5 Conditions for Individuals Seeking Dual Citizenship

From March 20, individuals seeking Vietnamese citizenship without renouncing their foreign nationality must meet five conditions as stipulated by law.

According to Decree 16/2020 issued by the Government, which details and guides the implementation of the Law on Nationality, these conditions include:

1. Vietnamese language proficiency: Applicants must demonstrate the ability to listen, speak, read, and write in Vietnamese appropriate to their living and working environment in Vietnam.
2. Permanent residency card: Applicants must have been issued a Permanent Residency Card by a competent Vietnamese police authority.
3. Self-sufficiency: Applicants must prove their ability to sustain themselves in Vietnam through legal assets, lawful income, or sponsorship by an organization or individual in Vietnam.
4. Contributions to Vietnam: Applicants must have made significant contributions to the building and defense of the nation. Additionally, the dual nationality must bring benefits to Vietnam.
5. Foreign law compliance: Retaining foreign nationality while acquiring Vietnamese citizenship must comply with the laws of the foreign country, and renouncing foreign nationality could negatively impact their rights in that country.

In addition, individuals applying for Vietnamese citizenship must not use their foreign nationality to negatively impact Vietnam’s interests, security, or social order.

The decree also stipulates that individuals who have renounced Vietnamese nationality and wish to reacquire it while retaining their foreign nationality must meet the same five conditions as those applying for citizenship for the first time.

The provision allowing Vietnamese citizens to hold dual nationality was added to the Law on Nationality by the National Assembly and has been in effect since July 1, 2009. However, current legal regulations only apply to specific exceptions, such as individuals granted permission by the President, those seeking to regain Vietnamese citizenship, overseas Vietnamese who have acquired foreign nationality but wish to retain their Vietnamese nationality, and adopted children.