Having a baby in Vietnam is an exciting moment for an international family. But once the congratulations are over, another question usually appears:

“How do we get a passport for our baby?”

For parents who are foreign nationals, the answer is not simply to apply for a passport at the nearest Vietnamese immigration office. A foreign passport is issued by the country whose nationality the child holds, not by Vietnam.

That means parents may need to complete several steps involving both Vietnamese authorities and their own embassy or consulate. The process can become particularly important when the child was born in Vietnam but is expected to travel internationally soon.

Before booking a flight, parents should understand the relationship between:

Birth registration → Nationality → Foreign passport → Vietnam immigration status → International travel

At DHH LAW FIRM, we assist international families with the legal and administrative issues that arise around these steps, particularly where birth registration, nationality and immigration procedures overlap.

Quick Answer

If your child was born in Vietnam but is eligible for a foreign nationality, the foreign passport will generally need to be obtained through the embassy or consulate of that country, subject to that country’s nationality and passport laws.

Vietnamese birth registration may be an important first step because the foreign embassy may require evidence of the child’s birth and parentage before issuing a passport or other travel document.

The exact requirements vary significantly between countries. For example, one embassy may require: Vietnamese birth certificate + parents’ passports + marriage certificate while another may require additional evidence of the child’s nationality, a citizenship registration, photographs, parental consent or other documents.

So there is no universal “foreign passport application in Vietnam” checklist. The correct process depends first on which foreign nationality the child is entitled to hold.

1. First Question: What Nationality Does Your Child Have?

This is the step parents should resolve before applying for a passport. A child being born in Vietnam does not, by itself, answer the question of which nationality the child holds.

International parents preparing passport documents for a child born in Vietnam

Where one parent is Vietnamese and the other is foreign, nationality issues can require specific consideration.

Vietnam’s civil-status procedure for a birth involving foreign elements requires the parents to provide a written agreement concerning the child’s nationality. Where the parents choose a foreign nationality, the procedure may also require confirmation from the competent authority of that foreign country that the child is entitled to that nationality under that country’s law.

This distinction is extremely important. Birthplace – Vietnam does not automatically mean: Passport – Vietnamese passport

Likewise, having a foreign parent does not automatically mean that the child receives that parent’s nationality in every situation. The child’s nationality depends on the applicable nationality laws and the family’s circumstances.

2. Birth Registration Comes Before the Passport

One of the most important practical points for parents is this:

Do not start with the passport application. Start by establishing the child’s birth and nationality documentation.

Vietnam has a specific procedure for birth registration involving foreign elements.

The current National Public Service Portal states that the application can include the child’s birth certificate, identity documents and, where a parent is foreign, documentation concerning the parents’ agreement on the child’s nationality. If a foreign nationality is chosen, confirmation from the relevant foreign authority may be required.

This means the Vietnamese birth-registration stage can become an important foundation for the subsequent foreign passport application.

The exact sequence may differ depending on the child’s nationality and the embassy’s requirements.

3. Which Embassy Should You Contact?

Once you know which foreign nationality the child is entitled to hold, the next step is usually to contact the relevant embassy or consulate in Vietnam. This is important because passport rules are determined by the issuing country.

The embassy may require parents to complete a separate registration confirming the child’s citizenship or nationality before accepting the passport application.

For example, the embassy could ask for:

• the Vietnamese birth certificate;
• the foreign parent’s passport;
• the other parent’s identification document;
• marriage certificate, where applicable;
• evidence of the foreign parent’s citizenship;
• passport photographs;
• parental consent; and
• additional nationality or citizenship forms.

Do not assume that the document list used by another foreign family will be identical to yours. Each country has its own nationality and passport procedures.

4. What Documents Should Parents Prepare?

Although the requirements differ between countries, international families should generally expect to prepare documents from several categories.

Document	Why It May Be Needed
Vietnamese birth certificate	Evidence of the child’s birth and parentage
Foreign parent’s passport	Establishes identity and nationality
Vietnamese parent’s identification	Establishes the other parent’s identity
Marriage certificate	May establish the parents’ legal relationship
Nationality / citizenship evidence	May establish the child’s entitlement to foreign nationality
Passport photographs	Required by many foreign passport authorities
Embassy application forms	Required by the issuing country
Additional supporting documents	Depends on the foreign country’s nationality law

This is also where document preparation can become complicated. A foreign document may be genuine but still require authentication, legalization or translation before it can be used in Vietnam or submitted to another authority. Likewise, a Vietnamese document may need to be translated or otherwise prepared according to the foreign embassy’s requirements.

5. What If the Parents Are Not Married?

This situation deserves special attention.

If the parents are not married, the foreign embassy may need additional evidence establishing the legal relationship between the foreign parent and the child.

Vietnam also provides a procedure combining birth registration with recognition of father, mother and child in cases involving foreign elements. The current public-service procedure states a processing period of up to 10 days for this combined procedure, subject to the requirements of the case.

This means that for an unmarried international couple, the process may look more like:

Trying to apply for the child’s passport before the parent-child relationship is properly documented can create unnecessary delays.

6. What If the Child Is a Vietnamese Citizen?

This is an important distinction. If the child is determined to have Vietnamese nationality, the appropriate travel document may be a Vietnamese passport rather than a foreign passport.

Vietnam’s official procedures also address Vietnamese passports for children and the inclusion of children in a parent’s Vietnamese passport in certain circumstances. The National Public Service Portal states, for example, that children under nine may be added to a parent’s Vietnamese passport upon written request, while a Vietnamese passport for a child under 14 has a five-year validity period.

Therefore, parents should resolve the nationality question before deciding which passport application to submit. This is one of the most common points of confusion for families with one Vietnamese parent and one foreign parent.

