Naturalized Vietnamese Citizenship: Retaining Malaysian Citizenship?
Based on Article 19 of the 2008 Vietnamese Nationality Law stipulating the conditions for acquiring Vietnamese nationality
- Foreign nationals and stateless persons who are permanently residing in Vietnam and apply for Vietnamese nationality may be granted Vietnamese nationality if they meet the following conditions:
a) Have full civil act capacity as prescribed by Vietnamese law;
b) Comply with the Constitution and laws of Vietnam; respect the traditions, customs, and practices of the Vietnamese people;
c) Have a sufficient knowledge of the Vietnamese language to integrate into the Vietnamese community;
d) Have been permanently residing in Vietnam for 5 years or more up to the time of applying for Vietnamese nationality;
dd) Have the ability to ensure life in Vietnam.
- Persons applying for Vietnamese nationality may be granted Vietnamese nationality without meeting the conditions specified in Points c, d, and dd, Clause 1 of this Article, if they fall into one of the following cases:
a) Being husband, wife, parent, or biological child of a Vietnamese citizen;
b) Having made special contributions to the cause of building and defending the Vietnamese Fatherland;
c) Beneficial to the State of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.
- Persons acquiring Vietnamese nationality must renounce their foreign nationality, except those specified in Clause 2 of this Article, in special cases, if permitted by the President.
According to the above regulations, your child does not have to renounce Malaysian nationality when acquiring Vietnamese nationality. However, Malaysia does not permit its citizens to hold dual citizenship, so when acquiring Vietnamese nationality, Malaysia will no longer recognize your child as holding Malaysian nationality.
Sincerely!
