Travel tips

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Can Vietnam visas be extended? What should I do if I want to stay longer in Vietnam when my visa expires? Those are some questions that tourists are concerned about.

Overview

Visa extension for foreigners in Vietnam means that foreigners who already have a visa and are temporarily residing in Vietnam for a legal purpose want to extend the temporary stay period. The application for visa extension can be carried out in person or online via the National Public Service Portal and the Ministry of Public Security public service portal.

There are many types of Vietnam visas with many different purposes, including some common types of visas that foreigners can ask for an extension when the visa expires. Common visa types are commercial and business visas (DN 1, DN 2), investment visas (DT 1, DN 2, DT 3, DT 4), labor visas (LD1, LD2), family visit visas (TT), tourist visas (DL).

You can extend your visa for a period of 1 month to 3 months, for multiple entries or single entry, and for all types of Visa in Vietnam.

Individuals need to be sponsored by an agency or organization to be able to extend their visa.

Instructions for online visa extension applications for foreigners

1. Conditions for online visa extension via National Service Portal

  • Foreigners must be temporarily residing in Vietnam; Passport is still valid
  • Have documents proving that staying in Vietnam is necessary and has a legitimate reason
  • Enterprises and organizations sponsoring foreigners must register for electronic immigration accounts.

2. Visa extension registration process for foreigners online via National Service Portal

Step 1: Visit the National Public Service Portal website and log in with your registered and approved account

Select the online application section on the menu bar and enter search information with the keyword "Extension" and under "Immigration Management"

Select the item Extension of temporary residence for foreigners in Vietnam (carried out at the Municipal level)

Select Submit application

Step 2: Fill in the information required by the online system

With the declaration forms, download the file with the information of the sponsoring company as well as the information of the foreigner and then digitally sign to complete the application.

Step 3: Deliver the passport to the Immigration Department according to the system's instructions

Step 4: Pay the fee according to the instructions of the Public Service Portal when the application is received and the fee is applied

Normally the fee will be applied after the passport is delivered to the Immigration Department and the passport and documents are received. The immigration agency will impose a fee and then the registrant can access the online payment system.

Step 5: Check visa extension results online. During the process of the application being considered for processing, the applicant can check the status of the application using the application code.

 

Reference: visadatviet.com, www.xuatnhapcanh.com.vn

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Order and procedure:

Step 1: To prepare a set of dossiers as regulated. 

Step 2: To submit the application forms at one of these offices of the Vietnam Immigration Department - Ministry of Public Security: 

  • 44-46 Tran Phu Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi.
  • 335-337 Nguyen Trai Street, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City.

- After receiving and reviewing the application forms, the immigration officials will make the following decisions: 

+ If the documents meet the requirements, the receipt will be made and given to the applicant.

+ If the document does not meet the requirements, the applicant must continue to complete documents.

- Working Time: From Monday to Saturday morning (except Lunar New Year holiday, public holiday and Sunday).

Step 3: Get results

- The person who comes to receive the results gives a receipt to the officer who returns the results and signs the receipt.

- Working Time: From Monday to Friday every week (except Lunar New Year holiday, public holiday and Sunday).

Contents, number of dossiers:          

a) Passport or international travel documents or permanent residence permit issued by a foreign competent authority to an overseas Vietnamese;

b) Application forms for visa exemption certificate enclosed with 2 photos (one photo attached in the declaration);

c) Certificate of visa exemption, if it was lost, notice of loss should be attached;

d) An authenticated copy of the original documents or enclosed with the original documents for reference of papers proving the content to be modified in the visa exemption certificate.

+ Number of dossiers: 01 (one) set.

Processing time: 05 working days. 

Subjects of application: Vietnamese people residing overseas and foreigners who are spouses, children of either of Vietnamese people residing abroad or Vietnamese citizens have lost, damaged, been expired or demand for adjusting some information in the visa exemption certificate.

Competent authority: Vietnam Immigration Department.

Results of procedures: To re-issue the visa exemption certificate

Fees: According to Circular No. 219/2016/TT-BTC of the Ministry of Finance dated October 11th, 2016 stipulating collection, payment, management and use of fees in the field of exit, entry transit, residence in Vietnam. 