7. Can the Child Travel Immediately After Birth Registration?

Not necessarily. A Vietnamese birth certificate is not itself an international travel document.

If the child will travel using a foreign passport, the family generally needs to complete the relevant foreign passport or travel-document procedure first. The child may also need appropriate Vietnamese immigration documentation depending on the child’s nationality and intended period of stay in Vietnam.

This is particularly important for parents who are planning to travel shortly after the child’s birth. Before booking the flight, confirm:

Does the child have a valid travel document?

Does the child have the required visa or residence status for Vietnam?

Does the destination country recognize the child’s travel document?

Are both parents’ consent documents required?

A flight reservation should be the last step, not the first.

8. What About the Child’s Residence Status in Vietnam?

Obtaining a foreign passport does not automatically answer the child’s right to remain in Vietnam. This is a separate issue.

For example, a child holding a foreign passport may need an appropriate visa or residence arrangement if the family intends to remain in Vietnam. This is why international families should plan: Passport and Vietnam immigration status together.

At DHH LAW FIRM, we frequently recommend that parents address these two issues as part of the same immigration plan, particularly when the child will live in Vietnam for an extended period.

💡 Legal Insight

A child’s passport, nationality and residence status are three different concepts. The passport proves the child’s travel identity and nationality as recognized by the issuing country. It does not, by itself, determine how long the child may remain in Vietnam.

9. Common Mistakes Parents Make

Mistake #1 — Assuming Birth in Vietnam Automatically Gives the Child a Vietnamese Passport

Nationality depends on the applicable legal rules and the family’s circumstances.

Mistake #2 — Contacting the Embassy Before Resolving the Birth Documentation

The embassy may require official evidence of the child’s birth, parentage and nationality.

Mistake #3 — Assuming Every Embassy Uses the Same Procedure

Passport and nationality requirements differ from country to country.

Mistake #4 — Forgetting the Child’s Vietnam Immigration Status

Obtaining a foreign passport does not automatically establish the child’s right to remain in Vietnam.

Mistake #5 — Booking an International Flight Too Early

Parents should confirm that the child has the necessary passport and immigration documents before finalizing travel plans.

10. A Practical Checklist Before Applying

Before contacting the foreign embassy, make sure you have identified:

How DHH LAW FIRM Can Help

For an international family, the passport application itself may not be the most difficult part. The real challenge is often coordinating the documents that come before and after the passport.

At DHH LAW FIRM, we can help families review the child’s birth-registration documents, parent-child relationship, nationality-related paperwork and the immigration consequences of obtaining a foreign passport.

Where parents have different nationalities, DHH LAW FIRM can help identify which issues should be resolved first and which documents may require legalization or translation.

For unmarried parents, we can also assist in reviewing whether recognition of the parent-child relationship needs to be completed alongside birth registration. Once the child has a foreign passport, DHH LAW FIRM can further advise on the child’s Vietnam visa or residence arrangements where applicable.

The objective is to make the process work as one coordinated plan rather than treating birth registration, nationality, passport and immigration as four unrelated procedures.

The Simple Way to Think About the Process

If your child was born in Vietnam and will hold a foreign nationality, remember:

Vietnam registers the child’s birth.

The relevant foreign country determines nationality and issues its passport according to its own law.

Vietnamese immigration authorities deal with the child’s immigration or residence status in Vietnam.

Keeping these three functions separate makes the process much easier to understand.

Conclusion

Obtaining a foreign passport for a child born in Vietnam is usually a multi-stage process rather than a single application.

The family first needs to establish the child’s birth and, where relevant, parentage and nationality. The parents then work with the appropriate foreign embassy or consulate to complete the citizenship and passport requirements. After the passport is issued, the child’s immigration or residence status in Vietnam may need to be addressed separately.

The exact process depends heavily on the child’s nationality, the parents’ nationalities, marital status and the requirements of the relevant foreign country. If you are preparing a passport application for a child born in Vietnam, DHH LAW FIRM can help you review the legal and documentary steps, identify potential issues early and coordinate the Vietnamese immigration side of the process.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can a child born in Vietnam get a foreign passport?

→ Yes, if the child is entitled to the relevant foreign nationality under that country’s law. The passport is normally issued by that country’s competent authority, such as its embassy or consulate.

• Does being born in Vietnam automatically make my child Vietnamese?

→ Not necessarily. The child’s nationality depends on the applicable Vietnamese nationality rules and the circumstances of the parents. Where a foreign parent is involved, nationality may need to be addressed as part of the birth-registration procedure.

• Do I need a Vietnamese birth certificate before applying for a foreign passport?

→ The foreign embassy may require evidence of the child’s birth and parentage. In practice, parents should check the embassy’s requirements early and coordinate the Vietnamese birth-registration process accordingly.

• What if the parents are not married?

→ Additional documentation establishing the parent-child relationship may be required. Vietnam has a procedure combining birth registration with recognition of parentage in cases involving foreign elements.

• Can my child stay in Vietnam after receiving a foreign passport?

→ A foreign passport does not by itself determine the child’s right to remain in Vietnam. The child’s Vietnamese visa or residence status should be reviewed separately.

• Can my child have both Vietnamese and foreign nationality?

→ This is a nationality-law question that depends on the child’s specific circumstances and the laws of the countries involved. It should be assessed before finalizing the child’s nationality documentation.

Contact DHH Law Firm for Support

• Hotline (English): +84 89 935 1777
• Hotline (Vietnamese): +84 89 935 2777
• Email: contact@dhhlawfirm.vn
• Website: www.dhhlawfirm.vn
• HCMC Office: No. 829 Huynh Tan Phat Street, Phu Thuan Ward, Ho Chi Minh City.