of this Law shall establish a file and recommend to the President to revoke the decision to grant Vietnamese nationality or the decision to reacquire Vietnamese nationality of the person committing such act.

The Government shall specify in detail the documents in the dossier requesting the revocation of the Decision on granting Vietnamese citizenship, the Decision on restoring Vietnamese citizenship.

2. The dossier requesting the revocation of the Decision on granting Vietnamese citizenship, the Decision on restoring Vietnamese citizenship shall be sent to the Ministry of Justice.

Within fifteen days from the date of receipt of the recommendation file from the provincial People's Committee, the Vietnamese representative office abroad, or the court, the Ministry of Justice shall be responsible for reviewing the recommendation file for revocation of the decision to grant Vietnamese nationality or the decision to reacquire Vietnamese nationality and report to the Prime Minister for submission to the President for consideration and decision.

3. Within twenty days from the date of receipt of the proposal from the Prime Minister, the President shall consider and decide."

16. Amend and supplement Clause 1 and add Clause 1a after Clause 1 of Article 35 as follows:

"1. When there is a change in nationality due to the acquisition or reacquisition of Vietnamese nationality by the parents, the nationality of the minor child living with them shall also be changed accordingly.

1a. When there is a change in nationality due to the renunciation of Vietnamese nationality by the parents, the nationality of the minor child living with them shall also be changed accordingly, unless the parents have other requests."

17. Amend and supplement Article 36 as follows:

"Article 36. Nationality of a minor child when parents are deprived of Vietnamese nationality or their decisions to grant Vietnamese nationality or reacquire Vietnamese nationality are revoked

When one or both parents are deprived of Vietnamese nationality or their decisions to grant Vietnamese nationality or reacquire Vietnamese nationality are revoked, the nationality of the minor child shall not be changed."

18. Amend and supplement Article 38 as follows:

"Article 38. Duties and powers of the President regarding nationality

1. Deciding on granting Vietnamese nationality, reacquiring Vietnamese nationality, renouncing Vietnamese nationality, depriving of Vietnamese nationality, and revoking decisions to grant Vietnamese nationality or reacquire Vietnamese nationality.

2. Deciding on negotiating and signing international treaties on nationality in accordance with this Law and the Law on International Treaties."

19. Amend and supplement Clause 2 and add Clause 7 after Clause 6 of Article 39 as follows:

a) Amend and supplement Clause 2 as follows:

"2. Negotiating and signing international treaties or recommending to the President to decide on negotiating and signing international treaties on nationality in accordance with this Law and the Law on International Treaties."

b) Add Clause 7 after Clause 6 as follows:

"7. Based on economic and social conditions, needs, and capabilities of implementation during each period, the Government shall specify regulations on the handling of nationality application files through electronic means."

20. Amend and supplement Clause 4 and Clause 5 of Article 40 as follows:

"4. The provincial People's Committee shall be responsible for examining and proposing opinions on cases applying for Vietnamese nationality, reacquiring Vietnamese nationality, renouncing Vietnamese nationality, depriving of Vietnamese nationality, and revoking decisions to grant Vietnamese nationality or reacquire Vietnamese nationality as prescribed by this Law; annually, compiling statistics on nationality matters resolved to report to the Ministry of Justice."

5. The Vietnamese representative agencies abroad are responsible for examining and proposing opinions on cases of application for Vietnamese citizenship, reacquiring Vietnamese citizenship, renouncing Vietnamese citizenship, depriving Vietnamese citizenship, and revoking Decisions to grant Vietnamese citizenship and Decisions to reacquire Vietnamese citizenship; annually, they shall compile statistics on matters related to Vietnamese citizenship that have been resolved to report to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice."

21. Amend and supplement Article 41 as follows:

"Article 41. Notification and publication of results of matters concerning citizenship

The Ministry of Justice is responsible for sending the results of matters concerning citizenship to the People's Committee of the province or Vietnamese representative agencies abroad to notify the applicant and publish on the Ministry of Justice's electronic information website."

Article 2. Implementation clause

1. This Law shall take effect from July 1, 2025.

2. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies, and relevant agencies shall review; amend and supplement within their authority or propose competent agencies to amend and supplement legal normative documents containing provisions related to the rights and obligations of Vietnamese citizens who also hold foreign citizenship (if applicable) within two years from the date this Law takes effect.

Article 3. Transitional Provisions

Applications for Vietnamese citizenship, reacquiring Vietnamese citizenship, and renouncing Vietnamese citizenship received before the effective date of this Law shall be processed in accordance with the provisions of this Law.

This Law was adopted by the National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, term XV, Ninth Session on the date June 24, 2025.