Applicants will also have to prove that they have the financial standing necessary to lead a normal life in Vietnam, or they must have the confirmed support of organizations or individuals in Vietnam.

However, applicants that don’t meet certain criteria may be granted citizenship if such a move would benefit Vietnam’s social and economic development or advancements in the fields of science, sports, national security or defense.

Overseas Vietnamese and those of previous Vietnamese nationality will also be allowed to regain their Vietnamese citizenship under the amended law.

Vietnamese who have immigrated outside of Vietnam illegally have technically lost their citizenship, but they have not had it officially revoked.

The amended law states that overseas Vietnamese whose nationalities have not yet been revoked can apply for official Vietnamese citizenship.

Prior to the law, any Vietnamese taking up citizenship in another country officially lost their Vietnamese nationality. But with the new amendment, they will be allowed dual citizenship in certain cases.

According to the decree, both overseas Vietnamese seeking Vietnamese citizenship and others seeking dual citizenship need to register with Vietnamese representative offices abroad before July 1, 2014 to ensure their official Vietnamese nationality.

The decree also stipulates that Vietnamese citizens are not allowed to change their citizenship if they owe taxes or debts to individuals and organizations in Vietnam that notify relevant agencies.

Source: Thanh Nien