Law on amendments to the Law on Representative Missions of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Abroad of Vietnam 2026

 

LAW

ON AMENDMENTS TO THE LAW ON REPRESENTATIVE MISSIONS OF THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM ABROAD

Pursuant to the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, amended by Resolution No. 203/2025/QH15;

The National Assembly hereby promulgates the Law on amendments to the Law on Representative Missions of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Abroad No. 33/2009/QH12, amended by Law No. 19/2017/QH14.

Article 1. Amendments to the Law on Representative Missions of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Abroad

1. Amendments to Article 6 as follows:

“Article 6. Serving national development

1. Research into strategies, policies, laws, development trends and new areas of cooperation serving international integration, trade, industry, agriculture, investment, development assistance, science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, strategic technology, environmental protection, healthcare, education, training, tourism, labor cooperation, law-making and law enforcement, and other related matters of the receiving State and receiving international organization; reporting to competent authorities on strategic policies and decisions of the receiving State and receiving international organization that have an impact on Vietnam’s development.

2. Providing information and introducing cooperation opportunities and potential between Vietnamese enterprises and enterprises of the receiving State; assisting in verifying information relating to economic activities and legal person status of enterprises in the receiving State upon request; supporting Vietnamese enterprises in their development and operations in the receiving State; proactively forecasting economic and trade policies and measures that the foreign side may apply to the Vietnamese State and enterprises.

3. Recommending to competent authorities appropriate policies and measures, and organizing their implementation, to develop economic relations between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the receiving State and receiving international organization, and to promote people-to-people exchanges.

4. Participating in promoting and advancing cooperation in: trade, investment, cultural industries, new forms of economic cooperation serving international integration; attracting foreign investment into Vietnam and promoting investment from Vietnam abroad; mobilizing aid and promoting Vietnamese tourism in the receiving State and receiving international organization; science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, education, training and healthcare cooperation between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the receiving State; lobbying States and international organizations for the inscription and recognition of cultural heritage; developing overseas labor markets; monitoring and advancing the implementation of international commitments; and technology transfer, and attracting experts and scientists to work and contribute to the country’s development.”.

2. Amendments to the title of Article 8 and certain clauses of Article 8 as follows:

a) Amendment to the title of Article 8 as follows:

“Article 8. Performance of consular duties and protection of citizens”;

b) Amendment to clause 1 as follows:

“1. Providing consular protection of the interests of the State, and the rights and legitimate interests of Vietnamese citizens, legal persons and enterprises, and performing the consular duties prescribed in this Article, on the basis of compliance with Vietnamese law, the laws of the receiving State and international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the receiving State are parties, and in conformity with international law and practice. Proactively and promptly implementing, or recommending to competent authorities, appropriate measures to protect citizens abroad in urgent and large-scale incidents.”;

c) Amendment to clause 4 as follows:

“4. Issuing, extending, amending, supplementing and annulling passports and other documents valid for exit from and entry into Vietnam, in conformity with Vietnamese law and international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a party.”;

d) Amendment to clause 5 as follows:

5. Issuing and annulling visas; issuing, withdrawing and annulling Vietnamese visa exemption certificates, in conformity with Vietnamese law and international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a party.”;

dd) Amendment to clause 13 as follows:

“13. Performing certain duties relating to extradition, transfer of sentenced persons, mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and mutual legal assistance in civil matters, in accordance with Vietnamese law and international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a party.”.

3. Amendment to clause 3 of Article 9 as follows:

“3. Recommending to competent authorities policies and measures to maintain the bonds of the overseas Vietnamese community with their homeland and country; encouraging overseas Vietnamese to preserve their national identity, promoting the preservation and spread of the Vietnamese language and script, and participating in activities across the social spheres of the country.”.

4. Amendment to clause 1 of Article 10 as follows:

“1. Directing and guiding, within the scope of their authority, the unified implementation of foreign policy for representatives of Vietnamese agencies, localities and organizations in the receiving State and receiving international organization, and delegations sent by Vietnamese agencies and organizations on official business to the receiving State and receiving international organization.”.

5. Addition of clause 4 after clause 3 of Article 11 as follows:

“4. Participating in and implementing digital transformation in the operations and transactions of the representative mission, in conformity with Vietnamese law, international law, and the laws and conditions of the receiving State.”.

