Viet Nam's National Assembly has unanimously approved groundbreaking amendments to the Law on Vietnamese Nationality, allowing foreigners married to Vietnamese citizens to obtain citizenship without meeting previous residency, language proficiency, or financial requirements.
The revised law extends eligibility to foreign nationals and stateless persons who have Vietnamese spouses, children, parents, or grandparents, eliminating the previous mandatory five-year residency requirement that made naturalization difficult for many applicants.
Minister of Justice Nguyễn Hải Ninh explained that the government aims to attract more skilled professionals, investors, scientists, and experts to Viet Nam, stating "The goal is to encourage integration while supporting national development."
In a historic shift, Viet Nam will now allow some applicants to retain dual citizenship if they have Vietnamese relatives and receive presidential approval, with applications accepted through Vietnamese embassies and consulates worldwide.
The new legislation also introduces flexible naming conventions, permitting dual citizens to combine Vietnamese names with their original names in official citizenship documents, reflecting Viet Nam's increasing global integration and modernization efforts.
