A reader reached out to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper with the following inquiry:

“My 21-year-old daughter was born and raised in France. Her father is French, and I still hold Vietnamese citizenship. She wants to apply for Vietnamese citizenship while retaining her French nationality. Is this possible, and what are the requirements and procedures?”

Lawyer Le Van Hoan from the Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association responds:

According to Article 19 of the Vietnamese Nationality Law:

1. Foreign citizens and stateless individuals residing in Vietnam who apply for Vietnamese nationality may be granted it if they meet the following conditions:

a) They have full legal capacity under Vietnamese law.

b) They comply with the Constitution and laws of Vietnam, and respect the traditions, customs, and practices of the Vietnamese people.

c) They can speak Vietnamese well enough to integrate into the Vietnamese community.

d) They have resided in Vietnam for at least five years prior to their application for Vietnamese nationality.

đ) They have the means to support themselves in Vietnam.

2. Individuals applying for Vietnamese nationality may be granted it without meeting conditions (c), (d), and (đ) if they fall into one of the following categories:

a) They are the spouse, parent, or child of a Vietnamese citizen.

b) They have made significant contributions to the construction and defense of Vietnam.

c) Their naturalization is beneficial to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

3. Individuals who acquire Vietnamese nationality must renounce their foreign nationality, except for those in the cases outlined in clause 2 of this article or special cases approved by the state president.

In your daughter’s case, she may apply for Vietnamese nationality without renouncing her French citizenship.

Required documents for applying for Vietnamese nationality include:

a) An application form for Vietnamese nationality.

b) A copy of her birth certificate, passport, or other valid documents.

c) A personal history form.

d) A criminal record certificate issued by Vietnamese authorities for the period she has resided in Vietnam, or by the relevant foreign authorities for the period she has resided abroad. The certificate must be issued within 90 days of the application submission.

Applicants must submit their documents to the Department of Justice in their place of residence.

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