Vietnam Visa Extension

Overstaying the validity period of a Vietnamese visa or staying in Vietnam beyond the permitted duration of visa exemption will result in administrative penalties, reporting to the authorities, and being placed on the “blacklist” by the Vietnamese Immigration Department. This can make it more difficult for foreigners to return to Vietnam in the future.

To avoid such situations, foreigners who wish to continue their legal stay in Vietnam have two options for extending their stay (temporary residence extension): doing visa runs or extending their Vietnamese visa without leaving the country.

Foreigners who use an expired temporary residence certificate, or extend their temporary residence beyond the allowed period without proper authorization from the authorities may be fined from 500,000 VND to 20,000,000 VND (according to Decree 144/2021/ND-CP, effective from 01/01/2022).

Types of visas and forms of visa extension?

Visa types such as TT, ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, LĐ1, LĐ2, DN, DL, VR, etc. are quite common in Vietnam nowadays. Depending on individual circumstances and specific needs, foreigners can choose different types or methods for visa extension:

• Visa extension for 1 month, single entry: Allows entry once and stay for 1 month. The visa expires upon exiting the country.
• Visa extension for 1 month, multiple entries: Allows staying for 1 month and permits multiple entries within 30 days.
• Visa extension for 3 months, single entry: Allows entry once and stay for 3 months. The visa expires upon exiting the country.
• Visa extension for 3 months, multiple entries: Allows staying for 3 months and permits multiple entries within 90 days.
• Visa extension for 1 year, single entry: Allows entry once and stay for 1 year. The visa expires upon exiting the country.
• Visa extension for 1 year, multiple entries: Allows staying for 1 year and permits multiple entries within 12 months.

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Conditions to extend Vietnamese visa?

Extending a Vietnamese visa allows foreigners to continue their stay in Vietnam without having to exit and re-enter the country. This is also known as a stay extension. Therefore, the passport of the foreigner will be stamped with a specific extended period.

To be eligible for a visa extension, foreigners need to meet the following conditions:

• The original passport must have a validity of at least 06 months, with at least 02 blank pages from the time of submitting the extension application.
• The current visa of the foreigner must still be valid.
• Supporting documents to prove the purpose of their entry.
• No crimes committed during their stay in Vietnam.
• Confirmation of temporary residence registration is required.

Documents required to extend Vietnamese visa?

To extend a visa, foreign individuals as well as Vietnamese individuals, organizations, and businesses acting as guarantors need to prepare 01 set of documents, including:

• Application form for visa issuance or stay extension – Form NA5.
• The original passport of the foreigner with remaining validity.
• Valid Vietnamese visa.
• Confirmation of temporary residence registration.
• In the case of organizations or businesses acting as guarantors, additional documents such as business registration certificates, establishment permits, etc., are required.
• In the case of individual guarantors (for family visits), additional documents such as identification cards/passports of the guarantor, marriage registration certificate, household registration, etc., are required.
• Supporting documents specific to the purpose of the extension, such as work permits, certificates confirming exemption from work permits, investment certificates, etc.
• Power of attorney/introduction letters (depending on specific cases).

Note: Each type of visa extension requires different documents and paperwork. Therefore, please contact PNVT for specific consultation and assistance regarding your particular case.

Where can foreigners extend their visas?

Currently, there are two ways to extend a visa for foreigners: 1) using visa extension services, or 2) personally submitting the visa extension application at the immigration authorities:

• Immigration office at the province or city where the individual guarantor is registered for residence, or where the organizational guarantor has its headquarter; or
• Immigration Department – Ministry of Public Security:

1. Hanoi: 44-46 Tran Phu, Dien Bien, Ba Dinh, Hanoi.
2. Ho Chi Minh City: 196 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Ward 6, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City.
3. Da Nang: 78 Le Loi, Thach Thang, Hai Chau, Da Nang.

Procedure to extend visas for foreigners in Vietnam?

