Is the Head of the Notary Office an Official?

According to Clause 2, Article 19 of the Law on Notarization 2014: "The Notary Office is a public service provider under the Department of Justice, with its own headquarters, seal, and account."

According to Clause 2, Article 4 of the Law on Cadres and Officials 2008, the subjects that are considered officials are as follows:

An official is a Vietnamese citizen, recruited and appointed to a rank, position, or title in the agencies of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the State, socio-political organizations at the central, provincial, and district levels; in agencies and units under the People's Army that are not officers, professional soldiers, or defense workers; in agencies and units under the People's Police that are not officers, professional non-commissioned officers, and within the leadership and management of public service providers of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the State, socio-political organizations (hereinafter referred to as public service providers), within the payroll and receiving a salary from the state budget; for officials in the leadership and management of public service providers, the salary is ensured from the salary fund of the public service provider under the provisions of the law.

=> Thus, according to the information you provided, you are the head of the Notary Office, and the Notary Office is a public service provider, so you are an official. However, according to Clause 1, Article 1 of the amended Law on Cadres, Officials, and Law on Public Employees 2019 (effective from July 1, 2020), the management of public service providers is no longer considered officials.

The editorial board informs you.