Vietnam is one of the best countries that you can visit if you want to have a holiday with your family. In addition to having reasonably low prices, Vietnam has a lot of tourist attractions that you can visit.

If you want to enjoy the beauty of Vietnam for a longer period of time, make sure you understand how to extend visas in Vietnam! Before we discuss it, there are a few things you should know about the visa.

A visa is a required document that allows the bearer to legally enter a foreign country. The visa itself may take the form of a stamp or sticker placed inside the bearer's passport.

There are many different kinds of visas, but this article will only cover travel or tourist visas. This kind of visa is the most famous one, and many people apply for it. Thus, the process of obtaining this visa can take some time.

A tourist visa is a visa that would grant the bearer the right to travel and engage in tourist activities while abroad. It also will predetermine your period of stay. A travel visa holder is not allowed to conduct business in the country they are visiting. Now, it is not hard to get a tourist visa because it can be obtained through an electronic visa or e-visa.

Basically, you will need a visa when you visit another country. If the foreign country that you plan to visit has a visa agreement with your home country, this would most likely mean that you don’t need a visa before entering that country. On the other hand, if there is no visa agreement between the host country and the home country, then having a visa is a must before you travel.

There are a lot of cases where people use tourist or travel visas, yet they stay in the host country for a longer period. Therefore, you need to understand the differences between immigrant and non-immigrant visas if you want to stay longer in the host country.

An immigrant visa allows the bearer permanent residence in the host country. Meanwhile, a non-immigrant visa only allows a person to stay in the host country for some amount of time that is mentioned in the visa document.

Also read: Step-by-Step Guide to Extending Your Tourist Visa in Thailand

There are two ways to extend a visa in Vietnam. The first one is a visa extension, which enables you to remain in Vietnam without leaving. You will get a new stamp that shows a new date of exit.

The second option is to renew your visa; this will give you a new visa page and a new visa stamp for your passport. The visa extension would usually cost more due to the cost of new visa stickers and stamps.

However, it is the Vietnam Immigration Office that will decide whether a visa should be extended or renewed. The decision relates to the current visa status.

There are a few steps to take in order to extend or renew a visa in Vietnam. The procedure is as follows:

There are 2 documents that are obligatory for visa extension or renewal:

After all the documents are prepared, they need to be submitted to the office of immigration in the Ministry of Public Security. Remember to keep the receipt to collect your visa and passport.

To receive the result, you need to show the receipts to the officer. If a visa extension is granted, the individual will have to pay the fee, sign the receipt, and receive the result.

The process for visa extension in Vietnam takes about seven to ten working days. This count starts from the day when all documents have been completed and submitted to the immigration office. The immigration office is open from Monday through Saturday morning.

You can extend your visa at the Immigration Management Department located in the three biggest cities in Vietnam. The address is as follows:

The extension of a Vietnam visa can vary between 15 days, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. The extension ties back to the original validity of the visa. Of course, the price will vary depending on the initial visa and the length of the extension. Currently, the 1-month and 3-month tourist visas can be extended up to 1 month. Keep in mind that visa extension duration can change from time to time. Thus, it would be wise to consult with visa agents before applying for a visa extension.

Now, you don’t have to worry about your holiday in Vietnam. By understanding how to extend visas in Vietnam, you can enjoy the beautiful country happily. Don't forget to download Traveloka before your trip to Vietnam so you can quickly book your hotel, flights, and activities!