Vietnam Visa Extension and Renewal

This comprehensive guide provides all the essential information about extending or renewing your visa in Vietnam, helping you stay longer without leaving the country. Here’s what you’ll find:

• Definitions
• Where to extend Vietnam visa
• How to extend visa in Vietnam
• Vietnam visa extension cost
• FAQs

What Is Visa Extension and Renewal in Vietnam?

This section clarifies the concepts of visa extension and visa renewal in Vietnam, and explains how they differ from each other.

Visa extension

Visa extension is available for foreigners who wish to prolong their current stay in Vietnam without exiting the country. If eligible, you will receive an extension stamp in your passport that indicates your new permitted stay duration.

Note: Visa extension is good for single entry only.

Visa renewal

Visa renewal is quite similar to visa extension as it also allows you to continue staying in Vietnam without leaving. However, the difference lies in the outcome—when you renew your visa, you will receive a new visa sticker along with a new duration stamp in your passport.

As a result, visa renewal typically costs more than extension, as it includes additional fees for visa stamping and visa sticker issuance.

Note: As of now, visa renewal services are not available through the Vietnam Immigration Office. We will keep you updated with the latest changes as soon as they are announced.

Visa Extension or Renewal Requirements

To be eligible for a visa extension or renewal, your original passport must:

• be valid for at least 06 months from the time of extension/renewal.
• have at least 02 blank pages.

Currently, the following visa types are eligible for extension:

• Vietnam business visa, and
• Vietnam 5-year visa exemption certificate provided it is still valid but the permitted stay is expiring soon.

Why Visa Extension?

Here’s why extending your visa in Vietnam might be the best option:

• It allows you to remain in Vietnam legally without leaving the country, even after your visa expires.
• You avoid the risk of being blacklisted by the Vietnam Immigration Department for overstaying.
• It gives you more time to settle personal or business matters in Vietnam, without disruption caused by exiting and re-entering the country.

Where to Extend Visa in Vietnam

You can apply for a visa extension at one of the following Immigration Offices:

• 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: 8:00 – 11:30; 13:30 – 16:00)
• Saturday: 8:00 – 11:30

How to extend Vietnam visa

You have two options: handle the application yourself directly at the Immigration Department or save time by using our Vietnam visa extension service. However, please note that we only can help you with business visa extension. 

In case you use our visa extension service, you only need to go through the following 3 steps to get your visa successfully extended.

• 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: Receive your passport with the extended stay permit once the process is completed.

Vietnam Visa Extension Cost and Processing time

The processing time and cost of a visa extension vary on a case-by-case basis. For the most accurate pricing and personalized advice, please contact us directly.

Disclaimers: While we put an effort to ensure that the provided information is correct and up-to-date, there are probably changes that we are unaware of.