Name of application form: Declaration Form for  reissuance of visa exemption certificate (NA9).

Eligible Requirements:

  • Having a passport or an international travel document that remains valid for at least 01 year;
  • Entering Vietnam on a visa exemption certificate and currently residing in Vietnam;
  • Papers proving that those people are residing abroad and the foreigners who are spouses or children of either Vietnamese people residing abroad or of Vietnamese citizens;
  • Not falling into the case of suspension from exit prescribed in Article 28 of Law on foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence in Vietnam.

Legal basis:

+ Law on foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence  in Vietnam (Law No. 47/2014 QH13) dated June 16th, 2014;

+ Decree No. 82/2015 / ND-CP of the Government dated September 24th, 2015 regulating visa exemption for Vietnamese people residing abroad and foreigners being spouses or children of either Vietnamese residing overseas or  Vietnamese citizens;

+ Circular No. 04/2015 / TT-BCA of the Ministry of Public Security dated January 5th, 2015 regulating the required forms relating to foreigners’ entry into, exit from, transit through and residence  in Vietnam;

+ Circular No. 219/2016/TT-BTC of the Ministry of Finance dated October 11th, 2016 stipulating collection, payment, management and use of fees in the field of exit, entry transit, residence in Vietnam./.

 

Source: xuatnhapcanh.gov.vn

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1. Why change the purpose of the visa?

Changing the purpose of a visa is the case where a foreigner has been issued a type of visa and is using that type of visa to enter, exit and stay in Vietnam, but now the purpose of being in Vietnam has changed due to certain conditions. If you meet the requirements of the law, your visa will be converted to an appropriate visa type.

2. Cases where foreigners' visa purposes are changed

Pursuant to Clause 4, Article 7 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam passed by the National Assembly on November 25 2019 and officially came into effect from July 1, 2020, Vietnam visas issued to foreigners shall be converted in the following cases:

  1. Foreigners who have documents proving that they are investors or representatives of foreign organizations investing in Vietnam according to the provisions of Vietnamese law can convert from other types of visas to investment visas (DT1). , DT2, DT3, DT4)
  2. Foreigners who have documents proving their relationship as father, mother, wife, husband, or child of the inviting or sponsoring individual can convert to a family visit visa (TT).
  3. Foreigners who are invited or sponsored by an agency or organization to work and have a work permit or confirmation that they are not subject to a work permit according to the provisions of Labor Law will be able to convert their visa to Type of labor (Visa LĐ1, LĐ2)
  4. Foreigners who have entered the country with an electronic visa and have a work permit or confirmation that they are not subject to a work permit according to the provisions of labor law can switch to LD1, LD2 working visas.

3. Procedures for changing the purpose of Vietnam visa

3.1. Procedures for converting tourist visa (DL), family visit (TT), investment visa (DT1, DT2, DT3, DT4), electronic visa (EV) to short-term working visa (DN1, DN2) and Long-term work visa (LD1, LD2)

Documents required to convert to a work visa include:

  • Original passport and visa of the foreigner
  • Vietnam visa application form NA5
  • Temporary residence registration declaration form
  • Work permit or work permit exemption certificate for LD1, LD2 visa types.
  • Document explaining the suitability and necessity for visa conversion for DN1 and DN2 visa types
  • Letter of introduction to appoint a representative to carry out procedures to change the visa purpose.

2. Procedures for converting tourist visas (DL), family visit (TT), and working visas (LD1, LD2) to investment visas (DT1, DT2, DT3, DT4)

Documents required to convert to an investment visa include:

  • Original passport and visa of the foreigner
  • Vietnam visa application form NA5
  • Investment license/Business registration certificate
  • Copy of temporary residence registration
  • Documents proving that you are an investor or representative of a foreign organization investing in Vietnam according to the provisions of Enterprise Law and Investment Law. Specifically, documents certifying the completion of investment capital contribution, audited financial statements, appointment decision as representative in Vietnam,...
  • Letter of introduction to appoint a representative to carry out procedures to change the visa purpose.

