As you can see, applying for an e-Visa is very convenient. This explains why most travelers to Vietnam would prefer to apply for this visa when traveling to the country. However, the biggest downside of this type of visa is that it’s only a single entry and will only allow you to stay in the country for 30 days. So what happens if you decide to extend your trip? Is it possible to extend Vietnam e-visa?
Yes, you can extend the validity of your Vietnam e-visa, however, it is required an individual or a company in Vietnam sponsoring and guaranteeing for that. Therefore, it is better for you to contact with a travel agency in Vietnam to ask for your e-visa extension. Please note that they will charge you fee for their service.
There is another option for staying more in Vietnam – Vietnam visa run. This will require you to go out of the country then apply for new visa. Many tourists choose to go to neighboring countries of Vietnam such as Laos, Cambodia & China then come back to Vietnam in same day with new visa.
In the past, foreign travelers have the option to extend their visa from the Immigration Department in Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, and Da Nang, but this option has already been discontinued. So if you wish to extend Vietnam e-visa, you must first find a travel agency or go out of the country.
You don’t really need to spend a lot of money to go out of Vietnam because there are several cheap fares to neighboring countries of Thailand, Laos, and Cambodia. In fact, you can take the bus going to Laos or Cambodia to get out of Vietnam.
It is usually takes 5-7 business days to get your e-visa extended and please note that your e-visa and passport will be kept by the Immigration Department of Vietnam during this period. Your e-visa can be extended faster if you are stay in Hanoi city because Hanoi is the only place for e-visa extension.
As per regulation from the Immigration Department of Vietnam, e-visa holders can get their visa extended if they have a company or someone in Vietnam sponsoring or guaranteeing for their stay in Vietnam. Therefore you need to contact a travel agent in Vietnam for support.
Those who will not be able to get out of the country before their e-Visa expires will have to pay for a hefty penalty. If you are holding an e-Visa and you have overstayed for less than 3 days, you will have to pay for around $22 per day at the Vietnam Immigration.
As mentioned, extending your visa would require that you must first go out of the country. Do not ever extend your stay in Vietnam beyond your visa’s validity.
For visitors who wanted to stay in the country for more than 30 days, it may be best to opt for the Visa on Arrival. The Vietnam Visa on Arrival will give you an option to apply for a multiple-entry visa and stay in the country for a maximum of 60 days.
If you wanted to extend your vacation beyond the 30-day period, you have the option to request a visa extension. For this to be possible, you will have to look for an organization or an agency that can sponsor your stay in the country.
