Chương IV Luật tín ngưỡng, tôn giáo 2016: Đăng ký sinh hoạt tôn giáo tập trung, đăng ký hoạt động tôn giáo

Chapter IV

REGISTRATION OF RELIGIOUS PRACTICE AND RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES

Article 16. Requirements for registration of congregational religious practice

1. A religious organization shall apply for registration of its followers' congregational practice of religion at the locations ineligible for the establishment of a religious affiliate or an organization with certified registration of religious activities shall apply for registration of its members’ congregational practice of religion on the following conditions:

a) Have a legitimate location for religious practice;

b) The congregational practicing group has a representative who holds Vietnamese citizenship, resides permanently in Vietnam, possess full capacity for civil acts, is not bound by any remedial administrative measures concerning folk belief or religion, is not associated with any conviction records or is not accused of any crimes pursuant to the legislation on criminal procedure;

c) The content of the religious practice is not prohibited pursuant Article 5 herein.

2. Followers of a religion, who do not fit in with the definition in Section 1 of this Article shall apply for registration of their congregational religious practice upon satisfying the requirements defined in Section 1 of this Article and the following conditions:

a) Observe religious tenets and law;

b) The name of the congregational practicing group does not overlap with those of the religious organizations or the organizations with certified registration of religious activities, of the political organizations, of the socio-politic organizations or of the national heroes or men of greatness.

Article 17. Procedure and authority to certify the registration of congregational religious practice

1. A religious organization, an organization with certified registration of religious activities or the representative(s) of a group of followers as stated in Section 2 of Article 16 herein shall apply in writing to the People’s Committee of the commune where the legitimate location for religious practice exists for registration of congregational religious practice.

2. The application includes:

a) The form of application, which specifies the name of the applicant organization; the name of the religion; the full name and residential address of the representative; the content, location and time of religious practice, quantity of participants;

b) The written evidences of the possession of a legitimate location for religious practice;

c) The resume(s) of the representative(s) of the congregational practicing group;

d) The written summary of the religious tenets and law if the registration is subject to Section 2, Article 16 herein.

3. People’s Committee of the commune shall be responsible for reverting in writing in 20 days upon receiving the valid application. If such application is rejected, reason(s) shall be notified.

Article 18. Requirements for certification of an organization’s registration of religious activities

An organization's registration of religious activities shall be certified on the following conditions:

1. Religious tenets, laws and rites exist;

2. Its principles, objectives and operational regulations are not contrary to the law;

3. The name of the organization does not overlap with those of the religious organizations or the organizations with certified registration of religious activities, of the political organizations, of the socio-politic organizations or of the national heroes or men of greatness;

4. The representative(s) or head of the organization holds Vietnamese citizenship, resides permanently in Vietnam, possess full capacity for civil acts, is not bound by any remedial administrative measures concerning folk belief or religion, is not associated with any conviction records or is not accused of any crimes pursuant to the legislation on criminal procedure;

5. It is based at a legitimate location;

6. The content of its religious activities is not prohibited pursuant to Article 5 herein.

Article 19. Procedure and authority to certify the registration of religious activities

1. An organization that qualifies pursuant to Article 18 herein shall apply in writing to competent government authority defined in Section 3 of this Article for registration of religious activities.

2. The application includes:

a) The form of application, which specifies the name of the organization; the name of the religion; the principles and objectives; the contents and area of operation; the origin and progress of development in Vietnam; the full name of the representative; the quantity of followers; the organizational structure and expected location of its base;

b) The list, resumes, judicial records and summaries of religious activities of the representative and expected leaders of the organization;

c) The written summary of the religious tenets, laws and rites;

d) The operational regulations of the organization;

dd) The written evidences of the availability of a legitimate location for its facilities.

3. Authority to certify the registration of religious activities:

a) The body of the People's Committee of a province, which is specialized in state management of folk belief and religion (hereinafter referred to as the provincial bodies specialized in folk belief and religion), shall issue certificates of registration of religious activities to the organizations operating solely in such province in 60 days upon receiving a full and valid application. If an application is rejected, reason(s) shall be notified;

b) The central government’s body responsible for state management of folk belief and religion shall issue certificates of registration of religious activities to the organizations operating in multiple provinces in 60 days upon receiving a full and valid application. If an application is rejected, reason(s) shall be notified.

Article 20. Operations of the organizations with certified registration of religious activities

1. An organization, after the certification of its registration of religious activities, can carry out the following operations:

a) Organize religious ceremonies, religious practices, sermons and courses of training in religious tenets;

b) Appoint, elect and nominate sub-dignitaries;

c) Repair and overhaul its base;

d) Participate in charitable and humanitarian activities;

dd) Organize general meetings by its charter. 

2. When conducting the operations defined in Section 1 of this Article, the organization shall adhere to this Law and other relevant legal regulations.