Vietnam's e-visa runs up to 90 days, and after that the law gives two routes: a stay extension or a new visa issued inside Vietnam. Both in-country routes require a sponsor to file the paperwork for you. Here is what the law says as checked in September 2026, including the changes that took effect on 1 July 2026 under Law 118/2025.
How long can you stay in Vietnam on one visa?
It depends on the visa symbol. The e-visa (EV), the tourist visa (DL) and the conference visa (HN) have a maximum duration of 90 days under Article 9(2) of the Immigration Law. A visit-relatives or other-purposes visa (VR) goes up to 180 days. Business, student, family and press categories go up to 1 year, work visas up to 2 years, and since 1 July 2026 lawyers and certain investors up to 5 years.
Two details matter for planning. Article 31(1)(a) says the temporary stay granted on arrival equals the validity of the visa, with one exception: a DL tourist visa longer than 30 days gives 30 days of stay, which may then be considered for extension under Article 35. And Article 9(8) requires a visa to end at least 30 days before the passport expires, so a 90-day visa needs at least 120 days of passport validity left. Article 9(7) adds that an expired visa can be followed by a new visa: nothing renews automatically.
What visa types exist and how long does each last?
The maximum durations come straight from Article 9 of the Law, as amended.
| Visa symbol | Who it is for | Maximum duration |
|---|---|---|
| EV | E-visa, any eligible purpose | 90 days |
| DL | Tourism | 90 days (30 days of stay at entry if longer) |
| HN | Conference | 90 days |
| VR | Visiting relatives, other purposes | 180 days |
| DN1, DN2 | Business | 1 year |
| DH | Study | 1 year |
| TT | Spouse, children under 18 of holders, family of Vietnamese citizens | 1 year |
| NN1, NN2, NN3, PV1, PV2, LV1, LV2, ĐT4 | Official and representative work, press, small investors | 1 year |
| LĐ1, LĐ2 | Work without and with a work permit | 2 years |
| ĐT3 | Investment of VND 3 billion to under 50 billion | 3 years |
| LS, ĐT1, ĐT2, UĐ1, UĐ2 | Lawyers, larger investors, high-level digital-technology workers and family | 5 years since 1 July 2026 |
Article 10(2) states that a visa requires an agency, organisation or individual in Vietnam to invite or sponsor the applicant, except for e-visas applied for directly by the foreigner and a few other cases. Article 10(4) sets the proof: a work permit for workers, an acceptance letter for students, investment papers for investors.
If you are still deciding whether you need a visa at all, start with our guide on visa requirements, then the step-by-step e-visa walkthrough.
Can you extend an e-visa or tourist visa from inside Vietnam?
Yes, extension exists in law, but you cannot file it yourself. Article 35(1) says a foreigner in Vietnam who wants a stay extension must ask the inviting or sponsoring agency, organisation or individual to carry out the procedure at the Immigration Department, or at the competent Foreign Ministry body for diplomatic categories. Article 35(2) and (3) say the sponsor files the request in person together with the passport, and the authority considers the extension within 5 working days of receiving a complete file.
The Ministry of Public Security public service page for stay extension (procedure 1.003326) gives the practical detail:
- Form NA5, the application for visa issuance and stay extension, plus the original passport.
- Fee shown: US$10 per extension.
- Where: Immigration Department offices at 44-46 Tran Phu in Hanoi and 333-335-337 Nguyen Trai in Ho Chi Minh City, or online through the national public service portal or the Ministry of Public Security portal, with the passport returned by public post.
- Conditions: a valid passport, a visa (unless visa-exempt), a temporary residence certification, currently residing in Vietnam, and not barred from entry or exit.
The same page is explicit that the e-visa is granted to foreigners who are abroad and wish to enter Vietnam, and is not granted to foreigners already temporarily residing in Vietnam. So applying for a second e-visa while sitting in Da Nang is not an in-country solution. The UK government's Vietnam entry page states the consequence plainly: if you get an e-visa while in Vietnam, you must exit the country and re-enter for that e-visa to start.
Note the wording of Article 35: the authority "considers" the extension. Nothing in the law promises an outcome, so plan your dates as if the extension might not be granted.
Who can sponsor you for an extension or a new visa?
The extension page lists two families of sponsors. The first is an organisation registered under Article 16(2). The second is a Vietnamese citizen with permanent residence in the country who is your grandparent, parent, spouse, child or sibling, with documents proving the relationship.
That is the real filter on a long stay. Canada's official travel advice notes that an extension can be requested at the Vietnam Immigration Department in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City, or through certain local travel agencies and tour companies; the sponsor and the file still have to meet the conditions above.
| Your situation in Vietnam | Who can file for you |
|---|---|
| Employed by a Vietnamese company | The company, registered with Immigration |
| Enrolled in a Vietnamese school | The school, with written acceptance |
| Married to a Vietnamese citizen | The spouse, with proof of the relationship |
| Investor with capital documents | A registered organisation |
How do you get a new visa without leaving Vietnam?
