How to Change Name on Birth Certificate in
Vietnam?
Changing family name, middle name, first name are considered
changing civil status. Due to different reasons that an individual
needs to change his/her name or his/her children’s name on the birth
certificate. Such changes are civil status changes governed under the Law on
Civil status.
Change birth certificate in Vietnam
However, not every case of civil status change registration is
accepted by the competent authority.
Under the provisions Law on Civil status, individual can change
of family name, middle name and first name of individuals in birth registration
contents when there are grounds as prescribed by the civil law.
The “legitimate reasons” to change the family
name is specified in the Civil Code on the right to change name include:
a) Changing the family name of a natural child from biological
father’s to biological mother’s or vice versa;
b) Changing the family name of an adopted child from biological
father’s or mother’s to adoptive father’s or mother’s at the request of the
adoptive parents;
c) If a person ceases to be an adopted child and such person or
his/her biological father or mother request to reclaim the family name which is
given by the biological father or mother;
d) Changing the family name of a person whose biological parents
have been identified upon the request on that father or mother or such person;
e) Changing the family name of a lost person who has discovered
the origin of his/her bloodline;
f) Changing the family name of a person to his/her spouse’s in
the marriage and family relations involving foreign elements in accordance with
law of the country in which the foreign spouse is a citizen or retrieves
his/her family name before the change;
g) Changing the family names of children upon the change of
family names of their father’s or mother’s;
h) Other cases prescribed in by law on civil status affairs.
An individual has the right to request a
competent authority to recognize the change of a given name in any of the
following cases:
a) Where it is so requested by the person who has a given name
which causes confusion or has an adverse effect on his/her feelings or on
his/her honor, legitimate rights and interests;
b) Where the adoptive father or mother of the person wishes to
change the given name of their adopted child; of if a person ceases to be an
adopted child and such person or his/her biological father or mother request to
reclaim the given name which is given by the biological father or mother;
c) Changing the given name of a person whose biological parents
have been identified upon the request on that father or mother or such person;
d) Changing the given name of a lost person who has discovered
the origin of his/her bloodline;
e) Change the given name of a person to his/her spouse’s in the
marriage and family relations involving foreign elements in accordance with law
of the country in which the foreign spouse is a citizen retrieves his/her
family name before the change;
f) Changing of given name of a person whose gender identity is
re-determined or a transgender person;
g) Other cases prescribed in by law on civil status affairs.
The changing of names for the person from nine years old must
have the consent of that person. The changing of names of individuals does not
affect and terminate the rights and civil obligations established under their
old name.
Thus, if the use of one’s first name, last name and middle name
cause confusion, affecting the family love, honor, rights and lawful interests,
causing difficulties in the transaction, he/she may conduct the name changing.
Procedures to change name will be performed at the District
People’s Committee where the person has registered the birth.
Dossier includes:
–Declaration (in the prescribed form);
–Presenting the original birth certificate of the person who
need for change names and civil status;
–The relevant documents as a basis for the change or correction
of civic status.
ANT Lawyers- Law
firm in Vietnam has experience in civil and family matters to
advice clients whom are interested for such legal service in Vietnam. We assist our clients in the
process of reviewing agreements, procedures and concerned matters in civil
and family.