With PNV, the visa extension process in Vietnam is extremely easy. You only need to follow the 3 steps below:

1. Send a scanned copy of the passport page and the page containing the valid visa to PNV’s email address. We will verify and inform you whether the visa can be extended or not.
2. Send the original passport and relevant documents according to the list provided by us to our office in Ho Chi Minh City, then make the visa extension fee payment.
3. Receive the passport back with the extended visa within 5-8 business days for regular processing or 3-5 business days for urgent processing.

How long is the visa validity?

The duration of a visa after extension will be determined by the immigration authorities based on the validity of the original passport, the current visa being used, and the supporting documents indicating the purpose of entry, such as marriage certificates, work permits, investment certificates, etc.

You can refer to the visa durations for different types of visas according to Article 9 of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam 2014, amended and supplemented in 2019, as follows:

• SQ, EV: Not exceeding 30 days.
• HN, DL: Not exceeding 03 months.
• VR: Not exceeding 06 months.
• NG1, NG2, NG3, NG4, LV1, LV2, ĐT4, DN1, DN2, NN1, NN2, NN3, DH, PV1, PV2, and TT: Not exceeding 12 months.
• LĐ1, LĐ2: Not exceeding 02 years.
• ĐT3: Not exceeding 03 years.
• LS, ĐT1, ĐT2: Not exceeding 05 years.

Each type of visa allows foreigners to stay in Vietnam for different durations. Therefore, to optimize the length of stay, it is advisable to contact PNVT for specific advice on whether to extend the visa or apply for a temporary residence certificate.

How much are the fees and charges for visa extension?

The fees for visa extension will be determined by the immigration authorities, based on the type of visa and the duration of visa extension. These fees are calculated in USD. The exchange rate from USD to VND is determined by the immigration authorities on a daily basis.

What should I pay attention to when extending my visa?

• It is recommended to prepare and submit the visa extension application about 10 days before the expiration date of your current visa. If your visa has already expired and you haven’t applied for an extension, you may be subject to penalties and could potentially be deported from Vietnam for overstaying.
• If your visa is about to expire within 1 or 2 days and you haven’t prepared the required documents for the extension, it is advisable to contact the immigration authorities at the place of your residence or the organization/business that is sponsoring you. They will guide you through the necessary procedures and help minimize any potential risks associated with overstaying. Additionally, you can contact PNV for assistance with urgent visa processing or to receive advice on the best solution for your specific case.
• Visa extensions cannot change the purpose of your visit, except in cases permitted by Vietnamese law. For further information regarding this matter, please contact PNVT for specific advice and support tailored to your situation.

Can foreigners extend their visas by themselves?

Foreigners can extend their visas by themselves, but in certain cases, the visa extension process requires a legal sponsor, such as an individual, organization, or company. However, self-applying for visa extension may encounter various obstacles due to language barriers.

Furthermore, preparing the necessary documentation can be challenging as the immigration authorities thoroughly examine the legality of documents, especially those issued by foreign authorities. Therefore, if any modifications or additions are required in the application, foreigners may find it difficult to understand the specific requirements set by the immigration authorities.

For these reasons, seeking the assistance of visa extension service providers, such as PNVT, is highly recommended to save time and simplify the entire process.

Which visa extension service is reputable in Ho Chi Minh City?

With over 15 years of experience in assisting visa extensions for foreigners, we have successfully processed over 100,000 applications. Our services include:

• Providing accurate and focused consultation, resolving key issues in the application from the beginning.
• Offering multiple solutions and suitable options tailored to each individual case.
• Simplifying procedures to ensure a 99% success rate on the first attempt.
• Handling the entire process directly and providing comprehensive, efficient, and transparent solutions at reasonable and appropriate costs.
• Assisting with visa extensions for cases of incorrect purpose or visa conversion.
• Having a team of experts to handle all visa extension cases, provide advice, assist with overdue or expired visas, guide immigration procedures, and airport reception at Tan Son Nhat Airport.
• Achieving faster results compared to self-application.
• Resolving and handling any unexpected situations that may arise in the application process without additional costs.
• Delivering results on time.
• Providing home delivery of results (upon request).
• Offering post-procedure consultation and support for any related issues upon completion (if requested).

Send your request now to receive consultation and price quotation.