Procedures and authority to certify the registration of religious activities in Vietnam

Procedures and authority to certify the registration of religious activities in Vietnam (Internet image)

1. Requirements for certification of an organization’s registration of religious activities in Vietnam

According to Article 18 of the Law on religion and folk belief 2016, an organization's registration of religious activities shall be certified on the following conditions:

- Religious tenets, laws and rites exist;

- Its principles, objectives and operational regulations are not contrary to the law;

- The name of the organization does not overlap with those of the religious organizations or the organizations with certified registration of religious activities, of the political organizations, of the socio-politic organizations or of the national heroes or men of greatness;

- The representative(s) or head of the organization holds Vietnamese citizenship, resides permanently in Vietnam, possess full capacity for civil acts, is not bound by any remedial administrative measures concerning folk belief or religion, is not associated with any conviction records or is not accused of any crimes pursuant to the legislation on criminal procedure;

- It is based at a legitimate location;

- The content of its religious activities is not prohibited pursuant to Article 5 herein.

2. Procedures and authority to certify the registration of religious activities in Vietnam

Article 19 of the Law on religion and folk belief 2016 stipulates the procedures and authority to certify the registration of religious activities as follows:

* An organization that qualifies pursuant to Article 18 of the Law on religion and folk belief 2016 shall apply in writing to competent government authority defined in Section 3 of Article 19 of the Law on religion and folk belief 2016 for registration of religious activities.

* The application includes:

- The form of application, which specifies the name of the organization; the name of the religion; the principles and objectives; the contents and area of operation; the origin and progress of development in Vietnam; the full name of the representative; the quantity of followers; the organizational structure and expected location of its base;

- The list, resumes, judicial records and summaries of religious activities of the representative and expected leaders of the organization;

- The written summary of the religious tenets, laws and rites;

- The operational regulations of the organization;

- The written evidences of the availability of a legitimate location for its facilities.

* Authority to certify the registration of religious activities:

- The body of the People's Committee of a province, which is specialized in state management of folk belief and religion (hereinafter referred to as the provincial bodies specialized in folk belief and religion), shall issue certificates of registration of religious activities to the organizations operating solely in such province in 60 days upon receiving a full and valid application. If an application is rejected, reason(s) shall be notified;

- The central government’s body responsible for state management of folk belief and religion shall issue certificates of registration of religious activities to the organizations operating in multiple provinces in 60 days upon receiving a full and valid application. If an application is rejected, reason(s) shall be notified.

3. Operations of the organizations with certified registration of religious activities in Vietnam

According to Article 20 of the Law on religion and folk belief 2016, an organization, after the certification of its registration of religious activities, can carry out the following operations:

- Organize religious ceremonies, religious practices, sermons and courses of training in religious tenets;

- Appoint, elect and nominate sub-dignitaries;

- Repair and overhaul its base;

- Participate in charitable and humanitarian activities;

- Organize general meetings by its charter. 

When conducting the operations defined in Section 1 of Article 20 of the Law on religion and folk belief 2016, the organization shall adhere to this Law and other relevant legal regulations.

To Quoc Trinh

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