Article 19 covers the second in-country route: a foreigner already temporarily residing in Vietnam who needs a new visa must ask an inviting or sponsoring agency, organisation or individual to file at the immigration authority, or at the Foreign Ministry for diplomatic cases. The decision again comes within the same deadline once the file is complete, on the same form.
The fees displayed on the Ministry of Public Security page for visa issuance to foreigners in Vietnam start at US$25 for a single-entry visa and US$50 for a multiple-entry visa valid up to 90 days, then rise in bands as the validity grows, reaching US$145 for one to two years and US$155 for two to five years. Check the exact band for your category on that page before you agree a price with anyone. Our page on what a Vietnam visa costs breaks down the e-visa side.
Can you change the purpose of your visa inside Vietnam?
Usually not. Article 7(4) states the general rule that a visa cannot be converted to another purpose, then lists exactly four exceptions:
- You have documents proving you are an investor or the representative of a foreign organisation investing in Vietnam.
- You have documents proving you are the parent, spouse or child of the individual who invited or sponsored you.
- You are invited to work by an agency or organisation and you hold a work permit or a certificate that you are exempt from needing one.
- You entered on an e-visa and you hold a work permit or a certificate of exemption.
Case four concerns new hires: arriving on the e-visa does not block a later work visa, but the work permit or exemption certificate has to exist first. Read our guide on the Vietnam work permit before you count on it.
When a conversion is allowed, Article 7(5) says a new visa is issued with the symbol and duration matching the new purpose, through the Article 19 procedure. Outside those four cases, Article 44(2)(b) applies: your activities in Vietnam must match your declared purpose of entry. Article 44(1)(d) gives one piece of breathing room, since foreigners residing lawfully in Vietnam may combine tourism, visiting relatives and medical treatment without asking permission.
What changed on 1 July 2026 under Law 118/2025?
Law 118/2025/QH15, passed on 10 December 2025, amended ten security laws including the Immigration Law and took effect on 1 July 2026. Four changes affect long stays:
- A new maximum of 5 years for visas with symbols LS, ĐT1, ĐT2, UĐ1 and UĐ2.
- Two new categories: UĐ1 for high-quality digital-technology workers and other preferential cases set by law, and UĐ2 for their spouse and children under 18.
- UĐ1 and UĐ2 added to the card list, alongside the existing categories.
- A maximum card validity of 10 years for ĐT1, UĐ1 and UĐ2.
The law also added a provision allowing time-limited visa exemption for special categories the Government chooses to favour.
Just as important is what did not change. The articles on purpose conversion (Article 7), in-country visas (Article 19), stay extensions (Article 35), temporary stay at entry (Article 31) and the declaration duty (Article 33) were not amended, so the 2023 wording still governs them. The sponsor requirement is untouched.
Who qualifies for a temporary residence card, and for how long?
A temporary residence card (TRC) turns a long stay into a stable one, because Article 12(2) treats a valid card as a visa exemption for entry. Since 1 July 2026, the qualifying group is diplomatic and international-organisation staff and their families (NG3), plus foreigners currently staying in Vietnam who qualify for a visa with symbol LV1, LV2, LS, ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LĐ1, LĐ2, TT, UĐ1 or UĐ2.
Read that list carefully: tourist DL, e-visa EV, VR, business DN1 and DN2 and small-investor ĐT4 holders are not on it. A card is not a path out of tourism.
| Card symbol | Maximum validity |
|---|---|
| ĐT1, UĐ1, UĐ2 | 10 years |
| NG3, LV1, LV2, LS, ĐT2, DH | 5 years |
| NN1, NN2, ĐT3, TT | 3 years |
| LĐ1, LĐ2, PV1 | 2 years |
Article 37 sets the file: the sponsor's written request, an application form with photo, the passport, and documents proving the qualifying category, filed by the sponsor at the immigration office where it is based or resides, with a decision within the same deadline as an extension. The public service portal names forms NA6 (organisation request), NA7 (individual request) and NA8 (application), and lists the fees as US$145 for a card up to 2 years, US$155 for 2 to 5 years and US$165 for 5 to 10 years. Article 38(1) repeats the 30-day rule: the card must end at least 30 days before the passport expires, and Article 38(6) says an expired card can be replaced by a new one.
One benefit is easy to miss. Under Article 44(1)(b), a card holder may sponsor grandparents, parents, spouse and children to visit, and may have a spouse and children under 18 live with them for the duration of the card, if the organisation sponsoring the card agrees.
Do visa runs work if you want to stay longer?
