How long can undergraduate students be deferred from military service in Vietnam? What is the application form for temporary deferment of military service for students in Vietnam?

How long can undergraduate students be deferred from military service in Vietnam?

Based on the provisions of Article 41 of the Military Service Law 2015 (supplemented by point c, clause 1, Article 49 of the Militia and Self-Defense Law 2019):

Deferral and Exemption from Military Service

1. Deferral from military service for the following citizens:

a) Those who are not fit for service according to conclusions by the Health Examination Council;

b) The sole laborer directly supporting dependents who are unable to work or underage; in families suffering significant loss of life and property due to accidents, natural disasters, or dangerous epidemics confirmed by the commune-level People's Committee;

c) One child of war invalids, persons exposed to Agent Orange with a work capability reduction of 61% to 80%;

d) Those with siblings serving as non-commissioned officers or soldiers in the military; non-commissioned officers or soldiers performing duties in the People's Public Security;

dd) Individuals in migration, rural dispersal areas within the first 3 years in especially difficult communes according to State socio-economic development projects decided by the provincial People's Committee or higher;

e) Officials and public employees, youth volunteers dispatched to regions with especially difficult socio-economic conditions as regulated by law;

g) Those currently studying at general schools; those enrolled in regular full-time university programs at a higher education institution, regular full-time college programs at vocational education institutions, during the duration of one level of education.

h) Regular militia members.

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2. Exemption from military service for the following citizens:

a) Children of martyrs, children of first-degree war invalids;

b) One brother or sister of martyrs;

c) One child of second-degree war invalids; one child of affected with an 81% or more work capability reduction due to Agent Orange;

d) Persons working in critical encrypted positions who are not military personnel, People's Public Security;

đ) Officials and public employees, youth volunteers dispatched to regions with especially difficult socio-economic conditions as regulated by law for 24 months or more.

3. Citizens eligible for deferral as stipulated in clause 1 of this Article, if not satisfying the conditions for deferral, shall be enlisted.

Citizens eligible for deferral or exemption as stipulated in clauses 1 and 2 of this Article, if willing, may be considered for selection and conscription.

4. The list of citizens eligible for deferral or exemption must be publicly posted at the headquarters of the commune-level People's Committee, agencies, and organizations for a period of 20 days.

Undergraduate students, when studying at an educational institution as per the regulation above, are only eligible for deferral of military service in Vietnam.

According to Article 30 of the Military Service Law 2015, the age for military service enlistment is as follows:

Age for Military Enlistment

Citizens at the age of 18 can be enlisted; the age for enlistment is from 18 to the end of 25; citizens trained at the college or university level who have been deferred can be enlisted up to the age of 27.

Therefore, citizens who are undergraduate or college students deferred from military service may be enlisted up to the age of 27.

Consequently, when undergraduate students graduate and are still within the enlistment age, meeting the criteria for selection, they must fulfill military service obligations, regardless of their employment status.

How long can undergraduate students be deferred from military service in Vietnam? What is the application form for temporary deferment of military service for students in Vietnam?​ (Image from the Internet)

What is the template for Student’s Military Service Deferral Application?

Students enrolled in regular full-time university programs at higher education institutions are eligible for military service deferral under point g, clause 1, Article 41 of the Military Service Law 2015.

To be granted military service deferral for university attendance, students need to submit a deferral application using the sample below:

Download the Military Service Deferral Application Template for university attendance.

Who has the authority to defer military service for university attendance in Vietnam?

Article 42 of the Military Service Law 2015 specifies the authority to decide on deferral, exemption, and recognition of completed military service duties as follows:

Authority to Decide on Deferral, Exemption, and Recognition of Completed Military Service Duties

1. The Chairperson of the district-level People's Committee decides on deferral and exemption for citizens specified in Article 41 of this Law.

2. The Chief Commander of the district-level Military Command decides on the recognition of completed military service for citizens specified in clause 4, Article 4 of this Law.

Thus, the Chairperson of the district-level People's Committee holds the authority to grant deferral for students to attend university.