Vietnam has allowed dual citizenship to attract qualified foreigners

July 1, 2025 — The National Assembly of Vietnam approved amendments to the law on citizenship, officially allowing dual citizenship for investors, professionals, as well as ethnic Vietnamese abroad.

Key changes:

• Dual citizenship is allowed — foreigners and ethnic Vietnamese can retain their current citizenship upon obtaining Vietnamese citizenship, with the consent of the President and compliance with the conditions.
• Simplified naturalization:
• the requirements for language proficiency, length of stay and financial viability have been lifted;
• the exemption applies to:
• spouses, parents, children and grandparents of Vietnamese citizens;
• ethnic Vietnamese living abroad;
• persons with special services to Vietnam.
• It is now possible to apply for citizenship through Vietnamese consulates and embassies abroad.
• It is allowed to use a double name — for example, a combination of a Vietnamese and a foreign name in official documents.
• Restrictions have been introduced: only citizens with exclusive Vietnamese citizenship and permanent residence in the country will be able to apply for high government or military positions.

Reform goals:

• To attract qualified specialists and investors from abroad.
• Simplify the return of representatives of the Vietnamese diaspora (more than 6 million people) to the country's citizenship.
• To increase the economic attractiveness of Vietnam for global professionals.
• To balance the liberalization of legislation with national security, especially in the field of public administration.

Practical innovations:

• The opportunity to legally retain the citizenship of your country along with the Vietnamese one.
• No need to take language exams or have a long stay.
• The opportunity to apply for citizenship not only within Vietnam, but also abroad.
• Flexibility in choosing a name: a combined name is allowed in personal documents.
• The restriction on dual citizenship for high—ranking officials and representatives of law enforcement agencies is that they must have only one nationality.

Why is this important?:

• The law makes Vietnam more open and attractive to global talent.
• Provides flexibility to ethnic Vietnamese who wish to regain citizenship without renouncing their current one.
• Strengthens Vietnam's economic and scientific integration into the international community.
• It provides a balance between migration openness and control over strategic sectors.

Amendments to the law on Vietnamese citizenship, which entered into force on July 1, 2025, open up new opportunities for foreign specialists, investors and representatives of the Vietnamese diaspora. This is a strategic step towards modernizing the country's migration policy and strengthening its position in the global human capital market.