Vietnam visa validity, entry and exit date
Vietnam visa validity varies by several factors like visa type, visa application method, applicant's nationality, current immigration policy, etc. Understanding the validity helps foreigners not only plan a proper schedule but also avoid violating Vietnamese law and limit potential issues upon entry. This guide will explain Vietnam visa validity, entry and exit dates, how to check your visa validity and status, and how to extend your visa upon expiration.
1- What are visa validity, entry and exit date?
Visa validity is the period of time that visa holders are allowed to enter a country. According to the Law on Entry, Exit, Transit, and Residence of Foreigners in Vietnam, the visa validity is defined based on the entry purpose and the foreigner’s application. It is always stated clearly on the stamped visa or visa document. The validity date is normally the issue date of a visa.
Entry date is the actual date the visa holder enters Vietnam. While the validity date is not necessarily the entry date, the entry date must be on/after the validity date and before/on the expiry date of a visa.
Exit date is the last date a visa holder is allowed to stay in Vietnam. Staying beyond this date is considered a violation of Vietnamese law and is subject to punishment. The exit date is determined based on visa type and specific conditions, and is usually stated next to the entry date on the immigration stamp.
Length of stay is NOT visa validity. It is the maximum time you can stay in Vietnam per entry, starting from Entry date to Exit date. If your visa is still valid but your length of stay is over, you must leave Vietnam and re-enter to continue your stay.
*Note: In Vietnam, dates are usually written in dd/mm/yyyy format. Make sure to check the date carefully when reviewing your visa to avoid overstaying.
2- How long is Vietnam visa validity period?
A Vietnam tourist visa is valid for 90 days while a business visa is valid for up to a year. Based on each visa type, entry purpose and current Vietnam regulation, a Vietnam visa can have a validity duration of a few hours to a few years. Below are the validity periods for common visa types in Vietnam:
| Visa type | Symbol | Validity | Extension |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travel | DL | 90 days | No, you must exit and apply for a new visa. |
| Studying | DH | 3 - 12 months | Yes |
| Business | DN1, DN2 | 1 year | Yes |
| Work | LĐ1, LĐ2, LĐ3, LĐ4 | 2 years | Apply for a temporary card for a longer stay. |
| Investment | ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, ĐT4 | 1 - 10 years | Yes |
| Visiting relatives | TT, VR | 1 - 3 years | Yes |
| Transit visa | NG, LV | 24 - 72 hours | No |
3- Factors affecting Vietnam visa validity
There are several factors determining the differences in visa validity when coming to Vietnam. Understanding these factors helps foreigners comply with the law and proactively plan a visa application or extension when needed.
3.1. Visa type
Each type of Vietnam visa comes with different validity periods and lengths of stay:
- Tourist visa (DL): Valid for up to 90 days with a maximum stay of 30 days per entry and cannot be extended.
- Business visa (DN1, DN2): Valid for up to 12 months with a maximum stay of 90 days per entry, and can be extended for foreigners in Vietnam.
- Labor visa (LĐ1, LĐ2): Valid for up to 2 years if applying for a Vietnam temporary residence card.
- Investment visa (ĐT1 - ĐT4): Valid for up to 10 years depending on the investment capital. Visa ĐT4 has a maximum stay of 12 months while visa ĐT1, 2, 3 can apply for a Vietnam temporary residence card for a longer stay.
- Visiting-relative visa (TT, VR): Valid for up to 3 years with a maximum stay of 90 days and can be extended, applicable to relatives of foreigners living in Vietnam.
3.2. Visa method
- Vietnam E-visa (online visa): Valid for up to 90 days, issued only once and cannot be extended.
- Stamped Visa (sticker visa): Valid for 1 month up to 5 years depending on the visa type, and can be issued as a single or multiple-entry visa.
3.3. Entry purpose
Different purposes of entry lead to different visa validity. In particular: Visa holders with traveling purposes are granted a short-term visa (maximum 90 days). Visa holders with working purposes are granted a longer-term visa (up to 2 years) and can apply for a Vietnam temporary residence card for a long stay. Visa holders with investment purposes can be granted a 5 to 10-year visa if they apply for a Vietnam temporary residence card.
3.4. Nationality
According to Vietnam’s visa exemption policy, citizens of certain countries with ordinary passports can enter Vietnam without a visa for 14 to 90 days. For example: Brunei, Myanmar: 14 days Philippines: 21 days Japan, South Korea, Germany, France, Denmark, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain,...: 45 days (under the unilateral exemption policy) Chile, Panama: 90 days
3.5. Vietnam's entry policy
National events such as international conferences, sports, and trade may affect Vietnam's visa policies National security or epidemics may cause restricted entries or shortened visa durations.
