Job Discussion Forums

s10czar · Joined: 20 Feb 2010 Posts: 60

Does getting married to a local gain you permanent residency in Vietnam? In other words, get hitched and no more worries about work permits?

Not saying it's a great reason to get married I'm just saying...

snollygoster · Joined: 04 Jun 2009 Posts: 478

There are no free lunches-If anyone told you getting married removes the need for a Work permit, get a new bush lawyer.
You still need a work permit. You can get your wife to get a 5 year visa for you, but you still need to have a work permit if you work. This option also requires you to either leave Vietnam every 3 months to renew your status, OR to pay some money every three months to get the "man" to stamp your passport. So its value is debatable really.
This is my latest take on this, but things change with the wind in Vietnam, and from district to district. In one area I worked, my landlord was the local "Man" so the stamping the passport was done as a gesture between friends, no money changed hands- In Hanoi, it cost $100 every 3 months.

Maybe its all about getting what "we" can from the foreigner-he/she is rich so lets get whats in his/her pocket.

spycatcher reincarnated · Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 236

Yes, getting married is one of the ways of getting PR. The other ways are impossible for most.

PR means you get a card that lasts for 3 years and during this time don't need to get any visas. PR renewals are normally a formality as long as you are still married at renewal time. BTW PR's need renewing in most countries, this is not just a Vietnamese thing.

The 5 year visa that Snollygoster refers to is different and would be unnecessay if you had PR.

SG is correct that you will still need work permits to legally work.

s10czar · Joined: 20 Feb 2010 Posts: 60

Thanks guys. What I'm really interested to know is....

If you marry a local do you still need a valid passport from your home country????

I've been thinking in terms or renouncing my citizenship for personal reasons.

snollygoster · Joined: 04 Jun 2009 Posts: 478

If you marry a local, it does not mean you are Vietnamese.
Renouncing your oroginal citizenship in favour of Vietnamese citizenship is a serious matter, and despite your personal reasons I would consider it very carefully-possible military conscription, restricted travel opportunities to mostly ASEAN countries- (For a Viet to get a visa to travel to some western countries is extremely difficult- beleieve me-I DO know).

s10czar · Joined: 20 Feb 2010 Posts: 60

Thanks snollygooster. And you're right- renouncing your citizenship is a very serious matter and should be considered very carefully. Especially if you're a vet who's fought for your country and sworn to protect it.

But then again, so is paying every sent you earn to some wicked bitch in the form of court-mandated child-support. Said bitch never letting you see said child while said court looks the other way.

ajc19810 · Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 214

sc10czar. I do a lot of therapy work with the 'Dads in Distress organization' so i feel for you.
Regarding the citizenship, i could be wrong but i remember reading a while back that the first person who did what you are suggesting was a soccer player, i believe he was from Africa. Again i stand to be corrected but i cant imagine them doing this for an average Joe like us. But, hey, look into it, you never know.

tonyjones01 · Joined: 20 Aug 2010 Posts: 67

Anyone can officially denounce their citizenship but that doesn't mean another country will take you in. You could find youself in jail, for a long time, waiting for some country that wants you.

ajc19810 · Joined: 22 May 2008 Posts: 214

Tony what I meant was that the African man became a Vietnamese citizen so he could play for Vietnam. From what i understand he was the first.

spycatcher reincarnated · Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 236

I don't know specific details on this subject, but over the years have read quite a lot about it, so here goes:

It is often difficult to give up the nationality of your domicility. For other nationalities it is often easier. You may wish to unilaterally relinquish your nationality, but this does not mean that the government concerned accepts this, especially if they believe you are giving up your nationality for pecuniary reasons. IE avoidance of your share of the national debt or avoidance of PIT, debts etc.

Info on domicility: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domicile_(law)

Yes, there was an African footballer who gained Vietnamese nationality, but I am not sure if he renounced/no longer has his previous nationality.

http://www.sportsday.com.ng/nigeria/news/2009-03-04/nigerian-star-sets-vietnam-aglow.html

Sometime after this, Vietnam issued a law on how to become a Vietnamese citizen and I believe that for people of non Vietnamese origin you needed to have PR for 5 years before you can apply. I heard that Vietnam is worried about foreigners becoming Vietnamese to circumvent land ownership and investment laws, so have made it difficult for foreigners of non Vietnamese origin to gain citizenship.

There was a new law that was passed a couple of years ago that allowed people to have more than one nationality- one of them being Vietnamese. Before this it was illegal, but ignored.

I feel this link lacks detail and may be misleading, but here you are:

http://www.intellasia.net/news/articles/legal/111252701.shtml

Vietnam taxes on worldwide earnings, unlike most countries, so if you ever leave Vietnam you will still be responsible for paying PIT in Vietnam if you are a Vietnamese national.