August 2, 2020
visa extension

Differences Between Vietnam Visa Extension And Visa Renewal – Which Is The Best Way To Prolong Your Stay In Vietnam

Foreigners wish to extend their visa for the temporary staying permission in Vietnam can process a visa extension or visa renewal. So, what are the differences between Vietnam visa extension and visa renewal? Which one is suitable for your visa case? And how to process visa extension and visa renewal in Vietnam?

1/ What is the differences between Vietnam visa extension and visa renewal?

Doing a Visa Extension Vietnam means that you will have new staying duration permission in Vietnam and this process allow you to stay more in Vietnam without exiting and reentering the country. You can process a visa extension even when you are in Vietnam, and visa extension is only applied for single entry visa (cannot change visa type). After visa extension is approved, you will get a new visa stamp only, which show that you are allowed to stay up to a specific time.

The term visa renewal Vietnam can cover two cases: visa renewal without leaving Vietnam and visa renewal with leaving Vietnam.

Visa renewal without leaving Vietnam means that the Vietnam Immigration Department will approve a new Visa sticker and visa stamp on the passport with new expiry date, so you are able to stay in Vietnam until that day. With Visa Renewal without leaving Vietnam, you do not need to leave the country, because the Visa Renewal process will be done while you are in Vietnam. This type of visa is used for those who don’t want to exit and re-enter Vietnam, but want to change type of visa (from single entry to multiple entry for example).

Visa renewal with leaving Vietnam means that you will exit Vietnam and enter again with a new visa. This also means a new visa application. This visa type is used for those who want to change visa type combining with exit Vietnam due to personal reason.

2/ Which is the suitable option to prolong your stay in Vietnam? Visa extension or visa renewal?

As mentioned above, visa extension is used for different cases. Depending on your case, you should choose visa extension or visa renewal:

If you don’t want to exit Vietnam and wish to prolong your stay with no changing in visa type, of course visa extension is the best option. It helps you to stay more in Vietnam 1 month, 2 months, 3 months, 6 months or more depending on your current holding visa.

If you don’t want to exit Vietnam and wish to prolong your stay with a new type of visa, you can process a visa renewal without leaving Vietnam. It helps you to get 1 month, 3 months with single or multiple entry.

If you want to exit Vietnam and come back, surely visa renewal with leaving Vietnam is the best choice. You can apply a new visa with validity from 1 month to 1 year depending on your needs.

3/ How to process a Vietnam visa extension or visa renewal?

Vietnam visa extension can be applied at all provinces/cities in Vietnam

The procedure is quite complicated so you should submit through a travel agency. You can bring your passport to the travel agency and ask them to process visa extension/ visa renewal as your request. Time for processing is about 5 working days and required document is passport only.

Procedure for getting visa extension or visa renewal in Vietnam:

Step 1: Send your passport scan, visa stamp and visa sticker to info@vietnam-evisa.com to request the information

Step 2: Receive full information about visa extension/visa renewal options which are suitable for your case with the fees, procedure and processing time.

Step 3: Submit the original passport and process visa extension/ visa renewal

Step 4: Get back your passport with the new stamp after it is approved.

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