Procedure for Obtaining Confirmation of Vietnamese Nationality for Overseas Vietnamese “Viet Kieu”
The Certificate of Vietnamese Nationality Confirmation serves as a vital legal document that enables Vietnamese residing abroad (“Viet Kieu”) to prove their Vietnamese origin and maintain lawful rights as Vietnamese citizens under Vietnamese law.
Key reasons for obtaining the Certificate of Vietnamese Nationality:
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Proof of Vietnamese Origin:
The certificate evidences bloodline and ancestral connection to Vietnam — a fundamental basis for being legally recognized as a person of Vietnamese origin.
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Required for Nationality Procedures:
It is a mandatory legal ground for those who wish to reacquire, retain, or be naturalized as Vietnamese citizens, or to apply for a Vietnamese passport.
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Ownership, Inheritance, and Property Transactions:
Enables Viet Kieu to purchase, inherit, and legally own property or real estate in Vietnam without having to rely on a nominee.
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Facilitating Administrative and Civil Procedures:
The certificate simplifies numerous legal and administrative processes, such as passport issuance, residence registration, and long-term stay permits in Vietnam.
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Legal Protection of Rights:
Holders of this certificate are fully entitled to civil, property, and citizenship rights as recognized under Vietnamese law.
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Cases with Undetermined Nationality:
For those whose citizenship status remains unclear, this certificate helps prove Vietnamese descent under the principle of jus sanguinis (right of bloodline).
Possessing a Certificate of Vietnamese Nationality offers not only legal certainty but also enhances the ability to reconnect and reintegrate with one’s homeland through various economic, civil, and social benefits.
Greater Opportunities for Investment and Business
Holders of this certificate can:
- Freely engage in business and investment activities in Vietnam with full legal capacity;
- Access preferential investment and tax policies reserved for citizens;
- Purchase real estate, establish enterprises, or participate in investment projects more easily;
- Enjoy visa exemption and simplified entry procedures when returning to Vietnam.
Simplified Administrative Procedures
The certificate significantly streamlines:
- Passport and ID card issuance, birth registration, residency and long-term stay applications;
- Permanent residence or long-term visa exemptions, allowing Viet Kieu to live, work, or invest in Vietnam more conveniently.
Legal Protection and Risk Mitigation
- Ensures lawful ownership of assets and real property in Vietnam;
- Reduces risks of property disputes or ownership conflicts, particularly in cases where assets are registered under relatives’ names;
- Guarantees legal recognition and protection under Vietnamese law.
Failure to secure nationality confirmation may lead to significant legal and administrative disadvantages, including:
- Ineligibility to purchase, own, or inherit property in Vietnam;
- Loss of visa exemption privileges and difficulties obtaining long-term residence;
- Higher risk of property disputes or asset ownership conflicts;
- Prolonged processing time if applying through Vietnamese embassies or consulates abroad due to verification requirements from domestic archives.
An Law Vietnam strongly advises overseas Vietnamese to conduct nationality confirmation procedures directly in Vietnam for convenience, efficiency, and timely resolution.
With extensive experience in handling nationality cases for overseas Vietnamese, An Law Vietnam provides comprehensive legal support through the following process:
Filing the Application:
- Prepare documents according to the form prescribed in the procedure “Requesting a certificate confirming Vietnamese nationality”
Document Review and Preliminary Verification:
- If the dossier is incomplete, guidance for supplementation will be provided;
- If valid, the Department of Justice will request a nationality record search from the Ministry of Justice.
Verification of Nationality and Identity:
- The Ministry of Justice conducts a record search within 10 working days;
- The Provincial Police Department verifies the applicant’s identity within 45 days (extendable up to 60 days for complex cases).
Issuance of Certificate:
- Upon sufficient verification, the Department of Justice issues the Certificate of Vietnamese Nationality Confirmation according to the prescribed format.
Common inquiries received by An Law Vietnam include:
- What documents are required for nationality determination or confirmation?
- Can a child of mixed nationality obtain a Vietnamese passport after birth registration?
- How can I register birth and obtain a Vietnamese passport for my child born abroad?
- I possess a pre-1975 birth certificate — am I eligible to retain Vietnamese nationality?
- I am a Vietnamese-born person holding foreign nationality; can I apply to reacquire Vietnamese nationality?
- My spouse and I have different nationalities — can our child be recognized as a Vietnamese citizen?
An Law Vietnam offers complimentary consultations, thorough dossier assessment, and step-by-step legal guidance to ensure each Viet Kieu’s application is lawful, efficient, and successful.
- Confirmation and restoration of Vietnamese nationality;
- Naturalization or renunciation of citizenship;
- Civil status and residency registration;
- Property ownership and inheritance matters within Vietnam.
“Conscientious in every case – Ingenious in the way of thinking – Safe in each legal solution.”
Our Commitments:
- Accurate and transparent legal consultation;
- End-to-end support from dossier preparation to certificate issuance;
- Absolute confidentiality and professionalism in every engagement.
Contact An Law Vietnam
Let An Law Vietnam accompany you on your journey to confirming your Vietnamese nationality — legally, safely, and efficiently.
📞 Phone: (+84) 986 995 543
📧 Email: info@anlawvietnam.com
📍 Head Office: Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan Street, Sai Gon Ward, Ho Chi Minh City
🏢 Vung Tau Branch: Vo Thi Sau Street, Vung Tau Ward, Ho Chi Minh City