Vietnam - Hanoi to tighten immigration rules

VietNamNet Bridge – The updated draft law of capital city said that Hanoi may restrict immigration into the city in the near future.

The government said tightening immigration rules was not the best way but could prove necessary now.

Minister of Justice Ha Hung Cuong said Hanoi is having to bear huge pressure from fast urbanisation and  immigration. Since the Residency Law came into effect in 2006, around 50,000 people registered to live permanently in the city each year, representing a three-fold increase.

While in reality, the infrastructure and services of the city such as health care, education, traffic can't cope up with such fast population boom and the city's budget can't afford the increased service provision. Two solutions were offered.

Workers who are regular personnel of some company or have indefinite contracts can register to live permanently in the city on two conditions: they must have their own home or established long-term residences with individuals or organisation who have business permits to rent out homes; they also must live in the city for at least three years.

The second solution is to make sure that rented homes must have at least five square metres per resident.

The Ministry of Justice said if the first solution is carried out, the number of people registered for permanent residency will decrease by 28% (around 14,000 people) and the second solution will decrease 39%, 19,100 people.

The new regulation will ban people from registering if they just rent homes or temporarily live with friends. The place they register for permanent residency must be their temporary home.

Currently, the first solution is more in favoured.

However, Chairman of the Law Committee Phan Trung Ly said Hanoi will need more comprehensive solutions in both urban planning, including moving workplaces, hospitals, education facilities and administrative headquarters to the suburbs and build more traffic routes which connect the suburbs with the city's centre.

Regulation to collect traffic fees to limit personal vehicles was also mentioned. Many people expressed their opinion that this regulation was unnecessary and proposed the decision be reconsidered.

The government approved to let Hanoi double their fines for culture, land and construction sector violations.

VNN/DTriNews

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