A Helpful Guide to Extending Vietnam eVisa for Travellers

• Key Differences Between Vietnam eVisa and Visa on Arrival
• A Detailed Guide on Online Vietnam eVisa Application

The Government of Vietnam has exempted visa requirements for citizens of certain countries. This means that citizens from the rest of the countries will require a visa before entering Vietnam. But, applying for a Vietnam visa is not a tough process. If you are from any one of those countries that require a visa, you can apply for an eVisa. Or you can apply for the visa through a credible online visa agent. This eliminates the requirement for a traveler to visit an embassy or consulate to apply or extend Vietnam e-visa. Here’s how to do the same:

1. Visit the website of a reputable visa agency, and fill an online application form. You will also need to provide a scanned copy of your passport and your photo.
2. Pay the fee online. Once you submit the application and it gets approved, you will receive your eVisa through email.
3. You will have to print and present this visa, when you arrive at Vietnam to enter the country.

An eVisa grants single entry to Vietnam, with a maximum stay period of 30 days. If you wish to stay more than 30 days in Vietnam, you should leave the country immediately. You must then apply for a new visa and get back to Vietnam. You will get a new eVisa, if an individual or organization in Vietnam is ready to sponsor it. Extending your visa will help prevent the overstay penalty. Yes, the penalty is for every single day of your overstay. The detailed procedure for eVisa extension is explained as under.

Procedure to Extend Your eVisa:

As mentioned earlier, one has to leave Vietnam if the visa expires. So, you will have to get a fresh eVisa application before returning back to Vietnam. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to apply from your home country.

Vietnam geographically shares its borders with three other countries such as China, Laos, and Cambodia. There are several land border checkpoints from where you could apply for your Vietnam eVisa –

• 6 land border checkpoints – from Vietnam to Laos
• 5 land border checkpoints – from Vietnam to Cambodia
• 3 land border checkpoints – from Vietnam to China

Apply for your fresh eVisa at any of the land border checkpoints. It would take about 24 hours for the process to get completed. It would take a maximum of 72 hours for the approval of the application. After the approval, your visa will be sent to you via email. You will have to present a printed copy of this visa approval letter at the border control when you re-enter Vietnam.

Applicable Overstay Penalty:

Travelers who do not extend their Vietnam eVisa are liable to pay an overstay penalty for each day they stay in the country.

If you overstay for less than 3 days, an overstay penalty of 500,000 VND (USD22) per day will be applicable. Other applicable overstay penalties depending on the period of stay are as follows:

• Up to 10 days – 1,250,000 VND/USD55
• For 1 month – 4,000,000 VND/USD175
• For a period between 1 and 3 months – 10,000,000 VND/USD440
• Travelers overstaying in Vietnam for up to a year will have to pay a penalty of 16,000,000 VND/USD700.  Along with this, they will also be forced to leave the country. The Vietnam government will impose strong travel restrictions if they look to travel to Vietnam in the future.

One has to head to the airport and pay the fine to the immigration officer. After the payment, the traveler will receive an exit visa that will help him leave the country.

You could prevent these complexities only if you comply with the rules and extend the eVisa by getting the assistance of a professional visa agency.

New Policy for Foreign Workers with eVisa:

With the introduction of a new policy, effective July 2020, foreign workers who are in Vietnam with an eVisa will have the ability to change their visa status without leaving Vietnam. Such workers should have a valid work permit or an official confirmation that they are exempt from one. The same privilege will also be applicable to the following visitors:

• Representatives of overseas organizations that invest in Vietnam
• Foreign investors and their families

Foreign workers and the aforementioned visitors can apply in Ho Chi Mihn City, Da Nang, or Hanoi. Be informed that this new policy will be in effect from July 1st, 2020. Until then, every foreign visitor – including the ones mentioned above – should follow the current regulations.

Things to keep in mind while extending the Vietnam Visa:

• Your passport should be valid with sufficient empty pages for stamping purpose.
• You will require the signature of your landlord/hotel owner/business partner to sign the application.
• Proving your recent residency details to the local police is a must for the application process.
• The process will take at least 5 working days.

Is it possible to extend the visa, even if you have not arrived in Vietnam?

• It is not practically feasible to extend the existing visa, if you have not reached Vietnam. But, you can apply for a Visa renewal. All you have to do is, to get in touch with the Embassy of Vietnam. They will analyze your case, and help you get a new visa with a new validity period before you enter Vietnam.

If you are looking to extend Vietnam e-visa or you have any queries about the same, contact the professionals today. These experts will safely process your application and make sure that it gets approved on time. Deal with an agency that has a good track record of successful applications. Also, be wary of scammers who try to steal your money online. Look for agencies that offer a 100% money-back guarantee if the customer is not satisfied.