Divorce with foreigners residing in Vietnam

Divorce with a foreign national residing abroad is often complicated, but when the other party is residing in Vietnam (holding a temporary residence permit, permanent residence permit, or working here), the legal process has its own advantages and considerations. How can it be resolved quickly? Which court has jurisdiction? Apolo Lawyers will provide you with accurate answers according to current legal regulations.

1. Jurisdiction of the Court
When a divorce case involves a foreign element and the defendant (the person being sued) or both spouses reside in Vietnam, the jurisdiction is determined as follows:

• Provincial/City People Court: This is the general jurisdiction to handle divorce cases involving foreign elements (according to Article 37 of the Civil Procedure Code). Examples: Ho Chi Minh City People Court, Hanoi People Court.
• Commune People Court: Only handles cases in special circumstances between Vietnamese citizens residing in border areas and citizens of neighboring countries (Laos, Cambodia, China) also residing in border areas.

Divorce with foreigners residing in Vietnam

2. Required Documents 

When divorcing a foreigner residing in Vietnam, to ensure the court processes your application quickly, you need to prepare the following documents:

• Application/Lawsuit: Using the standard court form.
• Marriage Certificate: Original. If married abroad, the marriage must be registered in Vietnam before filing the divorce petition.
• Identification Documents: Vietnamese Citizen Identification Card (CCCD) and foreign spouse Passport (Certified copy).
• Residence Documents: Temporary Residence Permit (TRC), Permanent Residence Permit, or Temporary Residence Confirmation (CT07/CT08) of the foreigner in Vietnam.
• Birth Certificate of the child: (If there are children).
• Property Documents: Land title certificate, vehicle registration, savings passbook (If property division is required).

3. Procedures in the Digital Age 2026
Currently, divorce procedures have been optimized through the National Public Service Portal and the Electronic Court system:

Step 1: Submit documents online: You can send scanned documents through the electronic portal for preliminary review by the Court.

Step 2: Pay court fees: After receiving notification, you pay the advance court fees via bank transfer or e-wallet.

Step 3: Mediation: The Court will hold mediation sessions. If the foreigner is not fluent in Vietnamese, an interpreter must be present.

Step 4: Issuance of decision/Judgment: The Court issues a Decision recognizing the consensual divorce or opens a unilateral trial.

Divorce with foreigners residing in Vietnam

4. Apolo Lawyers – Solicitors & Litigators provides consulting services on divorce procedures

Our company provides fast unilateral divorce services in Ho Chi Minh City, such as:

• Advice on the right to request the Court to settle a divorce;
• Advising on conciliation procedures at the grassroots level;
• Advice on divorce proceedings;
• Advising on grounds for divorce;
• Advising on regulations on consent divorce and divorce at the request of one party;
• Advice on principles of the property division upon divorce and procedures for property division;
• Advice on divorce settlement procedures at the Court.

Hopefully, with the information we shared above, Apolo Lawyers – Solicitors & Litigators has helped you better understand the cases in which a unilateral divorce is not allowed. In order for the divorce to be resolved quickly, the divorce petitioner can conduct the divorce procedures by himself or ask for a divorce procedure consulting service. When coming to the divorce procedure consulting service at Apolo Lawyers, with a team of knowledgeable legal consultants, they regularly guide and prepare divorce documents.

Divorce is quite a complicated procedure. If you still have any questions, do not hesitate to contact Apolo Lawyers – Solicitors & Litigators. Hotline: (+84) 903. 419. 479 and Email: contact@apolo.com.vn to be supported and helped in the most optimal way.

>>> Read more: Resolving Spousal Relationships in Unilateral Divorce

>>> Read more: Can a Pregnant Wife Get a Divorce in Vietnam?