Vietnam eases citizenship rules for foreign spouses

Foreigners married to Vietnamese citizens can now acquire Vietnamese citizenship without residing in the country, following newly approved amendments to the Law on Vietnamese Nationality. The National Assembly passed the revisions on Tuesday, eliminating previous requirements such as five years of residency, Vietnamese language proficiency and financial self-sufficiency for applicants with Vietnamese family ties.

Under the updated law, foreign nationals with close familial connections such as spouses, children, parents or grandparents of Vietnamese citizens must still meet legal criteria. These include full civil capacity, adherence to Vietnamese law and traditions, and compliance with naming conventions. While most naturalized citizens adopt a Vietnamese or ethnic minority name, those permitted dual citizenship may use a combination of their Vietnamese and original names.

Officials say the changes aim to attract skilled professionals, investors and experts with Vietnamese family roots. Dual nationality remains subject to presidential approval and is prohibited for individuals holding positions in the Communist Party, military or specific public offices, which require sole Vietnamese citizenship.