A lot of foreigners visiting Vietnam have ended up staying in the country for a much longer time. Who can blame them? This beautiful country in Southeast Asia is home to several historical attractions. What’s more, the food is great and the cost of living is cheap. Unfortunately, the tourist visas have limited validity and you need to go out of the country before the validity period ends.
You might be tempted to overstay but doing this will not only expose you to administrative penalties but will also give the Immigration Department a bad impression of yourself. If you ever decide to return to Vietnam next time, you will have a hard time applying for a new visa. So it is very important that you avoid overstaying in Vietnam as much as possible. If you really wanted to stay longer than what your visa allows you, it’s better to get your visa renewed.
Thankfully, there are agencies in Vietnam that offer assistance services for your visa renewal. Here’s everything you need to know about this.
What Is Visa Renewal?
Visa renewal refers to the process of renewing your existing Vietnam visa. In doing so, the validity of the visa will be extended and you will be able to stay in Vietnam for a much longer time. This is a great option for those who wanted to have a new visa but do not want to through the hassles of exiting the country and re-entering again.
With visa renewal, you can request for single or multiple entries for your new visa. And unlike the visa extension, the visa renewal option will give you a new visa sticker on your passport.
Why Visa Extension Is More Expensive than Visa Renewal?
One of the most common questions that foreign visitors would ask when applying for a visa extension is why it is more expensive than visa renewal. This is because the Vietnam Immigration does not want foreigners to take advantage of this option by staying in Vietnam longer and ended up working as a tourist.
If the cost of a visa extension is cheap, some tourists will abuse this and will choose to extend their visas instead of applying for a working permit. Remember that working in Vietnam on a tourist visa is illegal. If caught, you could be slapped with a hefty fine or be deported to your home country. This can also create a bad impression on you, making it hard for you to go back to Vietnam again in the future.
But if you plan on staying longer in Vietnam as a tourist with no intention to work, you should consider hiring an assistance service to get your Vietnam visa renewed.
What Is The Difference Between Visa Renewal and Visa Extension
Foreigners who wanted to prolong their stay in Vietnam can either get their visa renewed or extended. Here are some of the differences between the visa renewal and visa extension:
With a Visa extension, you will get a new visa stamp on your passport. Meanwhile, the visa renewal will grant you a new visa stamp and a visa sticker at the same time, indicating the new validity period.
As for the visa extension, your existing visa will be the basis of the extension. For instance, if you’re holding a single entry visa, then the extension will also be a single entry. However, the visa renewal is not dependent on your existing visa. If you’re holding a single entry visa and you want to renew it to a multiple entry visa, then that is totally possible.
The visa extension and visa renewal services can be confusing for an average tourist. This is why it’s highly recommended to consult with an agency that provides assistance service, as they can further explain the differences between the two.
How to Apply for a Visa Renewal or Visa Extension?
First, get in touch with the agency that offers assistance service for Vietnam visa renewal or extension. You will find them online. Once you found the relevant agency, follow these steps:
- Send a copy of your scanned passport. It should show the visa stamp and visa sticker. Wait for a confirmation from the agency.
- Send in the original copy of your passport to the agency.
- Make a payment for the renewal or extension fees.
- Collect your new visa after 7 working days.
The cost of visa renewal or extension will vary. This will usually depend on the type of visa that you have, the new visa that you want, your nationality, and the duration of your stay. You can inquire from any of the relevant agencies for the cost by sending them an email. If you are not sure whether to choose visa extension or visa renewal, they can also offer you the best advice.
