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Dual Citizenship: Conditional Asia

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Vietnam

Last Updated: 2026-03-31

Official Portal: Ministry of Justice — Department of Nationality

Embassy Finder: Vietnamese Diplomatic Missions

Quick Facts

CategoryDetails
Residency for naturalization5 years of continuous residence in Vietnam
Language requirementSufficient knowledge of Vietnamese to integrate into Vietnamese society
Civics testNo formal examination; understanding of Vietnamese law and Constitution is assessed
Processing time6—18 months (presidential decree required for approval)
Naturalization feeVND 3,000,000 (approximately USD 120)
Dual citizenshipConditional — the 2008 law introduced limited recognition; overseas Vietnamese may retain foreign nationality upon resuming Vietnamese nationality
Citizenship by birth in VietnamYes, both jus soli (in certain cases) and jus sanguinis
Citizenship by descentYes, through either parent who is a Vietnamese citizen
Governing lawLaw on Vietnamese Nationality No. 24/2008/QH12 (2008, amended 2014)

Dual Citizenship — Conditional

Vietnam’s position on dual citizenship shifted significantly with the 2008 Law on Vietnamese Nationality, which replaced the highly restrictive 1998 law.

Historical position: Vietnam traditionally followed the principle of single nationality (mot quoc tich). The 1998 law strictly prohibited dual citizenship and required renunciation of Vietnamese nationality upon acquiring foreign nationality.

2008 law reforms: The 2008 law softened the approach while maintaining the principle of single nationality as the default:

  1. Overseas Vietnamese (Viet Kieu): Former Vietnamese citizens who lost nationality by acquiring foreign citizenship may apply to resume Vietnamese nationality without renouncing their foreign citizenship, at the discretion of the President. This is the most significant change and was specifically designed for the estimated 4—5 million overseas Vietnamese (especially in the United States, France, Australia, and Canada).

  2. Children of mixed parentage: A child born to one Vietnamese parent and one foreign parent may hold both nationalities. Vietnam does not require these children to choose.

  3. Naturalized citizens: Foreign nationals who naturalize in Vietnam must generally renounce their original nationality. However, the President may grant exceptions on a case-by-case basis “where the renunciation of foreign nationality is not feasible or the renunciation would affect the legitimate interests of the applicant.”

  4. Treaties: Vietnam respects bilateral agreements on nationality. The 1981 treaty with Laos and the treaty with Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic/Slovakia) addressed dual nationality for persons of mixed Vietnamese-Lao or Vietnamese-Czech origin.

In practice: The dual citizenship framework is executive-driven. The President of Vietnam must personally sign every naturalization and nationality resumption decision. This makes the process slow but allows for pragmatic flexibility, particularly for overseas Vietnamese whose investment and remittances are economically important.

Acquisition of Nationality

By Birth (Jus Sanguinis and Conditional Jus Soli)

Jus sanguinis: A child born to at least one Vietnamese parent acquires Vietnamese nationality at birth, regardless of where the child is born.

Jus soli (conditional): A child born on Vietnamese territory acquires Vietnamese nationality if:

  • Both parents are stateless persons who have permanent residence in Vietnam.
  • The mother is a Vietnamese citizen and the father is unknown (the child takes Vietnamese nationality regardless).
  • The child is found in Vietnam and both parents are unknown (foundling provision).

By Descent

Children born abroad to Vietnamese parents are Vietnamese citizens from birth. Parents should register the birth at a Vietnamese embassy or consulate. There is no generational limit in the statute, but practical documentation challenges arise for subsequent generations.

By Adoption

A child under 15 adopted by a Vietnamese citizen acquires Vietnamese nationality. If the child is adopted by a couple where one spouse is Vietnamese and one is foreign, the parents may agree that the child holds Vietnamese nationality. If adopted by foreign nationals, the child retains Vietnamese nationality unless the adoptive parents request otherwise.

By Marriage

Marriage to a Vietnamese citizen does not automatically confer nationality. A foreign spouse may apply for naturalization with no reduced residency requirement. In practice, being married to a Vietnamese citizen is considered a favorable factor.

