DETAILED GUIDE ON PROCEDURES FOR FAMILY VISITS TO FOREIGN NATIONALS SERVING SENTENCES IN VIETNAM

In practice, many families with relatives who are foreign nationals serving sentences in Vietnam often wonder whether they are allowed to visit and why they cannot simply go to the detention facility and request an immediate visit.

Under Vietnamese law, visits to persons in detention or serving sentences are permitted; however, they are subject to strict supervision by the competent authorities. Visits must comply with legal requirements and require prior approval from the relevant authorities. In some cases, visits may be delayed due to incomplete procedures or the absence of required approvals.

Therefore, understanding the applicable regulations and following the correct process from the outset is essential to ensure that visits can be arranged smoothly.

Based on legal regulations and our practical experience in advising and assisting clients with visiting relatives serving sentences, we summarize the required procedure as follows:

- Step 1: Prepare valid identification and supporting documents, such as passport, birth certificate, marriage certificate, or other equivalent documents as required.

- Step 2: Contact the relevant consular authority to obtain a letter of introduction for the visit.

- Step 3: Obtain an official approval letter from the Department of Prison Management, Compulsory Education Institutions and Reform Schools under the Ministry of Public Security (C10).

- Step 4: After completing the above steps and obtaining all required documents, register a visit at the detention facility where the foreign national is serving their sentence. The visit will be arranged subject to the documents being reviewed and accepted as valid.

Properly completing all of the above steps is essential to ensure that the right to visit is facilitated in accordance with the law.

If you require detailed assistance, please contact Celigal Lawyers LLC at  lawyer@celigal.com for timely support.