Renouncing or Restoring Vietnamese Citizenship

Updated 2026-05-29 · General information, not legal advice.

Vietnam's Law on Nationality allows citizens to renounce their Vietnamese citizenship, and allows people who lost it to apply to restore it. Applications are generally handled through a Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate abroad, or the Department of Justice in Vietnam, with final decisions at the national level.

Renouncing Vietnamese Citizenship

Some people renounce for legal clarity or because another country requires it. The process involves an application, identity and nationality documents, and official approval — it is not automatic just because you naturalized elsewhere.

Restoring Vietnamese Citizenship

Overseas Vietnamese who previously lost their citizenship can apply to have it restored, typically showing proof of former Vietnamese nationality and Vietnamese origin. Restoration can expand property and inheritance rights.

Dual Citizenship Context

See our dual citizenship guide for how Vietnam and the US treat holding both nationalities in practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I automatically lose Vietnamese citizenship when I naturalize in the US?

Not automatically. Under Vietnamese law renunciation requires a formal application and approval; many overseas Vietnamese keep both in practice.

Where do I apply to renounce or restore?

Generally through a Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate abroad, or the Department of Justice in Vietnam.

Why would I restore Vietnamese citizenship?

It can broaden housing, land-use, and inheritance rights in Vietnam, among other reasons.