Getting a visa extension or renewal is the best solution for foreigners who wanted to stay longer in Vietnam. You can request for a visa extension or renewal from any of Immigration offices. If you are based in Ho Chi Minh City, you can go to the Vietnam Immigration Office in Ho Chi Minh.
With the visa extension, you will get a new visa stamp indicating that they are extending the validity of your visa. As for the visa renewal, you will get a new visa sticker in your passport, which serves as your new visa while staying in Vietnam. Although the two methods are almost similar to each other, it’s important to understand that these two are different. Also, not all nationalities are eligible for the visa renewal. So if you’re thinking of extending your stay in Ho Chi Minh City, here’s everything you need to know about getting a visa extended and renewed in the Vietnam Immigration Office in Ho Chi Minh.
When requesting a visa extension in Ho Chi Minh, the first thing that you need to do is. To visit the Vietnam Immigration Office that’s located at Nguyen Trai Street in District 1. Here, you will be asked to fill out the NA5 form. This form can also be downloaded online. Print the form after you download and fill it out completely. Submit this form at the Immigration Office along with your passport.
Aside from the NA5 form and your passport, there may be other requirements that the Immigration Office will require from you so it’s highly advisable to call them in advance. You will be asked to pay for the processing fees and the cost will vary depending on the number of months you wanted your visa to be extended. But remember that the validity period of your visa extension should not exceed the validity period of your current visa. For instance, if the visa that you have now is only valid for 30 days, then you cannot request for your visa to be extended for more than 30 days.
Normally, it will take 3 to 5 working days for the Vietnam Immigration Office in Ho Chi Minh to process the visa extension. But there are instances that it could take more than five business days, especially if the extension you are requesting is three months or more.
Requesting for a visa renewal in Ho Chi Minh City is similar to requesting for a visa extension. You also need to visit the Immigration Office in Ho Chi Minh to apply for this. At the office, you will also be required to submit the original copy of your passport. The Vietnam visa renewal is also applicable to those who entered the country without a visa, under the visa exemption program of Vietnam. When applying for the visa renewal, you can choose from a single entry or multiple entries. But unlike the visa extension where you will get a stamp for the new validity period, with the visa renewal you will get a new visa sticker. This new visa will let you stay in the country longer.
Make sure that your passport will remain valid for at least six months from the new duration date. For example, if your new visa will let you stay in Vietnam for 30 days more from January 2021, then your passport should not expire before July 2021. And since a new visa sticker will be attached to your passport for the visa renewal, then it’s important that your passport has at least two extra blank pages.
If you have tried processing some paperwork with the Vietnam Immigration before, then you knew that the process is not that easy. It can sometimes get complicated especially since you don’t speak the language. In this case, it may be worth hiring an expert to help you get your visa renewed or extended. For a minimal fee, the agency will process everything for you. All you have to do is to give them the requirements including your passport.
What’s great about using the local agency to get your visa extended and renewed in Ho Chi Minh City is that they will provide you with expert advice on which process can work best for you. The concept of visa renewal and visa extension can be confusing for most foreigners, but the agency can explain these to you clearly. They will offer advice and recommendations on the best option for you, depending on your situation. With their help, extending your stay in Ho Chi Minh will be easier and hassle-free.
