What is a naturalized player? Conditions for naturalizing Vietnamese nationality

Nguyen Xuan Son is a naturalized player from Brazil, officially signed a contract with Nam Dinh Club in 2020. Xuan Son successfully asserted himself as the most dangerous striker in V-League history and won the Golden Boot award with 16 goals.

On January 2, Xuan Son set an AFF Cup record by scoring in four consecutive opening matches. He also ended the "curse" of the Vietnamese team for 27 years without defeating Thailand at home.

Xuan Son's success right after his debut for the Vietnamese national team is the basis for the country's football to believe in giving opportunities to naturalized players in the near future.

I want to ask what is a naturalized player? What are the conditions and procedures for a foreign player to be naturalized in Vietnam?

Reader Quoc Cuong

Consulting attorney

Lawyer Do Ngoc Thanh, Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association, said that naturalized players are those who have foreign nationality but have been recognized as Vietnamese citizens. They enjoy full rights and obligations like any other citizen, including playing for the national team.

According to lawyer Thanh, naturalization not only has legal significance but also demonstrates the player's attachment to the country they want to contribute to. The naturalization process is carried out according to the 2008 Vietnamese Nationality Law and its implementing guidelines.

Lawyer Do Ngoc Thanh, Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association

PHOTO: NVCC

Conditions for obtaining Vietnamese nationality

Specifically, Article 19 of the 2008 Law on Vietnamese Nationality, people applying for Vietnamese nationality must meet the following conditions:

• Have full civil capacity
• Comply with the Constitution and laws of Vietnam
• Know enough Vietnamese to integrate into the community
• Have legally resided in Vietnam for 5 years or more from the date of being granted a permanent residence card
• Able to support oneself in Vietnam
• Renounce original nationality, except in cases where the President allows to retain original nationality according to Clause 3, Article 19 of the Law on Vietnamese Nationality.

In addition, Decree No. 16/2020/ND-CP of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of the 2008 Law on Vietnamese Nationality, in Article 7, clarifies the following criteria:

• Knowing Vietnamese requires the ability to listen, speak, read and write appropriately for the living and working environment.
• Ability to support oneself is proven through assets, legal income or guarantees
• Legal residence period in Vietnam is determined from the date of issuance of Permanent Residence Card.

For special cases, Article 19, Clause 3 of the 2008 Law on Vietnamese Nationality allows exemption from certain conditions. Article 8 of Decree No. 16/2020/ND-CP clarifies that those who have made special contributions or whose naturalization is beneficial to the State of Vietnam may be exempted from conditions such as a 5-year residence period, knowing Vietnamese, or renouncing their original nationality.

This usually applies to foreign players who have made great contributions to the development of football or those who have special talents in other fields.

Football player Nguyen Xuan Son and his wife on the day of receiving Vietnamese citizenship

PHOTO: NVCC

Naturalization application

Article 20 of the 2008 Law on Vietnamese Nationality and Article 10 of Decree No. 16/2020/ND-CP clearly stipulate that applicants for naturalization must submit an application to the Department of Justice where they reside. The application for naturalization includes:

• Application for naturalization
• Copy of birth certificate
• Criminal record
• Permanent resident card
• Proof of income or sponsorship and document of renunciation of original nationality (if any).

These documents, if issued by foreign agencies, must be consular legalized and translated into Vietnamese.

Lawyer Thanh said that the process of assessing the application will be carried out by the Department of Justice and forwarded to the Ministry of Justice for consideration. The Ministry of Justice will submit it to the Prime Minister, after which the President will sign the decision to grant citizenship if the application is valid.

According to Article 12 of Decree 16/2020/ND-CP, the Provincial People's Committee will organize a ceremony to grant the Decision on naturalization, ensuring solemnity and significance.

"Foreign players who complete the naturalization process not only bring diversity to the national team but also contribute to the development of Vietnamese sports," said lawyer Thanh, adding that this needs to be done in accordance with the correct procedures, ensuring transparency, fairness and in line with the common interests of the country.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cau-thu-nhap-tich-la-gi-dieu-kien-nhap-quoc-tich-viet-nam-185250103164728336.htm