Marriage registration profile with foreign elements in Vietnam that foreigners need to know

Based on the 2014 Marriage and Family Law and Decision 2228 /QĐ-BTP by the Ministry of Justice on 14/11/2022 regulating the announcement of new administrative procedures, the marriage registration profile with foreign elements in Vietnam is as follows:

- Marriage registration form according to the template, containing complete information of both parties, male, female. Both parties can jointly fill out a marriage registration form (if the person requests chooses to submit the profile directly);

- Interactive electronic marriage registration form (provided by the person who provides the information following the instructions on the public service portal, if the person requesting chooses to submit the profile online);

- The person requesting marriage registration must submit/show (directly) or upload (online) the following documents:

* Documents to be submitted:

- Confirmation letter from a competent healthcare organization in Vietnam or abroad confirming that the marrying parties are not mentally ill or incapable of understanding and controlling their own actions;

- Proof of marital status of the foreigner issued by the competent authority of the country of which the person is a citizen proving that the person is currently single (not married);

+ In case the foreign country does not issue a confirmation of marital status:

It is replaced by a document issued by the competent authority of the foreign country confirming that the person is eligible for marriage according to the laws of that country.

The validity of the document proving the marital status of the foreigner is determined by the expiration date stated on the document.

+ If the document proving the marital status does not indicate an expiration date:

This document and the confirmation letter from the healthcare organization are valid for 06 months from the date of issuance.

- Foreigners, Vietnamese citizens residing abroad must submit a copy of the passport/alternate documents.

- Confirmation of the marital status of Vietnamese citizens residing in the country.

If information about the marital status is already in the databases, it is not required to show (directly) or upload (online).

* In addition to the above documents, depending on each case, the male, female parties must submit the following corresponding documents:

- Vietnamese citizens who have divorced or had their marriage annulled abroad must submit a copy of the divorce decree stating the dissolution of marriage or annulment of marriage against the law (Divorce decree note);

- Vietnamese citizens who are officials, public servants, or are serving in the armed forces must submit a document from the management agency, unit confirming that the marriage with a foreigner does not violate the regulations of that sector;

- In cases where the person requesting marriage registration is working, studying, or employed for a limited time abroad:

Must submit a Confirmation of marital status issued by the diplomatic mission, consular office of Vietnam abroad.

* Documents to be shown:

- Passport or national identity card or citizen identity card or other documents with photo and personal information issued by the competent authority, still valid for proving the identity of Vietnamese citizens.

If personal information in these documents is already in the databases, it will be automatically filled in by the system, so it is not required to show (directly) or upload (online);

- Foreigners must show the original passport to prove their identity; in case the foreigner does not have a passport to show, they can present an international travel document or residence card.

- Proof of residence to determine the jurisdiction of marriage registration.

If the information about the proof of residence is already in the databases and automatically filled in, it is not required to show (directly) or upload (online).

*Note

- For documents to be submitted or shown, if the person requesting to submit the profile directly:

+ For documents to be shown when registering for citizenship, the recipient is responsible for verifying, cross-referencing with the information on the form, taking a picture or noting the information to keep in the dossier and return to the person showing the documents, without requesting a copy or photocopy of the document.

+ The person requesting to register for citizenship can submit a certified copy from the original or a copy issued from the original register, or a copy attached to the original document for cross-referencing.

In case the person requesting to submit a copy attached to the original document, the recipient is responsible for verifying and cross-referencing the copy with the original and then signing the confirmation, without requiring the person registering for citizenship to submit a copy of the document.

+ The recipient is responsible for receiving the correct and complete citizenship registration dossier according to the legal provisions, without requiring the person registering for citizenship to submit additional documents not specified by the citizenship law.

- For documents sent along with if the person requesting to submit the profile online:

+ Copies of the documents sent with the online marriage registration dossier must be clear, complete, and intact in content, taken by a camera, phone, or scanned by an electronic device, from valid issued documents, still valid for use;

If the documents are issued by a foreign competent authority, they must be legally translated into Vietnamese as per regulations, except for cases exempt from legal translation.