Vietnam lists 6 conditions foreigners must meet to obtain citizenship

Vietnam has announced six conditions foreign nationals must meet to qualify for citizenship, including Vietnamese language proficiency, five years of permanent residency and proof of financial stability.

The requirements are contained in the country’s amended Law on Nationality and Decree No. 191/2025/ND-CP, according to the Vietnamese government.

Under the rules, foreigners and stateless persons seeking Vietnamese citizenship must satisfy the following six conditions:

1. Full legal capacity: Applicants must have full civil capacity under Vietnamese law. Minors applying alongside a parent or whose parent is a Vietnamese citizen are exempt from this requirement.

2. Respect for the law: Applicants must obey Vietnam’s Constitution and laws and respect the country’s culture, traditions and customs.

3. Language proficiency: They must understand and speak Vietnamese sufficiently to integrate into the local community.

4. Permanent residency: Applicants must currently hold permanent residence in Vietnam and possess a permanent residence card.

5. Five-year residency: They must have lived permanently in Vietnam for at least five years before submitting their citizenship application. The period is calculated from the date their permanent residence card was issued.

6. Financial stability: Applicants must demonstrate their ability to support themselves financially through personal assets, legal income or sponsorship from an organisation or individual in Vietnam.

The government also provides exemptions for certain categories of applicants. These include people married to Vietnamese citizens, those with Vietnamese children, individuals with Vietnamese parents or grandparents, and people who have made special contributions to the country.

Some of these categories are exempt from specific language, residency and financial requirements, depending on their circumstances.

The requirements are intended to ensure that foreigners seeking Vietnamese nationality have established permanent ties to the country and can integrate into its society.