Vietnam Implements New Permanent Residence Registration Rules

On 26 March 2026 the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security issued Decision 1523, introducing a revised permanent‑residence registration procedure that applies nationwide. The five‑step process requires applicants to prepare documents, submit them to the local police, undergo data verification against national population and residence databases, pay the prescribed fee, and receive a decision on the application. Key exemptions include no birth‑certificate requirement for newborns registering for the first time, reliance on existing database records for seniors and minors, and reduced consent requirements when the property has multiple owners. Overseas Vietnamese must present a valid Vietnamese passport, while naturalised citizens need a presidential decree confirming their nationality.

The new rules aim to streamline administrative handling of residence status, clarify documentation standards, and address special cases such as incapacitated property owners and military personnel relocating from bases.