How long is state secrets protected

Legal Consulting Office of Lao Dong Newspaper answers:

Article 19 of the 2025 Law on Protection of State Secrets (effective from March 1, 2026) stipulates the term of protection of state secrets as follows:

1. The period of protection of state secrets is the period of time calculated from the date of determination of the confidentiality of state secrets to the end of the following period:

a) 30 years for state secrets of Top Secret level;

b) 20 years for state secrets of Top Secret level;

c) 10 years for classified state secrets.

2. The term of protection of state secrets may be shorter than the term specified in Clause 1 of this Article and must be determined in documents and objects containing state secrets by the "Term of protection of state secrets" stamp or other appropriate form when determining the level of confidentiality.

3. The period of protection of state secrets for state secret documents that are drafts or other documents that do not show the date of determination of confidentiality shall be determined by the "Term of protection of state secrets" mark.

4. In case of using state secrets of other agencies and organizations, the period of protection of state secrets is calculated from the date the other agency or organization determines the state secret and implements it with the "Term of protection of state secrets" stamp.

5. The deadline for protecting state secrets about locations ends when competent agencies and organizations do not use state secret locations.

Thus, from March 1, 2026, the time for protecting state secrets is regulated as above.