One of the most important things to consider if you’re planning on staying longer in Ho Chi Minh is your visa. Will your visa remain valid for the entire duration of your stay? Or is it about to expire soon?
If your Vietnam visa is expiring, you will have two options – visa extension or visa renewal. With visa extension, the validity of your current visa will be lengthened while for the visa renewal, a new visa will be issued to you.
To find out more about renewing your Vietnamese visa in Ho Chi Minh City, here’s everything you need to know.
What is Visa Renewal?
Visa renewal is the process of renewing your visa so you will not have to exit Vietnam if you wanted to lengthen your stay in Ho Chi Minh City. With a visa renewal, you can apply for a new Vietnam visa, which will grant you to stay longer. When you apply for a visa renewal, you can choose the type of visa that you can apply for. You can choose a single entry visa with 30 days or 60 days validity or multiple entry visas. Once the new visa is issued, you no longer need to use your old visa.
Those who entered Vietnam with no visa can choose the visa renewal if they wanted to stay longer. These are foreign visitors who are eligible for a visa-free entry into Vietnam, but their stay is only limited to a few days. If they wish to stay longer, they can apply for a visa renewal so they can stay in Ho Chi Minh City longer.
Requirements to Apply for a Vietnam Visa Renewal in Ho Chi Minh City
You will be required to submit some documents when you renew your Vietnamese visa in Ho Chi Minh City. Here are the requirements that you should prepare:
👉 Passport – your passport should be submitted when renewing your Vietnamese visa in Ho Chi Minh City. They need the original copy of your passport and it should remain valid for at least six months from the date you applied for the visa renewal. And since a new visa will be attached to your passport, make sure that your passport still has blank pages to accommodate the new visa.
👉 Application form – to apply for the visa renewal in Ho Chi Minh, you will be asked by the Vietnam Immigration Department to fill out the application form. Make sure you provide all the important details that are being asked of you. Indicate the type of visa that you want, and choose the validity period as well. Form NA5 for visa extension.
👉 Visa copy – if you are currently holding a visa and you are trying to renew it, then you need to submit that visa during your visa renewal application.
The requirements to renew a Vietnamese visa in Ho Chi Minh City will vary, but the requirements stated above are the basic requirements that everyone applying for a visa renewal should submit. To find out the exact requirements you need to submit, you should call the Vietnam Immigration Office ahead of your scheduled visit.
How to Apply for a Visa Renewal in Ho Chi Minh City
Once you have all the requirements, here are the steps to follow to renew your Vietnamese visa in Ho Chi Minh City.
👉 The first step should be to call the Vietnam Immigration Office in Ho Chi Minh City to find out the exact requirements you need to submit. Find out the cost of the processing fee as well then schedule your appointment.
👉 On the day of your appointment, bring your requirements to the Vietnam Immigration Office. Fill out the application form completely and submit it when you’re done. If you have any other concerns, feel free to raise this to the staff. They would be glad to help you with whatever issues you may have.
👉 If everything is all set, submit your application then pay for the processing fee. After paying, Vietnam Immigration will start to process your visa renewal application.
👉 After about a week, you should receive a call from them regarding the status of your visa renewal. If it’s approved, you will see a new visa attached to your passport.
Hire a Local Agency for Assistance
It can sometimes get complicated to apply for visa renewal in Ho Chi Minh City, especially if additional requirements will be required from you before the Vietnam Immigration can process your request. In this case, it might be a good idea to hire a local agency to get assistance for your visa renewal. The agency can help you to accomplish all the requirements needed and will be responsible for applying for the visa renewal on your behalf. With their help, you do not need to personally go to the Vietnam Immigration Office.
