How to Get Vietnam Citizenship
Key facts
- Residence for naturalisation
- 5 years
- Language
- Required, no test
- Dual citizenship
- Citizens abroad only
- Civic test
- Required, no test specified
- Criminal record
- No criminal record condition in the law
- Income condition
- Income or economic resources must be shown
- Dual citizenship in detail
- Partly accepted: for citizens who naturalise abroad onlyNew citizens must give up their previous citizenship.Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship.
- Available routes
- Region
- Asia
- Law in force as of
- 1 January 2024
- Last checked
- Not yet checked by our team
The rule text in the sections below was coded for the law on 1 January 2024. A November 2026 search found no later change for this country, but this has not been verified.
Naturalisation (residence)
This route covers foreign residents who seek citizenship after living in Vietnam, subject to the conditions below. Vietnam allows authorities to refuse an application, even where conditions have been met.
- Residence
- 5 years
Person has been resident in Vietnam for 5 years.
- Previous citizenship
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship
Renunciation of citizenship of another country required (permission for retention of citizenship can be granted).
- Language
- Required, no test or certificate specified
Sufficient knowledge of the Vietnamese language to allow for integration into society
- Civic knowledge
- Required, no test specified
Obey the Constitution and laws and respect the traditions, customs and practices of Vietnam, having a Vietnamese name.
- Criminal record
- No criminal record condition in the law
- Income or economic resources
- Income or economic resources must be shown
Be capable of making a livelihood in the country
Marriage or civil partnership
This route covers people married to a citizen of Vietnam, subject to the conditions below. Vietnam allows authorities to refuse an application, even where conditions have been met.
Person is the spouse of a citizen. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (but requirements relating to language, residence and ability to make a livelihood do not have to be fully met).
Descent (citizen parent)
Descent from a citizen parent is the basis of this route in Vietnam. No authority decides this matter, since citizenship follows directly from the law of Vietnam.
Descent (born in country)
Person is born in Vietnam to two citizens, to a citizen and a parent who is stateless, or to a mother who is a citizen and the father is unknown. If one parent is a citizen and the other parent is a citizen of another country, the child acquires Vietnamese citizenship if the parents agree in writing, but also if they do not reach agreement.
Descent (born abroad)
Person is born abroad to two citizens, to a citizen and the other parent is stateless, or to a mother who is a citizen and the father is unknown. If one parent is a citizen and the other parent is a citizen of another country, the child acquires Vietnamese citizenship if the parents agree in writing, but also if they do not reach agreement.
Child of a new citizen
For children whose parent becomes a citizen of Vietnam, the rules below set out what applies.
Transfer to a child
Person is the natural child of a citizen. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (but requirements relating to language, residence and ability to make a livelihood do not have to be fully met).
Child coacquisition
Person is a minor living with his/her parents, and both parents acquire citizenship by naturalisation or restoration. In case only one parent acquires citizenship, the child will acquire citizenship if the parents agree in writing. In case no agreement is reached, the child will acquire citizenship if s/he lives with parent who acquires citizenship. Consent is required if the child is between the age of 15-18.
Adoption
Adoption by a citizen of Vietnam is the basis of this route.
Person is a minor who is adopted by a citizen. Consent is required if child is between the age of 15-18.
Person is a minor who is adopted by a citizen while the other adopting parent is a citizen of another country. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (except requirements relating to full capacity, respect for the law, Vietnamese language, residence and livelihood). Consent is required if child is between the age of 15-22
Other family members of citizens
For certain relatives of citizens, former citizens or new citizens of Vietnam, the rules below set out what applies. Vietnam allows authorities to refuse an application, even where conditions have been met.
Person is the natural parent of a citizen. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (but requirements relating to language, residence and ability to make a livelihood do not have to be fully met).
Former citizens (reacquisition)
For former citizens of Vietnam, the rules below show when citizenship can be reacquired. Vietnam allows authorities to refuse an application, even where conditions have been met.
Person lost citizenship other than by mode L09 and falls in any of the following categories: has applied for permission to return to Vietnam, his/her spouse, natural parent or natural offspring is a citizen, has made a meritorious contribution to Vietnam's national construction and defense, has helped the Vietnamese State, has invested in Vietnam, or has renounced citizenship to acquire citizenship of another country but this acquisition has not materialised. Other conditions: renunciation of citizenship of another country (with exceptions for some of the abovementioned categories). Reacquisition will be withheld if this would be detrimental to Vietnam's national interests. In case citizenship was previously withdrawn, the person can only apply for reacquisition after 5 years from the moment citizenship was lost.