3. Procedures for converting tourist visa (DL), labor (DN1, DN2, LD1, LD2), investment visa (DT1, DT2, DT3, DT4) to family visit visa.

Documents and procedures for converting to a visit visa.

  • Original passport and visa of the foreigner
  • Vietnam visa application form NA5
  • Documents proving relationship as father, mother, wife, husband, child to the inviting or sponsoring individual. The document can be a Marriage Certificate, Family Relationship Certificate, Birth Certificate,...
  • Passport and visa of the sponsorer (In case the sponsorer is a foreigner)
  • Identification card, household registration book (For cases where the sponsorer is a Vietnamese citizen)

4. Procedures for converting visas due to changing the working and sponsoring company

Foreigners who are working at a company and using business visas DN1, DN2 or working visas LD1, LD2 can apply for visa conversion to another sponsoring company and/or to the same or different visa types if they meet the prescribed conditions.

Conditions for converting visas and changing sponsor companies for foreigners.

  • Foreigners' visas and passports must be valid.
  • The new sponsoring company must be an enterprise permitted to employ foreign workers.
  • The foreigner has completed the procedures to terminate employment with the old company and fully exercised the rights and obligations with the old sponsoring company.

Documents and procedures for applying for a conversion visa for foreigners due to a change of sponsoring company:

  • Original passport and visa of the foreigner
  • Vietnam visa application form NA5
  • Temporary residence registration declaration form
  • Decision to resign (or document of equivalent value)
  • Work permit or work permit exemption certificate for LD1, LD2 visa types.
  • Document explaining the suitability and necessity for converting a visa to a business visa with visa types DN1, DN2
  • Letter of introduction to appoint a representative to carry out visa procedures.

 

Source: Www.vavietnam.com

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Generally yes. The cases of foreigner being allowed to change the purpose of entry of their visa while in the Vietnam and without having to exit are stipulated by Law effective from 1st July, 2020

The cases of foreigner being allowed to change the visa purpose while in Vietnam without having to exit and re-enter was stipulated by sub-Article 7.4 of Law No. 51/2019/QH14 dated November 25, 2019 of the National Assembly on amendments to a number of articles of Law on entry, exit, transit and residence of foreigners in Vietnam passed by the National Assembly on November 25, 2019 and officially effective from July 1, 2020. Foreigners granted a Vietnam visa may change the purpose of their visa while in the Vietnam and no need to exit in the following cases:

1. Foreigner presents document proving to be an investor or a representative for foreign organization investing in Vietnam as per the law of Vietnam;

In this case, if the foreigner previously used a tourist visa (DL), relative visitor visa (TT), work visa (LD, LD 1, LD 2), business visa (DN, DN1, DN2) etc. when available documents proving that the investor or the legal representative of the company (stated on the business registration, investment registration certificate, etc.) is allowed to change the visa purpose in accordance with the present position and role.

2. Foreigner presents document proving his/her relationship with person inviting or sponsoring in terms of parents, spouse, children;

In this case, the inviting or sponsoring individual means that it includes an individual holding Vietnamese nationality or a foreigner who has a visa in Vietnam in accordance with regulations, can change the visa purpose and status for a his her relative.

3. Foreigner is invited or sponsoring by agencies or organizations and presents work permit or confirmation of eligibility for work permit exemption according to labor laws;

This case means that that a foreigner has previously been invited and sponsored by the company to work for the company without a work permit or without applying for a work permit exemption with the business visa denoted as DN, DN1 can be changed to a work visa (including temporary residence card) denoted LĐ 1, LĐ2.

4. Foreigners make entry by electronic visa and present work permit or confirmation of eligibility for work permit exemption according to labor laws.

Foreigner of 80 countries and territories who enter Vietnam with an electronic visa (Visa EV) with a period of 30 days upon obtaining a work permit or confirming the exemption of a work permit are allowed to change the visa purpose and status from electronic visa (EV visa) to a work visa (or temporary residence card) with the symbol LD 1, LD 2 as prescribed.

*Note: In case a foreigner is allowed to change visa purposes and status as mentioned above, he/she no need to exit and shall be issued with a new visa with a number and time limit suitable with the new visa purpose and status.

 

Source: Imgroup.vn

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