Guidance

Vietnam: Knowledge Base profile

Published 14 May 2025

About: Vietnam

This document contains useful information about Vietnam which will assist His Majesty’s Passport Office staff process passport applications.

Contacts

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Publication

Below is information on when this version of the document was published:

• version 2.0

• published for Home Office staff on 1 May 2025

Changes from last version of this document

This document has been updated with formatting changes.

Vietnam: names

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about names in Vietnam.

Names in Vietnam consist of:

• family name

• middle name

• given name (forename)

Given names must be in Vietnamese or another ethnic language of Vietnam. Non-Vietnamese given names will not be recorded during birth registration or on Vietnam passports.

Middle names can consist of 1 to 5 words.

Family names can be a name that is not Vietnamese or another ethnic language of Vietnam.

If the parents cannot agree on the family name, the name will be:

• determined by customary practice

• the family name of the mother (if father is unknown)

Numbers and non-letter characters, for example, a hyphen, cannot be used.

Changes of name

A Vietnam citizen will keep the same name throughout their life, including after marriage.

A name change will only be considered if:

• the person’s family or given name:

  • causes confusion

  • affects the feelings of their family

  • the honour of the person

  • the person’s legitimate rights

  • the interests of the person

• adoptive parents request to change the family or given name of an adopted child

• an adoption ceases and the child’s biological parent request to reclaim the family or given name

• the family name of a child needs changing from one parent’s family name to the other

• the family name or given name of the person was lost during their childhood and they have since discovered the origin of their bloodline

• the family name or given name of a person has changed when their gender has been re-determined

The Justice Department of the People’s Committee in the province the person was born in is responsible for approving name changes. The name change will not be considered legal and valid until it has been approved.

Vietnam: nationality

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about nationality in Vietnam.

Dual nationality is recognised in Vietnam.

Vietnam: legitimacy and parental responsibility

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about legitimacy and parental responsibility in Vietnam.

Vietnam recognises a difference between legitimate and illegitimate births.

A child will be considered:

Legitimate if their parents:

• were married at the time of the birth and both parents recognise the child

• marry after the birth and both parents recognise the child

Illegitimate if:

• either parent does not recognise the child

• the parents never marry

Parental responsibility

Parental responsibility is shared by both parents in Vietnam. Where the parents divorce, both parents retain their rights and responsibilities for the child unless a judge grants one parent sole custody of the child.

Vietnam: adoption

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about adoption in Vietnam.

Adoption is legal in Vietnam.

Vietnam: surrogacy

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about surrogacy in Vietnam.

Surrogacy is legal in Vietnam.

Commercial surrogacy is illegal in Vietnam.

Vietnam: civil partnerships and marriage

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about civil partnerships and marriage in Vietnam.

Civil partnerships and same sex marriages are not recognised in Vietnam.

Only civil marriages are legal in Vietnam.

Vietnam: documents

This section gives HM Passport Office operational staff information about documents in Vietnam.

The colour photocopying of documents is illegal in Vietnam. A customer may provide a black and white photocopy of their supporting documents from Vietnam through the Local Service, which we can accept to support their passport application.

Birth certificates

All births in Vietnam must be registered and a birth certificate will be issued.

Late registrations are allowed. Re-registration to add a father is possible.

Births of children born to two non-Vietnam citizens must be registered at the provincial or municipal Justice Service where either parent resides.

Births of children to a non-Vietnam citizen and a Vietnam citizen residing in Vietnam must be registered within 60 days of the birth at the provincial or municipal Justice Service where either parent resides.

Births of children to a non-Vietnam citizen and a Vietnam citizen residing overseas must be registered at the provincial or municipal Justice Service where the mother has registered her permanent residence.

All birth records are held at a local level, and there are no central registers.

The design of birth certificates vary from province to province.

If a birth certificate is issued with an error on it, the certificate will usually be corrected and reissued. Some errors are recorded on the back of the original certificate.

Marriage certificates

All civil marriages must be registered with the provincial Justice Department, and all records are held locally. There are no:

• central records of marriage

• time limits for the marriage to be registered

Marriage certificates are issued following the registration and can be issued in either:

• bilingual Vietnamese-English language

• Vietnamese language only

Death certificates

All deaths must be registered within 15 days of the death occurring. Late registrations are not allowed.

Death certificates are issued following the registration of deaths in Vietnam.

The death of a:

• Vietnam national will be registered by the commune People’s Committee and the record will be held at district level

• non-Vietnam national will be registered at a provincial or City Justice Department

Identity documents

Vietnam nationals are issued with an identity card from the age of 14 years old, these are issued regionally.

Residence permits can be issued to foreign nationals, these are used alongside a passport to confirm visa status. The residence permit will only be legally valid alongside the passport. All residence permits are laminated when issued.

If a person travels to Vietnam and holds passports from more than one country, they must enter and leave the country using the same passport.