Temporary stay extension
For a qualifying person whose current purpose and sponsor remain suitable.
Visa and temporary stay extension in Vietnam
Check the current visa, permitted stay, sponsor and purpose before choosing an extension, a new visa, a residence card or another lawful route.
START WITH THE RIGHT ROUTE
Start with the right expiry date
The validity of a visa and the authorised temporary stay are related but not identical. Read the passport, visa or e-visa, entry stamp and current stay record before assuming that a visa extension is the correct request. The person’s nationality, purpose, sponsor and immigration history can change the route.
Contact us before expiry if work, investment, family or travel plans have changed. An expired stay is a compliance issue that needs specific advice; submitting an application later does not automatically regularise the earlier period.
KEY DECISIONS
Choose the procedure that matches the stay
New visa or purpose change
A different route with its own eligibility and sponsorship requirements.
Temporary residence card
A longer-term option for qualifying work, investment, family or other categories.
Departure and new entry
Sometimes the lawful route when an in-country change is unavailable.
PRACTICAL GUIDANCE
Extension, new visa or residence card?
An extension of temporary stay addresses the authorised stay under the applicable status. A new visa or change of purpose has different eligibility and sponsorship rules. A temporary residence card is a longer-term document for qualifying categories and requires its own supporting basis.
A work permit or exemption may support an employment-based immigration route, but it does not by itself extend a visa or authorise residence. Investors and family members likewise need the correct category and evidence.
PRACTICAL GUIDANCE
Documents to review
Provide the passport and current visa or entry records, immigration and temporary residence details, information about the sponsoring person or organisation and evidence of the purpose of stay. Depending on the route, the prescribed NA5 form, company records, work authorisation, investment records or family documents may be needed.
Check consistency of names, passport numbers, sponsor and dates. The competent immigration office may require originals or further explanations, particularly after a change in sponsor or purpose.
HOW WE WORK
Procedure and service
Duong Tri Law reviews the lawful stay and expiry, maps the available route, lists the actual documents, prepares the application and sponsor coordination, follows up with the authority and checks the result. The published administrative procedure identifies the filing channel and processing period for a valid dossier; preparation and any prerequisite documents require additional time.
We quote legal fees separately from government charges and translation or delivery costs. No extension duration or approval can be promised before the immigration authority assesses the case.
A CLEAR SEQUENCE
From initial review to the next decision
- Check the actual expiry datesRead the passport, visa and permitted-stay dates before they expire.
- Identify the sponsor and purposeConfirm the current sponsor, purpose and immigration category.
- Choose the proper procedureChoose the application route and prepare the correct supporting documents.
- Prepare and file before expiryFile, respond to requests and check the resulting permission and dates.
PRACTICAL GUIDANCE
Overstay and changed circumstances
If the permitted stay has expired, establish the exact dates and circumstances promptly. The response may involve an explanation, an administrative sanction or another authority-directed step; fine amounts depend on the facts and applicable law. Do not rely on a generic online fine table as a substitute for case review.
Changes of employer, sponsor, passport or purpose should be assessed before the current permission expires. The immigration coordination decree that took effect in September 2026 does not itself replace the publicly announced temporary stay extension procedure.
BEFORE YOU FILE
Eligibility checks before preparing NA5
The right route depends on lawful current stay, a suitable sponsor, an unchanged or legally changeable purpose, passport validity and completed temporary residence declaration. The immigration authority decides the result.
Current status
Compare the visa and authorised-stay dates, not only the sticker or e-visa.
Sponsor
Confirm the individual or organisation has the correct sponsoring capacity.
Purpose
Check work, investment, family or other evidence against the category.
Passport
Review validity, identity details and any recent replacement.
BEFORE YOU FILE
Time, official fees and service scope
The published Ministry of Public Security procedure specifies its processing period for a complete valid dossier and official charge. Document preparation, sponsor registration or status correction can take additional time. A legal service quote should show those components separately.
Before expiry
Start early enough for document and sponsor checks.
Authority review
Use the current published procedure rather than a guaranteed completion date.
Costs
Separate government charge, legal work and document expenses.
BEFORE YOU FILE
If the stay has already expired
First confirm the exact last lawful day, entry history and sponsor. An overstay may require explanation, a sanction or another authority-directed solution. Do not assume that a late extension filing itself fixes the period of unlawful stay.
INITIAL REVIEW
What to send for the first review
These copies help us identify the route and a realistic scope. We will specify originals, authentication and translations after checking the case.
- Passport bio page, current visa or e-visa, entry stamp and latest permitted-stay record.
- Nationality, current location, intended departure or continued-stay date.
- Sponsor details and work, investment or family evidence supporting the purpose.
- Any change of employer, sponsor, passport or immigration status since entry.
Questions before you proceed
Does a valid work permit extend my visa automatically?
No. Work authorisation and immigration permission are separate.
Can an e-visa always be extended inside Vietnam?
No general promise is appropriate. The current status and available lawful route must be checked.
What if I have already overstayed?
Share the passport, entry and stay records promptly so the issue and available authority procedure can be assessed.
How long does a temporary stay extension take?
The published period concerns a complete valid application. Add time for sponsor and document preparation.
Is the government charge included in the legal fee?
That depends on the written quote. We identify official and third-party charges separately.
Can the sponsor be changed through a simple extension?
A change of sponsor may require a different immigration route and supporting records.
Will the original passport be needed?
Confirm the current procedure and handling requirements before filing; copies alone may not satisfy the authority.
When should I consider a residence card?
When an eligible category and supporting work, investment, family or other basis could support longer-term residence.
LEGAL FRAMEWORK
Legal and procedure references
The requirements, authority and current procedure must be checked for the facts and filing date of each case.
NEXT STEP
Discuss the facts before choosing a filing route
Send the current documents, proposed change and timing. We will identify the initial questions and agree the scope of work.