Everything you need to know about Vietnam Visa extension

To continue staying legally in Vietnam, it is only necessary to extend the Vietnam visa when the visa is about to expire. Foreign visitors who remain without a visa after expiration are fined. As a result, they will have to undergo more complicated visa application procedures if they want to return to work or travel in the future.

Vietnam Visa Extension For Foreigners

When should you extend your visa?

As per Vietnam's visa regulations, foreigners must apply for a visa extension at least seven days before the expiration date. Travellers choosing to remain in the country beyond the expiration date will ultimately be fined or forced to leave.

Who is eligible for a Vietnam visa extension?

Given below are the people who are eligible for a Vietnam visa extension:

1. Foreign citizens who have entered Vietnam as tourists or visiting relatives who are residents
2. Business people or foreign investors
3. Foreign lawyers with a licence to practise in Vietnam
4. Foreigners with a valid Vietnam work permit
5. Foreign employees working as managers, top-tier executives, or those working in the technical field

Where can one extend their Vietnam visa?

The Immigration Department is responsible for extending visas for foreigners in Vietnam. The department is divided into two sections: the Immigration Department of Ho Chi Minh City and the Immigration Department of Hanoi. Foreigners temporarily residing outside Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi City can extend their visa at the Immigration Office - Provincial Police.

Types Of Visas And Their Extension Durations

Foreigners wishing to extend their visas can do so hassle-free. The following is a list of visas that can be extended along with the extended duration:

• Business Visa (DN1), provided to foreigners in Vietnam who a company has sponsored, can be extended for up to 3 months.
• Working Visa (LD1, LD2), provided to foreigners working at a sponsoring company and in the process of applying for work permits, can be extended to up to 1 year. 
• Investment Visa (DT1, DT2, DT3, DT4), which is provided to shareholders, and owners of Vietnam-based companies, can be extended for up to a year. 
• A dependent Visa (TT), provided to foreigners visiting their relatives in Vietnam, can be extended for up to a year. 
• Tourist Visa (DL), provided to leisurely tourists traveling through Vietnam, can be extended for up to 3 months. 
• Student Visa (DH), which is given to students studying in Vietnam, can be extended for up to 1 year. 

Conditions Of Visa Extension

For foreigners to extend their visa in Vietnam, their visa type must fall into the category allowed for extensions and must meet the following criteria:

• If a foreigner wants to extend their Vietnam visa, they must be sponsored by a Vietnamese company, organization, or individual.
• The individual(s) must have a passport valid for at least one month longer than the visa. 
• The individual must hold a passport with 02 blank pages.
• The foreigner must ensure business visa is still valid for use.
• The Vietnam Immigration Department provides no mandatory exit list for foreigners who need to extend their visas.
• Visitors who have declared temporary residence in Vietnam per the country's regulations.

Procedures For Visa Extension For Foreigners In Vietnam

Foreigners holding a tourist visa or DL:

Foreigners holding a tourist visa or DL can easily apply for a visa extension. Those needing an extension only need to provide an original passport, the previously issued Vietnam visa, and a declaration form confirming their temporary residence. It is common for travel agencies to extend tourists' visas; however, tourists can also do it on their own online.

Foreigners holding a Dependent Visa or TT:

To extend a dependent visa, the following documents will need to be furnished at the time of application:

• The legal documents of sponsoring relatives. This may include a Citizen ID Card or passport.
• A copy of their updated passport.
• Certification of temporary residence address in writing.
• A birth certificate, family relationship certificate, household registration book, etc., can be used to prove personal relationships.

Procedures for extending business visa DN1:

Foreigners holding a business visa and seeking to extend their Vietnam visa will need to provide the following:

• A valid copy of a sponsoring company's Enterprise Registration Certificate is required.
• An updated copy of their passport and visa.
• A certificate confirming the foreigners' temporary residence.
• The sponsoring company must complete and sign Vietnam Visa Extension Application Form NA5.
• A letter of introduction with the signature and seal of the sponsoring company's authorized representative.
• A written explanation detailing the need to extend the Vietnam visa.

Procedures for extending investment visa DT1, DT2, DT3, DT4:

Vietnamese investment visa extension procedures require foreign investors to submit a dossier that includes the following information:

• Foreign investor sponsorship agencies or enterprises must have a valid operating license.
• The original passport and visa.
• Certification of temporary residence address in writing.
• An investment registration certificate or enterprise registration certificate to prove that foreigners are investors.
• The sponsoring company must complete and sign Vietnam Visa Extension Application Form NA5.
• A letter of introduction with the signature and seal of the sponsoring company's authorized representative.
• A written explanation detailing the need to extend the Vietnam visa.