Leaving Vietnam and entering again on a new visa is a legal sequence, and the verifiable facts are narrow. The UK government states that an e-visa obtained while you are in Vietnam only starts once you exit and re-enter. Canada's travel advice states that for visits longer than 90 days you must obtain a visa from the nearest Vietnamese embassy before departure.
An e-visa can only be used to enter and exit through border gates on the government-approved list, and the application form asks for an intended gate of entry and an intended gate of exit, which may differ. Land gates on the list include Huu Nghi, Mong Cai and Lao Cai with China, Lao Bao, Cau Treo and Bo Y with Laos, and Moc Bai, Xa Mat and Ha Tien with Cambodia. Sea gates include Hai Phong, Da Nang, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City and Duong Dong.
We will not publish any rule about how many times you may do this, because no figure of that kind appears in the law or on the portal. The law does require your activities to match the declared purpose. The portal states that past violations of Vietnamese law on a previous entry may lead to a denial.
What are the penalties for overstaying?
Decree 282/2025/ND-CP, in force since 15 December 2025 and replacing Decree 144/2021, sets the fines in Article 21 for staying beyond the permitted stay, extension or card without permission of the competent authority. The amounts below are for individuals; Article 5(2) doubles them for organisations.
| Length of overstay | Fine for an individual | Additional measure |
|---|---|---|
| Under 16 days | VND 500,000 to 2,000,000 | None listed |
| 16 to under 30 days | VND 5 to 10 million | Deportation possible |
| 30 to under 60 days | VND 10 to 15 million | Deportation possible |
| 60 to under 90 days | VND 15 to 20 million | Deportation possible |
| 90 to under 180 days | VND 20 to 25 million | Deportation possible |
| 180 days to under 1 year | VND 25 to 30 million | Deportation possible |
| 1 year or more | VND 30 to 40 million | Deportation possible |
Beyond the fine, Article 30 of the Law allows a forced-exit order where a stay has expired and the person has not left. The consequences travel with you: Article 21(5) and (6) of the Law refuse entry for 3 years after a deportation and 6 months after a forced-exit order. The UK government warns that overstayers can be prevented from leaving until the fine is paid, may be deported and may be barred from future visits; Canada's page says you may be delayed from onward travel until a fine is paid.
Two neighbouring offences are easy to trip over. Carrying out activities that do not match the purpose requested for the visa, card or extension is fined VND 20 to 25 million. Not carrying your passport or residence papers while travelling in Vietnam brings a warning or VND 300,000 to 500,000.
Do you need to declare temporary residence when you stay long?
Yes. Article 33(1) requires every foreigner in Vietnam to declare temporary residence through the person directly managing the accommodation, who declares it to the commune or ward police where the accommodation is located. Article 32 defines accommodation broadly: tourist accommodation, guesthouses, housing for workers and students, clinics, private homes and other lodgings.
The timing is set by Article 33(2): the declaration is made online or on a paper form, and paper forms reach the police within 12 hours of your arrival at the accommodation, or 24 hours in remote areas. The Ministry of Public Security online declaration service is free and is to be done as soon as the foreigner arrives to register. Article 33(3) requires a new declaration when you change your place of temporary residence or when your passport details change, and Article 44(2)(đ) requires you to show your passport and residence papers to the accommodation so the declaration can be made.
Fines apply on both sides. A foreigner who does not present a passport to the accommodation for the declaration faces VND 3 to 5 million, and an accommodation failing to declare faces VND 3 to 5 million for 1 to 3 foreigners, VND 10 to 15 million for 4 to 8, and VND 15 to 20 million for 9 or more. Canada's page adds that in non-commercial accommodation you must register with the nearest police station. Article 34(2) also prohibits foreigners from staying in border prohibited zones.
Which route fits Indian, Australian, US and Canadian travellers?
None of these four nationalities appears on Vietnam's unilateral 45-day exemption lists (Resolution 44/NQ-CP, valid until 14 March 2028, and Resolution 229/NQ-CP, until 14 August 2028), and Canada's official page states that a tourist visa is required. All nationalities have been eligible for the e-visa since 15 August 2023, which makes the 90-day e-visa the natural starting point, with Phu Quoc offering 30 days visa-free for direct arrivals staying on the island.
| Your plan | Practical route |
|---|---|
| 2 to 12 weeks of travel | 90-day e-visa, single or multiple entry |
| Trips in and out of Vietnam | 90-day multiple-entry e-visa, US$50 official fee |
| More than 90 days as a tourist | Ask a qualifying sponsor about an Article 35 extension; Canada advises a visa from a Vietnamese embassy before departure for visits over 90 days |
| Job offer in Vietnam | Work permit or exemption certificate first, then LĐ1 or LĐ2 up to 2 years, then a card up to 2 years |
| Married to a Vietnamese citizen | TT visa up to 1 year, then a TT card up to 3 years |
| Investing in a company | ĐT3 up to 3 years, ĐT1 or ĐT2 up to 5 years, cards up to 10 years for ĐT1 |
A workable pattern for a long stay is to enter on the e-visa, settle the paperwork that creates a sponsor (employment contract and work permit, marriage registration, investment certificate), then use Article 19 for a new visa in the right category and Article 37 for a card. Each decision comes within 5 working days once the file is complete, so leave weeks of margin, not days.