6. Amendments to certain clauses of Article 14 as follows:

a) Amendment to clause 1 as follows:

“1. Based on the overall staffing quota assigned by the competent authority to representative missions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall take charge and cooperate with the Ministry of Home Affairs and relevant agencies to develop a comprehensive plan on organizational structure and staffing quotas of representative missions. The Minister of Foreign Affairs shall submit the plan to the Prime Minister for approval.”;

b) Amendment to clause 3 as follows:

“3. Based on the comprehensive organizational plan approved by the Prime Minister, and taking into account operational and foreign affairs requirements, after reaching agreement with relevant agencies, the Minister of Foreign Affairs shall decide specifically on the organizational structure and personnel for each sector of the representative mission, to be responsible for the following sectors:

a) Politics and foreign affairs;

b) National defense and security;

c) Economy, trade, industry, finance, investment, tourism, labor, science, technology, innovation, digital transformation, digital technology industries, agriculture, environment and law;

d) Culture, information, press, education, training and healthcare;

dd) Consular affairs and overseas Vietnamese community affairs;

e) Administration, protocol and management;

g) Other sectors as provided by law.”;

c) Addition of clause 4 after clause 3 as follows:

“4. The Minister of Foreign Affairs shall decide on the transfer of staffing quotas under their management among representative missions; and shall decide on the transfer of staffing quotas of seconded officials among representative missions on the basis of a request from the head of the agency seconding the officials and the agreement of the Minister of Home Affairs.

The transfer of staffing quotas among representative missions shall be carried out based on mission requirements, duty stations, and the principle of not exceeding the overall staffing quota assigned to representative missions.”.

7. Amendments to certain points and clauses of Article 15 as follows:

a) Amendment to clause 1 as follows:

“1. The preparation of estimates and the management, use and final accounts of the state budget, as well as accounting work, shall be carried out in US dollars and in local currency converted into Vietnamese dong. The State shall ensure the necessary funding in US dollars for representative missions to perform their assigned functions, duties and powers.”;

b) Amendment to point a of clause 2 as follows:

“a) Capital expenditure funding shall be allocated to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for distribution to representative missions, except for construction investment projects of agencies in the fields of national defense, security and trade;”;

c) Amendment to clause 3 as follows:

“3. The preparation of estimates, allocation and final accounts of funding for representative missions shall be carried out in accordance with applicable law. The Government shall provide detailed regulations on procedures for procurement, repair, renovation, upgrading of assets and equipment; expenditure on leasing and procuring goods and services; repair, renovation, upgrading, expansion and new construction of work items within investment construction projects; and other necessary tasks at representative missions, after the competent authority has assigned the state budget estimate.”.

8. Amendment to point c of clause 2 of Article 17 as follows:

“c) Has a thorough understanding of and the capacity to advise on, direct and effectively organize the implementation of the State’s foreign policy orientations, lines and policies; has capacity for synthesis, analysis and forecasting; has capacity to organize, manage, unite and build internal cohesion, and to coordinate with relevant agencies, organizations and individuals in performing assigned duties; has experience in management and work in the field of foreign affairs; has capacity to organize the implementation of digital transformation; has previously held a deputy director-level position or equivalent or above, or has been conferred a diplomatic rank of Counselor or above, or is an expert in foreign affairs and international integration recognized in accordance with Government regulations;”.

9. Amendment to Article 18 as follows:

“Article 18. Diplomatic titles, consular titles and specialized diplomatic titles at representative missions

1. Diplomatic titles include:

a) Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary;

b) Ambassador;

c) Minister/Deputy Chief of Mission;

d) Minister Counselor;

dd) Counselor;

e) First Secretary;

g) Second Secretary;

h) Third Secretary;

i) Attaché.

2. Consular titles include:

a) Consul General;

b) Deputy Consul General;

c) Consul;

d) Vice Consul;

dd) Consular Agent.

3. Specialized diplomatic titles include:

a) Chargé d’affaires;

b) Defense Attaché;

c) Deputy Defense Attaché;

d) Assistant Defense Attaché;

dd) Other specialized diplomatic titles by sector as decided by the Minister of Foreign Affairs on the basis of a request from the head of the agency seconding the officials, ensuring conformity with international practice and the regulations of the receiving State and receiving international organization.”.

10. Addition of certain clauses of Article 21 as follows:

a) Addition of clause 2a after clause 2 as follows:

“2a. Deciding on the conclusion and implementation of cooperation agreements between the representative mission and foreign partners within the scope of authority, functions and duties of the representative mission. The conclusion and implementation of cooperation agreements shall be carried out in accordance with the guidelines of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.”;

b) Addition of clause 4a after clause 4 as follows:

“4a. Directing and organizing the implementation of digital transformation and technology applications, and maintaining information security and cybersecurity in the performance of the functions and duties of the representative mission and in the management and operation of the representative mission in accordance with applicable law.”.

