A permanent residence card (PRC) is the perfect solution for foreigners who intend to reside in Vietnam for a long period of time. However, according to the Ordinance No. 24/2000 on Entry, Exit and Residence of foreigners in Vietnam, foreigners may become permanent residents in Vietnam in certain circumstances and under rather limited conditions.
Table of Contents
I. Who can apply?
Article 13, item 1 states that a temporary resident in Vietnam falling within one of the following categories shall be considered for permanent residency:
- A person who fights for the freedom and independence of the Vietnamese race, for socialism, for democracy and peace and for science but who is suppressed
- A person with distinguished services contributing to the work of building and protecting the Vietnamese Fatherland
- A person being the spouse, child or parent of a Vietnamese citizen residing permanently in Vietnam.
II. Procedures:
For the 1st and the 2nd type: Foreigners shall file their dossiers to the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Public Security. Such dossiers comprise:
– The applicant’s photo and application for permanent residence permission made according to the form set by the Ministry of Public Security;
– His/her curriculum vitae made by the applicant himself/ herself;
– Copy of his/her passport (if any);
The Ministry of Public Security shall report to the Prime Minister within one month for the approval.
For the 3rd type: Foreigners shall submit their dossiers to the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Public Security or the exit and entry management bodies under the public security offices of the provinces and centrally run cities. Such a dossier comprises:
– The applicant’s photo and application for permanent residence made in accordance with the forms set by the Ministry of Public Security;
– His/her judicial records certified by the competent agency of the country, of which he/ she is a citizen;
– Official note of the competent agency of the country, of which he/she is a citizen, requesting the Vietnamese authorities to permit him/her to permanently reside in Vietnam;
– Papers evidencing that the permanent residence applicant falls under the cases specified at Point c, Clause 1, Article 13 of the ordinance;
– Copy of the applicant’s passport.
The Immigration Department shall decide the permanent residence application by foreigners in this case. Within six months of receiving a complete dossier, the examination process begins. If more time is needed, the process may be extended, but not exceeding three additional months. A PRC will be granted within five days of receiving acceptance. The processing fee is about US$100.
PRC is valid for a period of three years PRC must be renewed every three years at the exit and entry management bodies under the public security offices of the provinces or centrally run cities. Otherwise, PRC may be withdrawn. Note: The above documents (except permanent residence application, diplomatic note, visa and passport) must be translated into Vietnamese and legalized or verified by a notary according to current regulations.
Naturalization in Vietnam
After getting a permanent residence card, you may apply for naturalization in Vietnam.
You may be permitted for naturalization in Vietnam if satisfying the following conditions:
(i) Having the full civil act capacity as prescribed by Vietnam’s law;
(ii) Abiding by the Constitution and laws of Vietnam; respecting the traditions, customs and practices of the Vietnamese nation;
(iii) Having a permanent residence card and residing permanently in Vietnam;
(iv) Having chosen a Vietnamese name;
(v) Ensuring that your naturalization is not likely to cause harms to Vietnam’s national interests; and,
(vi) Having to have your foreign citizenship renounced. You are not required to do so if the President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam allows you to retain your foreign citizenship.
After getting a permanent residence card, you may apply for naturalization in Vietnam. You have to prepare and submit a dossier to the provincial-level Justice Department under the provincial-level People’s Committee of the locality where you wish to reside. Such dossier must comprise:
(i) An application for naturalization in Vietnam (made according to Form TP/QT-2010-DXNQT.1 provided in Circular 08/2010/TT-BTP);
(ii) A copy of your birth certificate or passport or another paper proving your citizenship, which must be consular legalized, translated into Vietnamese and notarized;
(iii) A personal resume;
(iv) A criminal record certificate issued by a Vietnamese authority, for your periods of temporary and permanent residence in Vietnam;
(v) A criminal record certificate issued by a previous authority, for the period you reside in your country. Such certificate must be issued with consular legalization within 90 days before the submission of the dossier, translated into Vietnamese and notarized;
(vi) A notarized copy of your permanent residence card; and,
(vii) A certified copy of the marriage certificate or another document proving the marriage relationship between you and your wife.
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Within 55 working days after receiving your valid dossier, the Ministry of Justice will notify you of whether you are permitted for naturalization in Vietnam or not. If seeing that all the conditions for your naturalization in Vietnam are met, the Ministry of Justice will send you a notice for carrying out the procedures for having your previous citizenship renounced, except where you wish to retain your previous citizenship and the Vietnamese President so permits. Within 40 days after you complete the procedures for renunciation of previous citizenship and submit all required documents to the Ministry of Justice, the President will consider and decide to permit your naturalization in Vietnam.
We hope that the above information about how to get a permanent residence card and naturalization in Vietnam will be helpful for you!