3.6. Entry and exit history
Foreigners who have good immigration records may be granted longer-term visas or easily extend their Vietnam visa. Foreigners who have violated immigration laws or have overstayed their visas may be granted a short-term visa or denied.
3.7. Sponsorship requirement
Foreigners with sponsorship from Vietnamese corporations can apply for longer visas than those applying for a tourist visa. Foreigners need sponsorship from Vietnamese companies or organizations to be granted or extend their business and work visas.
4- Guide to check the validity of your Vietnam visa
Verifying your visa validity period is important to avoid entry issues and overstaying. See when you should check the validity of your Vietnam visa and how to check below!
When to check
There are 3 essential times to check your visa validity:
- Before booking a flight: To avoid being denied boarding due to an invalid visa.
- Before entry: To confirm you are entering Vietnam within the validity period.
- Before visa expiration: To have a plan to leave Vietnam or extend the visa if needed. Before applying for a visa extension: To avoid overstaying and violating immigration regulations.
How to check
Each visa application method requires a different way to check the validity. Here are the guidelines for checking the validity of Stamped visa (both visas at the Embassy/Consulate or visas on arrival) and E-visa to Vietnam.
Stamped visa
The stamped visa is the easiest to check as it is stamped directly on your original passport. Make sure to verify the following information:
- Issue date/Valid from: The date the visa is issued, usually the start date of visa validity.
- Expiry date/Until: The date the visa is no longer valid.
- Number of entries: Single entry: You can enter Vietnam once. Multiple entries: You can enter Vietnam multiple times during the visa validity and stay under the permitted length of stay per entry.
E-visa
E-visa is applied for and issued completely online via the website of the Vietnam Immigration Department. Therefore, foreigners can follow 4 following steps to check the visa validity:
- Step 1: Visit the official website: https://evisa.gov.vn/e-visa/search.
- Step 2: Enter the application number (saved when applying), registration email and date of birth.
- Step 3: On your granted visa (PDF file), check the visa number, validity date (Valid from), expiry date (until), and related information (full name, passport number, number of entries)
- Step 4: Download the visa to your device or print a copy for use upon entry.
Important notes
- Check the visa validity before booking a flight or entering the country.
- You cannot board the plane to Vietnam if your arrival date is before the visa validity date or after the expiry date.
- Make sure you enter the correct information (application number, email and date of birth) while checking the e-visa.
- Your length of stay (determined by Entry and Exit Date) will be stamped on your passport by an immigration officer upon entry.
- Check the Exit date carefully to avoid overstaying or extend your visa if needed.
- Carefully review the date with standard Vietnamese date format: DD/MM/YYYY (Day/Month/Year).
5- How to check Vietnam visa status
Regularly checking visa status is essential for a valid entry and stay in Vietnam. It also helps avoid violating entry regulations, prevents risks of being fined, deported, or banned from re-entering Vietnam.
5.1. When to check visa status
- Before booking the flight: To ensure not being denied boarding and re-buy the ticket.
- Before entry: To ensure a valid entry.
- Before the visa expires: To avoid fines for overstay and plan to exit or extend visa in time.
5.2. Checking stamped visa status
Foreigners holding a stamped visa can check the status directly on the visa stamped on their passports. Key information to check includes: Issue date (valid from): The date the visa is valid. Expiry date (until): The date the visa is no longer valid. Visa number: A unique code for each visa, located on the upper right corner.
5.3. Checking e-visa status
- Step 1: Visit official website of Vietnam Immigration Department at: https://evisa.gov.vn/e-visa/search
- Step 2: Enter Application Code, Email, and Date of birth, type security code, and click “Search”
- Step 3: See the visa status “Approved” - Your visa is granted => Check the validity, visa number, number of entries. “In process” - Your application is still being reviewed => Check later or contact the Immigration Department if no status changes after 7 working days. “Rejected” - Your application has been rejected => Contact the Immigration Department for a reason, prepare a new application. “Unknown” - The information you entered is invalid => Double check the information inserted and re-search.
- Step 4: If your visa is granted and all the information is correct, download and print the e-visa for use upon entry.
6- Extend your Vietnam visa
Wishing to stay longer in Vietnam but your visa has almost expired, or you are currently not able to exit the country and apply for a new visa? Visa extension is the most practical solution in these cases.
6.1. What is Vietnam visa extension?
Vietnam visa extension is a legal process that allows foreigners currently staying in Vietnam to extend their stay without leaving the country or applying for a new visa. If the visa is extended, you can continue staying in Vietnam for a period of time based on the visa type.