By Naturalization

RequirementDetails
Residency5 years of continuous residence in Vietnam
AgeAt least 18 years old
LanguageSufficient knowledge of Vietnamese
CharacterRespect for the Constitution and laws of Vietnam; good moral character
LivelihoodAbility to support oneself in Vietnam
RenunciationMust renounce foreign nationality (unless exempted by the President)
Reduced requirementsAvailable for: spouses of Vietnamese citizens, persons of Vietnamese descent, persons who have made contributions to Vietnam’s construction and defense, scientists and persons with special skills
ApprovalRequires a presidential decree (signed by the President of Vietnam)
FeeVND 3,000,000

Loss and Renunciation

Voluntary Renunciation

A Vietnamese citizen may renounce nationality by application to the President (through the Ministry of Justice). Conditions for approval:

  1. Must be at least 18 years old.
  2. Must not owe any tax debts or obligations to the state.
  3. Must not be a defendant in criminal proceedings.
  4. Must not be under an unexpired criminal sentence.
  5. Must not hold a public office or be a member of the armed forces.

Renunciation requires a presidential decree and typically takes 6—12 months.

Involuntary Loss

  • Revocation: Vietnamese nationality may be revoked by the President if it was obtained through fraud or if a naturalized citizen commits an act seriously harmful to national security.
  • There is no automatic loss of Vietnamese nationality upon acquiring a foreign nationality (under the 2008 law). However, the 2008 law is ambiguous on this point, and in practice, Vietnamese citizens who naturalize abroad are often treated as having lost Vietnamese nationality unless they specifically apply for resumption.

Restoration of Nationality

Former Vietnamese citizens may apply for resumption of Vietnamese nationality under Article 23 of the 2008 law. This is the primary pathway for Viet Kieu:

  1. Application is submitted to the Ministry of Justice (or Vietnamese embassy/consulate abroad).
  2. The applicant must demonstrate prior Vietnamese nationality.
  3. Sufficient knowledge of Vietnamese language and customs.
  4. The President may exempt the applicant from renouncing their current foreign nationality.
  5. Requires a presidential decree.

Since 2008, this pathway has been used extensively by overseas Vietnamese seeking to restore their ties to Vietnam, particularly for property ownership, business activities, and family connections.

Stateless Persons and Foundlings

The 2008 law provides that a child found on Vietnamese territory whose parents are both unknown is a Vietnamese citizen. If one parent is subsequently identified as a foreign national, the child’s nationality may be reconsidered.

Children born in Vietnam to stateless parents who have permanent residence in Vietnam acquire Vietnamese nationality.

Vietnam is a party to the 1954 Convention Relating to the Status of Stateless Persons but is not a party to the 1961 Convention on the Reduction of Statelessness.

Document Checklist

Nationality application form (obtained from the Ministry of Justice or Vietnamese embassy)

Valid passport (foreign or previous Vietnamese)

Birth certificate (original or certified copy, translated into Vietnamese)

Criminal record check (from country of current residence, apostilled and translated)

Proof of residence in Vietnam (temporary or permanent residence certificate)

Marriage certificate (if applicable, translated into Vietnamese)

Proof of Vietnamese language proficiency (certificate or interview-based assessment)

Proof of income or livelihood in Vietnam

Two passport-sized photographs (4x6 cm, white background)

Document proving prior Vietnamese nationality (for resumption applicants — old passport, birth certificate, household registration)

Renunciation certificate from current country of nationality (unless exempted)

Application fee payment receipt (VND 3,000,000)

Sources

  1. Law on Vietnamese Nationality No. 24/2008/QH12 — As amended by Law No. 56/2014/QH13. https://moj.gov.vn/

  2. Ministry of Justice — Nationality registration and processing. https://moj.gov.vn/

  3. Ministry of Foreign Affairs — Consular services and Vietnamese missions abroad. https://www.mofa.gov.vn/

  4. National Assembly of Vietnam — Legislative texts. https://quochoi.vn/

  5. Committee on Overseas Vietnamese (State Committee) — Policies for Viet Kieu. https://www.quehuong.org.vn/

  6. Henley Passport Index — Vietnam passport ranking. https://www.henleypassportindex.com/

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