VN changes dual citizenship guidelines

[ScottThuy 140]

New law spells out criteria for dual citizenship

Former Brazilian Huynh Kesley obtained Vietnamese citizenship to play for Vietnam’s national team

Certain foreigners and overseas Vietnamese can apply for dual citizenship under the amended Vietnamese Nationality Law that takes effect tomorrow.

Under the amended law, foreigners applying for dual citizenship would have to be approved by the Vietnamese president with an additional condition – for instance marrying a Vietnamese citizen.

Other conditions include having Vietnamese parents or children; having contributed to the country’s development or defense; or those whose citizenship would benefit the country.

These categories of foreigners would be exempt from some Vietnamese citizenship criteria, such as being able to speak Vietnamese, residing in the country for at least five years, and being able to show a stable income in Vietnam.

Another change in the law states all foreigners being granted Vietnamese citizenship must adopt a Vietnamese name.

NEW REGULATIONS

Among several laws taking effect tomorrow, the revised Road Traffic Law stipulates the area for traffic in new urban areas to be at least 16-26 percent of the total area.

The Civil Verdict Enforcement Law will allow several localities to set up civil enforcement agencies to serve subpoenas, record evidence, and enforce civil court orders.

The agencies will be overseen by government agencies but will generate their own income.

The amended law also permits people of unidentified nationality to apply for Vietnamese citizenship if they have resided permanently in the country for 20 years or more before July 1 this year, and have not violated Vietnamese laws.

The current law which came into force in 1998 states that foreigners or overseas Vietnamese would have to forgo their foreign citizenship before being granted citizenship in Vietnam.

Regaining Vietnamese citizenship

Overseas Vietnamese and those of previous Vietnamese nationality will also be allowed to hold dual citizenship under the amended law.

Earlier, citizens automatically lost their Vietnamese citizenship once they received nationality in another country. The amended law states overseas Vietnamese whose nationalities have not yet been revoked or lost would be deemed to be Vietnamese citizens.

To have their Vietnamese nationality officially recognized, they need to register with Vietnamese representative offices abroad within five years from July 1 this year.

Those who denounced their citizen or had it stripped were also eligible for Vietnamese citizenry under the same criteria as foreigners.

Around three million Vietnamese now live abroad, mostly in the US, Europe, Canada and Australia.

Other laws that will take effect tomorrow include the revised Road Traffic Law, Health Insurance Law, Civil Verdicts Enforcement Law, Biodiversity Law and High-Tech Law.

[Dau Que 6]

Viet Cong (Vnese Communist) has laws? That's news to me!

[JimVaPhuong 4,863]

Viet Cong (Vnese Communist) has laws? That's news to me!

I don't get it.

[ScottThuy 140]

Viet Cong (Vnese Communist) has laws? That's news to me!

I don't get it.

Yeah I know.. they have more laws than I can keep track of without living there.