If you're planning a trip to Vietnam, you'll need a valid visa to enter the country. But what if you want to stay longer than your visa allows? Fortunately, there are options for extending or renewing your Vietnam visa. In this article, we'll cover everything you need to know about Vietnam visa extension and renewal.
Types of Vietnam Visas
Before we dive into the details of visa extension and renewal, let's review the different types of visas available for Vietnam:
- Tourist Visa: This type of visa is suitable for those who plan to visit Vietnam for tourism purposes. It's valid for up to 3 months, and you can extend it for an additional 3 months.
- Business Visa: This type of visa is for those who want to conduct business in Vietnam. It's also valid for up to 3 months, and you can extend it for an additional 3 months.
- Work Visa: This type of visa is for those who plan to work in Vietnam. It's valid for up to 1 year, and you can extend it for an additional 3 years.
- Student Visa: This type of visa is for those who plan to study in Vietnam. It's valid for the duration of your studies, and you can extend it as needed.
Now that you know the different types of visas available, let's explore the options for extending or renewing your Vietnam visa.
Vietnam Visa Extension
Applying for a visa extension is a process that enables foreigners to extend their stay in Vietnam without the need to exit the country. Once approved, an extension stamp will be added to their passport, indicating their new authorized stay duration. It's worth noting that a visa extension is only valid for single entry purposes.
Vietnam Visa Renewal
Visa renewal and visa extension share similarities as both options enable foreigners to extend their stay in Vietnam without the requirement to leave the country.
In contrast to visa extension, visa renewal involves obtaining a new visa sticker and stay duration stamp on the passport, reflecting the updated duration permission. As a result, the visa renewal fee is typically higher than the visa extension fee, as it includes both the stamping fee and visa sticker fee.
Visa Extension/Renewal Requirements
To extend/review your Vietnam visa, your original passport must:
- Be valid for at least 06 months from the time of extension/renewal.
- Have at least 02 blank pages.
What are the reasons to opt for a visa extension?
- The only choice is to continue remaining in Vietnam legally after your visa expiry date without leaving the country
- Save your cost as the extension fee is much cheaper than the renewal fee.
- Avoid being taken into the blacklist of the Vietnam Immigration Department because of overstaying.
- Have more time to settle your business in Vietnam which might be interrupted if you leave Vietnam and then come back with a new visa.
Where to Extend Visa in Vietnam?
Hanoi immigration office: 44-46 Tran Phu, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi
Immigration office in Da Nang: 78 Le Loi, Thach Thang, Hai Chau, Da Nang
Immigration office in Ho Chi Minh City: 196 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh city
Working hours: Monday-Friday (Morning: 7am – 11h30am; Afternoon: 1h30pm – 5pm) and Saturday (Morning time only)
How to extend Vietnam visa?
There are two options for obtaining a visa extension: applying directly at the Vietnam Immigration Department, or utilizing our Vietnam visa extension service for a more convenient process.
If you choose to utilize our visa extension service, the process of successfully extending your visa can be achieved in just three simple steps.
- Step 1: Send us a soft copy of your passport and the page containing your current Vietnam visa and we will inform you whether your visa can be extended or not
- Step 2: Send your original passport to our address and pay the extension fee
- Step 3: Get your passport with extended stay within 8 working days normally or 3 working days in urgent case upon your request
Vietnam Visa Extension Cost and Duration
The visa extension in Vietnam can be applied for the types of visas below:
- Extend original visa exemption for up to 1 month
- Extend original 1-month tourist visa for 1 month
- Extend the original 1-month business visa for up to 3 months
- Extend original 3 months tourist visa for 1 month;
- Extend the original 3 months business visa for up to 3 months
- Extend the original 5 years visa exemption certificate for up to 6 months
- Extend original e-visa for up to 3 months
- Extend 1-year tourist visa for US passport holders (tourist/business) for 1 month
- Extend 1-year business visa for US passport holders for up to 3 months
- Extend the temporary stay of APEC Business Travel Card holders for up to 3 months
Disclaimers: Despite our efforts to maintain accurate and current information, it is possible that there might be changes of which we are unaware.