new guidelines for those wishing to apply for Vietnamese nationality

Hanoi (VNA) – The Government has issued new guidelines for those wishing to apply
for Vietnamese nationality.

According to Decree 78/2009/ND-CP, which comes into effect on November 10,
applicants for citizenship must speak Vietnamese and have permanent residency cards
issued by the police.
The decree also stipulates that applicants for citizenship must show
evidence that they are in paid work or that they are sponsored by an
organisation or individual in Vietnam or that they can live off their
assets.

The decree also states that those who have rendered useful service to the
development or defence of Vietnam will be exempt from certain requirements, as
will talented professional and sporting people and artists.

The decree also states that people who owe the State tax or have an obligation to
the Government or a company or an individual in the country will be unable to
renounce their citizenship if it has been objected to.

According to the decree, overseas Vietnamese who still held citizenship before July
1,2009, but do not hold a Vietnamese passport, must register to retain their
citizenship before July 1, 2014.-Enditem