When the 90-day e-visa is the right answer, you can file it yourself on the official portal or let us check your documents and file it for you within 24 working hours at our all-inclusive price, government fee included.
Sources
- evisa.gov.vn/instruction, the portal's instructions: e-visa process, 90-day validity, US$25 and US$50 fees, approved border gates, eligibility, status checks and the non-refundable fee. Checked in September 2026.
- Consolidated Immigration Law 30/VBHN-VPQH: visa durations, extensions, in-country visas, purpose conversion, cards, declarations. Checked in September 2026.
- Law 118/2025/QH15: changes effective 1 July 2026, including 5-year visas and 10-year cards. Checked in September 2026.
- Decree 282/2025/ND-CP: overstay and declaration fines in force since 15 December 2025. Checked in September 2026.
- Stay extension procedure 1.003326, Ministry of Public Security: the extension form, fee, timing, filing offices and conditions. Checked in September 2026.
- Visa issuance for foreigners in Vietnam, Ministry of Public Security: the in-country visa fee bands from US$25 to US$155. Checked in September 2026.
- Temporary residence card at the Immigration Department, Ministry of Public Security: forms NA6, NA7 and NA8 and the card fees of US$145, US$155 and US$165. Checked in September 2026.
- Online temporary residence declaration, Ministry of Public Security: the free online declaration and its timing. Checked in September 2026.
- UK government, Vietnam entry requirements: e-visas obtained inside Vietnam and overstay consequences. Checked in September 2026.
- Government of Canada, travel advice for Vietnam: extension locations, the 90-day embassy rule, police registration. Checked in September 2026.
Questions
Can I extend my Vietnam e-visa without leaving the country?
An extension exists in law, but you cannot file it yourself: Article 35 of the Immigration Law requires the inviting or sponsoring agency, organisation or individual to file it at the Immigration Department with your passport, and the authority decides within 5 working days. The fee shown on the Ministry of Public Security portal is US$10 per extension, using form NA5. Applying for a second e-visa instead does not help while you are inside Vietnam, because the e-visa is issued to foreigners who are abroad.
How much does a Vietnam visa extension cost?
The Ministry of Public Security public service portal shows US$10 per stay extension. If you need a new visa issued inside Vietnam rather than an extension, the same portal shows US$25 for a single entry and US$50 for multiple entry up to 90 days, rising by validity band to US$145 for one to two years and US$155 for two to five years. Any amount charged above the state fee by an intermediary is its own service fee.
What is the fine for overstaying a Vietnam visa?
Under Decree 282/2025/ND-CP, in force since 15 December 2025, an individual overstaying by under 16 days is fined VND 500,000 to 2,000,000, by 16 to under 30 days VND 5 to 10 million, and the bands rise to VND 30 to 40 million for one year or more. Deportation may be added for overstays of 16 days or more, and a deportation brings a 3-year entry refusal, while a forced-exit order brings 6 months. The UK government also warns that you can be prevented from leaving until the fine is paid.
Can I switch from an e-visa to a work visa while in Vietnam?
Only in the cases listed in Article 7(4) of the Immigration Law, and one of them fits exactly: you entered on an e-visa and you hold a work permit or a certificate that you are exempt from needing one. In that case a new visa with the matching symbol and duration is issued through the in-country procedure of Article 19, filed by your sponsor, with a decision within 5 working days. Without the work permit or exemption certificate, the conversion is not available.
Do I need a temporary residence card to stay in Vietnam long term?
A card is only available to holders of certain categories: since 1 July 2026 the list covers LV1, LV2, LS, ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, NN1, NN2, DH, PV1, LĐ1, LĐ2, TT, UĐ1 and UĐ2, plus NG3 diplomatic staff. Tourist DL, e-visa EV, VR, DN1, DN2 and ĐT4 holders are not eligible. Validity runs from 2 years for LĐ1, LĐ2 and PV1 up to 10 years for ĐT1, UĐ1 and UĐ2, and a valid card works as a visa exemption for entry.
Do I have to register with the police if I rent an apartment in Vietnam?
Yes. Article 33 of the Immigration Law requires every foreigner to declare temporary residence through the person managing the accommodation, who declares it to the commune or ward police, online or on a paper form filed within 12 hours of arrival, or 24 hours in remote areas. You must show your passport and residence papers so the declaration can be made, and a new declaration is needed if you move or your passport details change. Canada's travel advice notes that in non-commercial accommodation you must register with the nearest police station.