11. Amendments to certain points and clauses of Article 26 as follows:

a) Amendment to point c of clause 1 as follows:

“c) Allowances and preferential entitlements in cases of assignment in areas experiencing armed conflict, natural disaster, dangerous epidemic or particularly difficult working conditions. Travel expense allowances and treatment cost allowances in a third country in cases of natural disaster, dangerous epidemic or armed conflict posing a direct threat to the representative mission;”;

b) Addition of clause 1a after clause 1 as follows:

“1a. In addition to the entitlements prescribed in clause 1 of this Article, members of the representative mission shall be entitled to a concurrent accreditation allowance (if applicable).”;

c) Amendment to clause 3 as follows:

“3. Minor children accompanying members of the representative mission shall be entitled to health insurance premiums, the same airline ticket entitlement as the spouse of a member of the representative mission, travel expense allowances and treatment cost allowances in a third country in cases of natural disaster, dangerous epidemic or armed conflict posing a direct threat to the representative mission. Children accompanying members of the representative mission shall be provided with monthly tuition fee support of up to the base living allowance per month through the end of upper secondary school in the receiving State.”.

12. Amendments to the title of Article 32 and certain clauses of Article 32 as follows:

a) Amendment to the title of Article 32 as follows:

“Article 32. Authority and responsibilities of the Minister of Foreign Affairs”;

b) Amendment to clause 6 as follows:

“6. Recommending to the Prime Minister to submit to the National Assembly Standing Committee for ratification proposals for the appointment and removal from office of Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary; recommending to the Prime Minister to submit to the State President the sending and recall of the State President’s Representative at international organizations.

Deciding on the extension of the term of office of Ambassadors Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary based on the context, situation and requirements of foreign affairs at the duty station, and reporting to the State President, the National Assembly Standing Committee and the Prime Minister. The maximum period of extension of the term of office shall not exceed 36 months.”;

c) Addition of clause 6a after clause 6 as follows:

“6a. Directing the head of mission to return home based on foreign affairs or management requirements; where necessary, reporting to the competent authority for consideration and decision on the recall and removal from office of the head of mission in accordance with applicable regulations.”;

d) Amendment to clause 7 as follows:

“7. Appointing, extending the term of office of, and recalling members of the representative mission, except as provided in clause 6 of this Article.”;

dd) Addition of clauses 8a and 8b after clause 8 as follows:

“8a. Taking charge and cooperating with relevant agencies, and on the basis of agreement with the receiving State, to decide on the establishment and adjustment of consular districts of Vietnamese consular posts abroad. Issuing regulations on the principles for the resolution of consular affairs and the signing of consular documents at representative missions, in conformity with the particular characteristics of the organization and operations of representative missions.

8b. Providing regulations on the establishment, temporary suspension and termination of activities, functions, duties and powers of consular posts headed by honorary consuls, and on the appointment, removal from office and activities of honorary consuls.”;

e) Deletion of the words “, inspection” in clause 4.

13. Amendment to point b of clause 1 of Article 33 as follows:

“b) Notifying the representative mission of the expected program and plan for foreign affairs activities in the receiving State and receiving international organization at least 7 working days before the foreign affairs activities take place; where the representative mission’s support is requested, sending the request at least 30 days before the foreign affairs activities take place; in urgent cases or in accordance with instructions of the competent authority, notifying the representative mission immediately upon arising and clearly stating the reasons;”.

14. Addition of clause 3 after clause 2 of Article 35 as follows:

“3. Seconded official units attached to the representative mission shall report to the head of mission periodically or as required by the head of mission on the results of their foreign affairs activities and specific tasks assigned by the representative mission.”.

15. Annulment of clause 8 of Article 4 and Article 28.

Article 2. Implementation provisions

1. This Law comes into force as of July 1, 2026.

2. Amendments to clause 11 of Article 8 of the Law on Exit and Entry of Vietnamese Citizens No. 49/2019/QH14, amended by Law No. 23/2023/QH15 and Law No. 118/2025/QH15, as follows:

“11. Persons currently serving in the diplomatic sector who have been conferred a diplomatic rank or hold a diplomatic title, consular title or specialized diplomatic title at a representative mission in accordance with the Law on Representative Missions of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Abroad.”.

This Law was passed by the 15th National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam at its First Session on April 23, 2026.