Requirements for registration of congregational religious practice in Vietnam

Requirements for registration of congregational religious practice in Vietnam (Internet image)

Regarding this issue, LawNet would like to answer as follows:

1. Requirements for registration of congregational religious practice in Vietnam

- A religious organization shall apply for registration of its followers' congregational practice of religion at the locations ineligible for the establishment of a religious affiliate or an organization with certified registration of religious activities shall apply for registration of its members’ congregational practice of religion on the following conditions:

+ Have a legitimate location for religious practice;

+ The congregational practicing group has a representative who 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;

+ The content of the religious practice is not prohibited pursuant Article 5 herein.

- Followers of a religion, who do not fit in with the definition in Section 1 of Article 16 of the Law on religion and folk belief 2016 shall apply for registration of their congregational religious practice upon satisfying the requirements defined in Section 1 of Article 16 of the Law on religion and folk belief 2016 and the following conditions:

+ Observe religious tenets and law;

+ The name of the congregational practicing group 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.

(Article 16 of the Law on religion and folk belief 2016)

2. Procedure and authority to certify the registration of congregational religious practice in Vietnam

- A religious organization, an organization with certified registration of religious activities or the representative(s) of a group of followers as stated in Section 2 of Article 16 of the Law on religion and folk belief 2016 shall apply in writing to the People’s Committee of the commune where the legitimate location for religious practice exists for registration of congregational religious practice.

- The application includes:

+ The form of application, which specifies the name of the applicant organization; the name of the religion; the full name and residential address of the representative; the content, location and time of religious practice, quantity of participants;

+ The written evidences of the possession of a legitimate location for religious practice;

+ The resume(s) of the representative(s) of the congregational practicing group;

+ The written summary of the religious tenets and law if the registration is subject to Section 2, Article 16 of the Law on religion and folk belief 2016.

- People’s Committee of the commune shall be responsible for reverting in writing in 20 days upon receiving the valid application. If such application is rejected, reason(s) shall be notified.

(Article 17 of the Law on religion and folk belief 2016)

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

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 of the Law on religion and folk belief 2016.

(Article 18 of the Law on religion and folk belief 2016)

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

- 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 the Law on religion and folk belief 2016 and other relevant legal regulations.

(Article 20 of the Law on religion and folk belief 2016)

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