Visa extensions are usually applied to valid visas having a legal sponsor. The extension time varies by visa type. In details: Business visa (DN1, DN2): Maximum 1 - 3 months Work visa (LĐ1, LĐ2): Maximum 1 - 2 years Investment visa (ĐT1 - ĐT4): Maximum 1 - 10 years Visiting-relative visa (TT, VR): Maximum 6 months - 3 years
6.2. When you need visa extension
Common cases requiring a visa extension are: Your visa is about to expire but you need to stay longer in Vietnam. You cannot leave and apply for a new visa to re-enter Vietnam due to work, health or other objective reasons. You want to change to a longer-term visa (e.g., from a standard business visa to a visa with a temporary residence card). You are foreign investors and workers completing the application for a Work Permit or an investment certificate for a longer stay.
6.3. How to extend your Vietnam visa
To apply for the visa extension, you need to prepare documents and follow the process of the Vietnam Immigration Department or Provincial/City's Immigration Office where you are staying. Documents Passport with at least 6 months’ validity. Visa extension application (Form NA5). Temporary residence certificate issued by local police. Current valid visa. Legal documents proving a valid reason for visa extension: Business visa (DN1, DN2): Sponsor letter from a Vietnamese enterprise. Work visa (LĐ1, LĐ2): Labor contract and work permit (or work permit exemption). Visiting-relative visa (TT, VR): Documents proving family relationship (Marriage certificate, birth certificate, household registration book,...). Investment visa (ĐT1 - ĐT4): Investment certificate. Process: Step 1: Foreigners and sponsors prepare all required documents. Step 2: Submit the application to the Immigration Department or local Immigration Office. Step 3: Receive the appointment letter and wait for application processing for 5 - 7 days. Step 4: Receive results, pay the extension fee, and check the visa extension stamp.
6.4. Processing time & fee
The process for extending a Vietnam visa normally takes 5 to 7 working days since a complete and valid application is submitted. It may take longer if your application requires a careful review of special documents (work exemption, investment certificate, etc.) or needs supplementary information.
Fees for visa extension: 1-month extension: VND 800,000 (~$31) 3-month extension: VND 1,600,000 (~$62) 3 - 6 month extension: VND 2,800,000 (~$108) 6 - 12 month extension: VND 5,000,000 (~$192)
Note: These fees are for individuals applying for visa extension by themselves and may change depending on time and government policy. If you use the service from a Vietnamese visa agency, extension fees range from $58 to $154, depending on your visa type, extension location, and the urgency level.
6.5. Important notes when extending your visa in Vietnam
Not all visa types can be extended. Tourist visas (DL), e-visas, and 15-day visa exemptions cannot be extended in Vietnam. Foreigners must exit Vietnam and reapply for a new visa. Vietnam visas cannot currently be extended online. Applications must be submitted directly to immigration offices or through online services of a local visa agency. Apply for visa extensions at least 5-7 days before expiry to avoid overstay fines. If your visa cannot be extended, you must leave Vietnam before it expires. For long-term stays, consider applying for a temporary residence card to reduce costs and avoid repeated extensions.
7- FAQs
Is the exit date the same as the expiry date on my visa?
No. Exit date and expiry date are different. Expiry date: The last day your visa is valid to enter Vietnam. It is clearly stated on your stamped visa or e-visa on the system of Vietnam Immigration Department as soon as the visa is issued. Exit date: The last day you are allowed to stay in Vietnam for that entry, and must leave Vietnam. It is only stamped on your passport upon entry at Vietnam's immigration counter.
Can I enter Vietnam on the last day of my visa validity?
According to regulations, you are allowed to enter Vietnam before or on the expiry date of your visa. However, it brings a high risk of being refused entry due to late entry (flight delays, long queues at the immigration gate, administrative issues) or decisions of Immigration Officers.
Can I stay in Vietnam continuously if I have a multiple-entry visa?
No. Although you can enter and exit Vietnam multiple times during the visa validity if holding a multiple-entry visa, each entry has a maximum length of stay clearly stated on your visa. After this period, you must leave Vietnam and re-enter to continue your stay.
If my stamped visa is still valid but my passport has expired, do I need to apply for a new visa?
Yes. You must apply for a new passport and a new visa or transfer the visa validity from your old passport to your new passport, applied to foreigners legally residing in Vietnam.
Can I extend my visa online?
Currently, online visa extension is unavailable if you want to apply by yourself. However, you can use the online service from a Vietnam visa agency for a higher fee.
