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Vietnam Visa is the document allowing foreign citizens to enter and exit Vietnam. However, in case your visa expires or your passport is unfortunately lost or damaged and you need to exit Vietnam. What should you do? Please take the reference details below.

What is exit visa?

Exit visa or exit permit is a legal document issued by the Vietnam Immigration Department that a foreign needs to leave Vietnam in case they cannot extend their existing visa due to overstaying or loss / damage of passport. The maximum validity of an exit visa is 15 days. When you have obtained the Vietnam exit visa, you will have to leave the country within a week.

Which cases should be allowed the issuance of a Vietnam exit visa?

There are 2 cases where you need to apply for a Vietnam exit visa if you would like to leave the country.

1. Visa overstayed or expired

 If you are in this case, you are unable to extend your visa but you can take to get an exit visa. You are advised as below:

 + You need to directly go to the nearest Vietnam Immigration Department/ Office to pay the fine as soon as possible. The penalty for overstaying the visa depends on the short or long overstay period. You should ask for the receipt of overstay payment and exit visa.

 + In this circumstance, you can pay the fine both at the Immigration and your Exit port. But paying the penalty at the exit port can cause a higher risk of being blacklisted. Therefore, you should try to visit the Immigration before boarding the plane.

 2. Damaged or lost passport

 This case is a little bit complicated:

 + Firstly, you need to go to the nearest police station and report your case. They will issue you a police report that will allow you to start the process of getting a new passport and exit visa. 

 + Next, please go to the embassy of your country in Vietnam:

  ++ Before going, please make sure you collect enough documents including in your passport photos, your police report and money in the local currency for the new travel document.

  ++ After checking all of the things, they will issue you with a new temporary passport.

 + Then, you need to go to the Vietnam Immigration Department to apply for a exit visa:

  ++ Before you go, please make sure that you have collected the following documents:

   * Original and copy of the police report

   * A copy of your old passport and visa if you have it

   * Form NA5 which you can pick up and fill in when you are there 

   * Your new travel document issued by your embassy/consulate

   * Cash to pay for your new visa.

  ++ After reaching the office, you take the Form NA5 and complete it. Then waiting for your number to be called. They will give you a new passport and process your new visa application.

  ++ Next, paying fees for the Vietnam exit visa application.

  ++ Finally, take your receipt and return on the required date to get your new passport and visa.