DETAILED GUIDANCE FOR VISA EXTENSION AND RENEWAL VIETNAM

Thursday, 06/06/24

Navigating the process of visa extensions and renewals can be a daunting task for many visitors and expatriates in Vietnam since it will determine whether you are able to continue your stay or if you will be considered as overstaying if your application is not approved. With evolving regulations and specific requirements, staying informed is crucial to ensuring a seamless stay in Vietnam. This comprehensive guide aims to provide detailed and up-to-date information on the processes involved, helping you understand the necessary steps, required documentation, and potential challenges, also clarify the difference between extending and renewing a visa, outline the types of visas eligible for each process. Whether you are a tourist seeking to extend your adventure or a long-term resident renewing your stay, this guide is designed to simplify the complexities of visa extension and renewal in Vietnam.

WHAT ARE VIETNAM VISA EXTENSION AND VISA RENEWAL?

Visa extension and visa renewal are two ways of prolonging your stay in Vietnam without having to leave the country. However, they are not the same and have different procedures and costs.

Visa extension is the process of getting a new visa extension stamp in your passport that indicates the new duration of your stay in Vietnam. A visa extension is good for single-entry only. If you exit Vietnam during the visa term, the visa is no longer valid for re-entry.
Visa renewal is the process of applying for a new visa sticker with a new duration for your stay in Vietnam. Currently, visa renewals are issued for the following cases:
+Transfer visa validity for foreign workers who already have a temporary residence card or long-term work visa but change their passport, and the remaining period is less than 1 year.
+ Issue new visas to foreign workers with Chinese nationality who already have work permits. Particularly for Chinese nationals, the Immigration Department will issue separate visas instead of visa stickers on the passport like other nationalities.

WHAT TYPES OF VISAS ARE ALLOWED TO BE EXTENDED IN VIETNAM?

There are currently many types of Vietnam visas being extended, including:

Business visas: include types such as work visas, investment visas, and business visas. Business visa extension DN i is applicable to foreign workers, businesses, and organizations who wish to increase working time and business investment in Vietnam.
Investment visa: is a type of visa issued to foreign investors or representatives of foreign businesses investing in Vietnam. The investment investment visa can be extended according to regulations.
Labor visa: is a visa issued to foreigners working in Vietnam. This visa can be extended for up to 1 year.
Relative Visa (TT Visa) is a visa issued to:
+ Foreigners whose parents are Vietnamese nationals.
+ Foreigners with temporary or permanent residence cards in Vietnam can sponsor grandparents, parents, spouses, and children under 18 years old to visit.
+ Foreigners with temporary residence cards can sponsor their spouses and children under 18 years old to come to Vietnam to live with them during the term of their temporary residence card if the agency or organization inviting or sponsoring them agrees.

CONDITIONS FOR VISA EXTENSION FOR FOREIGNERS IN VIETNAM 2024

When wanting to extend a visa in Vietnam, foreigners need to follow specific regulations depending on the type of visa they hold. However, there are some general conditions that they need to meet. Below are the necessary conditions to extend a visa in Vietnam:

Vietnam visa/TRC is still valid.
Completed declaration of temporary residence information according to regulations.
Not in the case of forced exit.
Your passport must be valid for at least one month beyond the desired visa extension period.
The sponsor is a Vietnamese citizen or organization that meets the requirements of each type of visa that needs to be extended.

WHERE TO APPLY FOR VIETNAM VISA EXTENSION?

To apply for visa extension for foreigners, you can go to one of the following addresses:

Administration of Immigration	Address
Ha Noi	44 - 46 Tran Phu Street, Dien Bien ward, Ba Dinh District.
Ho Chi Minh City	333-335-337 Nguyen Trai Street, Nguyen Cu Trinh Ward, District 1.
Da Nang City	78 Le Loi, Thach Thang ward, Hai Chau District, 550000
Other provinces	Police immigration management offices in provinces and cities

VIETNAM VISA EXTENSION AND VISA RENEWAL GOVERNMENT FEE

The fee for visa extension for foreigners in Vietnam is equivalent to the fee for issuing a new visa.

Type of visa		Visa Extension Fee (USD)
The visa is valid for 1 to 3 months, single entry		25 USD
The visa is valid for multiple entries	Term must not exceed 3 months	50 USD
	Term from 3 to 6 months	95 USD
	Term from 6 months to 1 year	135 USD

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO IF THE TOURIST VISA HAS EXPIRED?

According to the current regulations, if you enter Vietnam with a tourist visa, you cannot apply for a visa extension within Vietnam. However, you have another option that allows you to stay in Vietnam easily and affordably: performing a Visa Run at the border with neighboring countries. For example, if you are in Ho Chi Minh City, Moc Bai visa run for foreigners is an appropriate solution for foreigners whose tourist visas are about to expire. Visa5s.com can outline some advantages of this procedure to give you an overview:

Speed and Convenience: Visa Runs can be completed quickly, often within a day, allowing you to avoid the lengthy processing times associated with traditional visa extensions.
Cost-Effectiveness: Compared to the expenses associated with exiting and re-entering the country via air travel, Visa Runs prove to be much more cost-effective. With visa runs, you only need to pay for a new visa for entry from 2 sides along with transportation costs to the nearest border checkpoint.
Simplicity: The process is straightforward and requires minimal paperwork, making it an accessible option for many travelers.
Flexibility: Visa Runs can be done multiple times, providing you with a flexible solution to extend your stay in Vietnam without long-term commitments.

You can find detailed guidance on the Moc Bai border run procedure here.

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DETAILED GUIDANCE FOR VISA EXTENSION AND RENEWAL VIETNAM

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