Visa Extension
How to extend your Vietnam visa
Need more time in Vietnam? Extending a tourist visa typically takes 5–10 business days and costs $50–150 USD — but it requires a sponsor and is not available for all visa types. We check if extension works for your case or if a visa run is the better route.
Get Visa Help
Vietnam visa extension at a glance
Key facts before you decide between extension and visa run.
Processing time
5–10 business days
Varies by case and sponsor
Cost range
$50–150 USD
Depends on visa type and duration
Extension length
Up to 30 days
Per extension, policy may change
Sponsor required
Usually yes
Hotel, company, or individual
Compare your options
Extension vs visa run — which is right for you?
Not everyone can extend inside Vietnam. If you do not have a sponsor or your visa type is not eligible, a visa run may be faster and simpler. Here is how the options compare.
| Option | Timeline | Cost | Best for | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| In-country extension | 5–10 business days | $50–150 USD | You have a sponsor and 10+ days left | Stay in Vietnam, no travel needed | Requires sponsor, not always available |
| Visa run (exit & re-entry) | 1 day | $80–200 USD | No sponsor, or extension not available | Fresh 90-day stay, no sponsor needed | Must leave Vietnam physically |
| New visa from abroad | 3–5 business days | $25–80 USD | Already planning to leave Vietnam | Clean start, full validity period | Must leave Vietnam first |
How it works
Vietnam visa extension process step by step
Here is what happens when you extend your Vietnam visa through us.
We review your case
Send your current visa type, expiry date, passport country, and sponsor situation. We confirm if extension is available for your case.
Prepare documents
You provide passport, current visa, and sponsor details. We prepare the application and check for issues before submission.
Submit to immigration
Your sponsor or our team submits the request to the immigration authority. Processing takes 5–10 business days.
Receive extended stay
Once approved, your passport gets a new stamp with the extended temporary residence period.
Eligibility
What we check before advising
An extension request is not just a payment form. It depends on whether your current stay, documents, and sponsor situation fit the available procedure.
- Current visa type and temporary-stay expiry date
- Passport validity and remaining blank pages
- Whether you have an inviting or guaranteeing party in Vietnam
- Temporary residence registration and current address
- Travel history, overstay risk, and previous extensions
- Whether extension, renewal, new visa, or exit planning is more realistic
Your options
How extending your stay in Vietnam usually works
Foreigners who want more time in Vietnam usually choose between extending the current visa in place, switching to a new visa or residence card, or leaving and re-entering on a fresh entry document. The right route depends on your visa type and how close your stay is to expiry.
In-country extension or renewal
If your current tourist visa or e-visa status allows it, extending in place adds more time without leaving Vietnam. Eligibility depends on your entry document, sponsor situation, and current immigration policy.
How long and how many times
Extension length and how many times a stay can be extended vary by visa type and policy, and they can change. We confirm the realistic timeframe for your specific visa before you commit.
Sponsor, work, or residence-card routes
Business, work, investment, or family cases may rely on a sponsor or inviting party, or move toward a new visa or temporary residence card instead of a simple extension.
Exit and re-entry (visa run)
When an in-country extension is not available, a planned exit and re-entry is often the cleaner way to a fresh stay. We help you weigh a visa run against extending in place.
Documents
Documents that may be needed
The exact list depends on your visa category. Business, work, investment, family, or sponsored cases usually need different supporting documents than simple travel inquiries.
Passport or valid international travel document
Current visa, e-visa, temporary residence stamp, or residence card details
Form or request documents where applicable
Sponsor, company, family, work, or investment documents where relevant
Temporary residence confirmation or address details where required
Travel plan if an in-country option is not available
Limits
When an extension may not be the right answer
Official legal context
Article 35 of Vietnam's Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners states that a foreigner wishing to extend temporary residence should request the inviting or guaranteeing agency, organization, or individual to carry out the procedure at the competent authority.
The Vietnam Immigration e-visa portal also notes that e-visa holders in Vietnam may be considered for a new visa if invited or guaranteed by an authority, organization, or individual in accordance with the law.
FAQ
Common questions
How do I extend a Vietnam tourist visa?
Most tourist visa and e-visa holders extend their stay through an inviting or sponsoring party that submits the request to the immigration authority. Whether your specific stay qualifies depends on your entry document and current policy, so we review your case before starting.
Can every Vietnam visa be extended inside Vietnam?
No. Not every tourist visa or e-visa stay can be extended inside Vietnam. Eligibility depends on the visa status, sponsor situation, documents, and current policy.
How long can a Vietnam visa be extended for?
Extension length depends on the visa type and current immigration policy, and it can change over time. We confirm the realistic period available for your specific visa rather than quoting a fixed number that may not apply to your case.
How many times can I extend my stay in Vietnam?
This varies by visa category and policy. Some stays can be extended more than once, while others are better solved with a new visa or a visa run. We advise the most stable route for your situation.
How much does a Vietnam visa extension cost?
Cost depends on your visa type, processing speed, sponsor situation, and the route used — extension, renewal, new visa, or exit and re-entry. We give a clear quote after reviewing your current visa and expiry date.
What happens if I overstay my Vietnam visa?
Overstaying can lead to fines and complications at exit. If your stay is already expired or about to expire, ask for an urgent review so we can check whether an extension, a new visa, or immediate exit planning is the safer step.
What information is needed to review a Vietnam visa extension?
We need your current visa type, temporary-stay expiry date, passport validity, current address, sponsor situation, travel history, and overstay risk.
What if my Vietnam stay is close to expiry?
Ask for review urgently. If an in-country extension is not realistic, you may need exit planning, a new visa route, or emergency guidance.
Next checks
Related visa guidance
These related pages cover nearby situations that often affect the right Vietnam visa route.
Visa run planning
Plan exit and re-entry if extending inside Vietnam is not realistic.
Emergency visa support
Get urgent review if your stay is close to expiry or already risky.
Business visa support
Check sponsor-based options when your Vietnam purpose is business-related.
TRC through marriage
Married to a Vietnamese citizen? A TT temporary residence card may replace extensions entirely.
Need more time in Vietnam?
Send your current visa type, expiry date, passport country, and whether you have a sponsor in Vietnam.
Sources
- Law No. 47/2014/QH13 - temporary residence extension procedure and inviting-party context
- Vietnam Immigration Department e-visa portal - official e-visa guidance and status channel
- Law No. 51/2019/QH14 - amended visa rules and visa-purpose changes