6 Conditions for Laotian Nationals to Obtain Vietnamese Citizenship

Conditions for Lao people to acquire Vietnamese nationality (Illustrative image)

Circular 03/2015/TT-BTP stipulates that Lao migrants to districts of Vietnam bordering the Vietnam-Laos national border, under the provisions of Clause 1 Article 3 of the Agreement approved by the Head of the Vietnamese border delegation (hereinafter referred to as permitted Lao migrants), if they wish and meet the following conditions, are considered for Vietnamese nationality:

1. Voluntarily have a written application for Vietnamese nationality;

2. Voluntarily comply with the Constitution and laws of Vietnam;

3. Not violate criminal law;

4. Have a stable life, own fixed assets, and have farming land in the place of residence;

5. Not be wanted or serving a sentence under Vietnamese law;

6. Have a Vietnamese name. This name is chosen by the applicant for Vietnamese nationality and clearly stated in the application for Vietnamese nationality.

The circular explains that Lao people are those who have Laotian nationality or of Laotian origin, migrating from Laos to live in Vietnamese border districts adjacent to Laos, and have not been issued documents on nationality, civil status, and other documents by the competent authorities of Vietnam according to regulations.

In addition, the notification of the list of Vietnamese people acquiring Laotian nationality must comply with the following regulations:

- Within 03 working days from the date of receiving the notification from the Laotian side and the list of Vietnamese people acquiring Laotian nationality, the Head of the Vietnamese border delegation sends to the Ministry of Justice a copy of the decision from the competent Laotian authority accompanied by the list of Vietnamese people acquiring Laotian nationality.

- Within 05 working days from the date of receiving the copy of the decision and the list of Vietnamese people acquiring Laotian nationality, the Ministry of Justice must report to the Government of Vietnam to submit it to the President and update the database of those who renounced/lost Vietnamese nationality at the Ministry of Justice.

Details can be found at Circular 03/2015/TT-BTP, effective from May 16, 2015

Le Hai

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