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Proposed relaxation of policies on acquiring and regaining Vietnamese nationality

At the 9th session of the National Assembly on May 17, Minister of Justice Nguyễn Hải Ninh presented the draft law amending and supplementing several provisions of the Law on Vietnamese Nationality. The draft consists of three articles, revising or supplementing 19 out of 44 articles and abolishing one article, with changes focused on naturalization, restoration, and renunciation of Vietnamese nationality.

Two key policy adjustments
The draft outlines two main directions. First, easing rules on acquiring Vietnamese nationality for those with Vietnamese parents or grandparents, as well as foreign investors, scientists, and experts, thereby broadening eligibility. Second, simplifying conditions for regaining nationality for those who have previously lost Vietnamese nationality.

The draft also reaffirms that Vietnam recognizes only Vietnamese nationality when dealing with its citizens who hold multiple nationalities, except where international treaties stipulate otherwise. Minister Ninh emphasized this aims to reinforce sovereignty, highlight the importance of Vietnamese nationality, and ensure consistency in applying laws to dual nationals.

In addition, the Ministry of Public Security will take responsibility for verifying personal identity in all applications for naturalization, restoration, or renunciation of nationality submitted through Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad.

Ensuring children’s nationality rights
The draft adds provisions guaranteeing the right to Vietnamese nationality for children with one Vietnamese parent and one foreign parent. These children will obtain Vietnamese nationality if their parents agree to register this choice at the time of birth registration with a competent Vietnamese authority. This change aligns with the policy of relaxing naturalization rules and facilitates recognition of children with Vietnamese lineage.

Restriction on dual nationality for certain positions
A notable proposal requires that individuals running for election, holding office, or being appointed to state agencies, political organizations, or socio-political organizations—at both central and local levels—must hold only Vietnamese nationality and reside permanently in Vietnam. The same applies to those working in public service units, the armed forces, or cryptography agencies, unless exceptions serve national interests.

The Government argues that this safeguard protects national security and ensures loyalty among public officials. The National Assembly’s Law and Justice Committee largely agreed but advised cautious application, suggesting exceptions be limited to cases where talent recruitment in specific sectors is needed.

Streamlining administrative procedures
The draft removes the requirement for a Vietnamese-issued criminal record certificate in naturalization, restoration, or renunciation applications, since the police will verify personal background directly. However, applicants must still provide foreign criminal record documents from countries where they previously resided, to prove good conduct. These will be renamed “documents proving judicial record information issued by competent foreign authorities” to allow flexibility in practice.

Context and current situation
The overseas Vietnamese community numbers around six million across more than 130 countries and territories. By March 2025, 229,336 people had been approved to renounce Vietnamese nationality. Recently, more countries have adopted dual nationality policies, leading many former Vietnamese nationals—who gave up nationality to naturalize elsewhere—to seek restoration of Vietnamese nationality while keeping their foreign citizenship.

So far, the President of Vietnam has approved the restoration of Vietnamese nationality for 311 individuals, 20 of whom also retained foreign nationality. Additionally, 7,014 people have been granted Vietnamese nationality, with 60 allowed to hold both Vietnamese and foreign citizenship.

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