South Korean citizens given insights into local laws on our platform
The Vietnamese community in the Republic of Korea (RoK) continues to grow and integrate into the host society, prompting a heightened focus on providing legal support and guidance for its members. In line with this, the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (SCOV) under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs organised a legal dissemination and consultation session for Vietnamese citizens residing in East Asia.
Held in a hybrid format, the event attracted participation from Vietnamese community members, Vietnamese officials, and South Korean officials. The aim was to strengthen the understanding of Vietnamese laws among overseas Vietnamese and provide information on the legal systems of other countries, particularly South Korea.
The key regulations and legal considerations for Vietnamese expatriates living in South Korea, as discussed in the session, primarily focused on immigration, visa, and nationality-related matters that affect their legal status and residency rights.
One of the significant changes in South Korea's visa policies is the updated F-3 Dependent visa application process. In-country applications are no longer accepted, and dependents must now apply through the Visa Issuance Confirmation Number (VICN) process, requiring apostilled marriage or birth certificates, proof of the principal applicant’s annual salary, a letter of guarantee, and confirmation of residence issued by the sponsoring company.
Vietnamese expatriates aiming for long-term residence can consider various visa types leading to permanent residency, such as the F-5-1 General Permanent Resident Visa (after five years continuous residence with eligible visas), the F-5-2 Spousal Permanent Resident Visa (for spouses of South Korean citizens), or the F-5-5 High-Value Investor Visa (for significant investors). These visas require financial stability, good conduct, and basic Korean language and cultural understanding.
Recent amendments to Vietnamese nationality law also allow overseas Vietnamese to hold dual citizenship without renouncing their foreign nationality, provided this retention complies with South Korean law and does not harm Vietnam’s lawful interests. However, dual nationals seeking government positions, military service, or political office must renounce their foreign nationality to ensure national loyalty and security.
The SCOV session was organised to help Vietnamese expatriates understand how to comply with South Korean immigration rules, manage their visa status effectively, and benefit from the new Vietnamese dual citizenship provisions. It emphasised the importance of maintaining legal documentation such as marriage certificates and proof of financial capability to support visa applications.
The event is part of a series of major policies over the past decades to address the needs of the Vietnamese community abroad, which has received close attention and guidance from the Party and State. SCOV Chairman Nguyen Trung Kien emphasised that caring for the Vietnamese community abroad is a key focus of Vietnam's foreign affairs and national solidarity efforts.
The Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK, Vũ Hồ, also emphasised the importance of providing accurate and comprehensive information about both Vietnamese and Korean laws, especially regulations related to investment in Vietnam and foreign labor in the RoK.
Overseas Vietnamese who require additional information after the event can contact the Vietnamese embassy in the RoK or the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (SCOV) for further support.
Approximately 350,000 Vietnamese people live, study, and work in various provinces and cities across the East Asian country, making it essential to continue providing relevant legal information and support to ensure their integration and secure a solid legal status in their host country.
[1] https://www.mofa.go.kr/english/brd/m_4677/view.do?seq=1173231 [2] https://www.mofa.go.kr/english/brd/m_5763/view.do?seq=16941 [3] https://vietnamlawmagazine.vn/dual-citizenship-and-nationality-laws-in-vietnam/ [4] https://vietnamlawmagazine.vn/dual-citizenship-and-nationality-laws-in-vietnam/
- The event organized by the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (SCOV) underscored the significance of understanding both Vietnamese and South Korean laws, particularly with regards to investment in Vietnam and foreign labor in the Republic of Korea (RoK), as emphasized by the Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK, Vũ Hồ.
- Recognizing the increasing integration of the Vietnamese community in the RoK, the SCOV session focused on providing legal guidance for Vietnamese expatriates in South Korea, including changes in the F-3 Dependent visa application process and the implications of South Korea's visa policies on their legal status and residency rights.
- In light of recent amendments, Vietnamese expatriates can now hold dual citizenship, but there are restrictions when seeking government positions, military service, or political office in Vietnam, as dual nationals must renounce their foreign nationality to ensure national loyalty and security. This information, along with guidance on complying with South Korean immigration rules and managing visa status effectively, was addressed during the SCOV session on education-and-self-development and AI technology.