Stateless persons
This route covers stateless people and children who would otherwise be stateless, subject to the conditions below.
Foundlings
Person is a newborn or child found in Vietnam of unknown parentage.
Otherwise stateless (born in country)
Person is born in Vietnam to parents who are both stateless and have permanent residence in the country, or the child is born in Vietnam to a mother who is stateless and has permanent residence in the country and the father is unknown.
Stateless persons
Person is stateless, lacks personal identification papers, has been stably residing in Vietnam for 20 years, and respects the Constitution and laws of Vietnam.
Special achievements
Special achievements, or a national interest in granting citizenship, are the basis of this route in Vietnam. Vietnam allows authorities to refuse an application, even where conditions have been met.
Person has made meritorious contributions to Vietnam's national construction and defense. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (but requirements relating to language, residence and ability to make a livelihood do not have to be fully met).
Public or military service
For people with public or military service for Vietnam, the rules below set out what applies. Vietnam allows authorities to refuse an application, even where conditions have been met.
Person has been helpful to the Vietnamese State. Other conditions: see the rules for ordinary naturalisation (but requirements relating to language, residence and ability to make a livelihood do not have to be fully met).
Not available in Vietnam: Birth in the country, Citizens of specific countries, Ethnic or cultural affinity, Residence during childhood, Very long residence, Refugees, Investment. This follows the GLOBALCIT coding, with in-force changes applied.
Dual citizenship
The two directions differ in Vietnam: citizens who naturalise abroad are treated differently from new citizens.
- New citizens
- New citizens must give up their previous citizenship
- Citizens who naturalise abroad
- Citizens who naturalise abroad keep their citizenship
Compare with neighbours
Under the law of Vietnam, 5 years applies, which is shorter than the usual 10 years seen in South-eastern Asia.
Check where Vietnam sits in the full residence ranking
| Country | Residence | Language | Dual citizenship |
|---|---|---|---|
 Cambodia | 7 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Indonesia | 5 years | Required, no test | Not accepted |
 Laos | 10 years | Required, no test | Citizens abroad only |
 Malaysia | 10 years | Required, no test | New citizens only |
 Philippines | 10 years | Required, no test | Accepted |
 Thailand | 5 years | Required, no test | New citizens only |
Official sources
This page was located by search and has not yet been checked by our team.
Naturalisation provisions: Nationality law: Art. 19.
Cite this page
TravelDecl. (n.d.). How to Get Vietnam Citizenship. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/vietnam/
<a href="https://traveldecl.com/citizenship/vietnam/">How to Get Vietnam Citizenship</a> (TravelDecl, retrieved 5 November 2026)
Sources and licence
Vink, van der Baaren, Bauböck, Džankić, Honohan, Manby (2025). GLOBALCIT Citizenship Law Dataset v3.1. Global Citizenship Observatory, https://hdl.handle.net/1814/73190. CC BY 4.0. Modified by TravelDecl.
Modified by TravelDecl: updated with changes after 1 January 2024.
GLOBALCIT codes the law as written. Fees, processing times, quotas and how officials apply the rules in practice are not in this dataset: check them with the official authority.
FAQ
How many years to become a Vietnamese citizen?
Ordinary naturalisation in Vietnam requires 5 years of residence, plus the other conditions in the law.
Does Vietnam allow dual citizenship?
Partly. Vietnam accepts it for citizens who naturalise abroad, but not generally for new citizens.
Do I need a language test for Vietnamese citizenship?
The law of Vietnam mentions a language requirement without pointing to a specific exam.
Is there a civic knowledge test for Vietnamese citizenship?
Applicants are expected to have civic knowledge, though Vietnam sets out no particular test.
Do I have to give up my current citizenship to get Vietnamese citizenship?
The law of Vietnam requires renunciation of your current citizenship.
Can I get Vietnam citizenship by marriage?
Yes. Marriage to a citizen is a route to citizenship in Vietnam. Procedure: discretionary.
Can I get Vietnam citizenship by descent?
Yes, Vietnam has a descent route. Procedure: automatic.
Can I get Vietnam citizenship by investment?
No. The data codes no citizenship-by-investment route for Vietnam.
Related pages
Also see: Vietnam passport, visa-free access and entry rules. Latest law changes.
Corrections to this page are handled by Sarah Kim, Fact-Checker.