What is difference between Visa Extension and Renewal

There are two options. You can either (a) extend your visa or (b) renew your visa.

Let me tell you in detail what the difference between visa extension and visa renewal.

Visa Extension: Suppose you took a Vietnam Visa for 30 or 90 days on August 1. So your visa will expire on August 30 or November 1. If you want to stay for few more days then apply for a visa extension around September 20. In around 7 days, you will have your visa extended for the mentioned days. You will not be allowed to go out and come back to Vietnam during that time.

In order to apply visa extension, your current visa has to meet some requirements of Vietnam Immigration Department.

Your current visa type has to be correspondent to your staying extending requirement.

Stay in 1 more month: If your current visa is 1 month single, 1 month multiple, 3 month single or 3 month multiple entry visa, you are allowed apply to extend visa in 1 more month or may 3 months.
Stay in 3 more months: If your current visa is 3 month single or 3 month multiple entry visa, you can apply to extend visa in 1 or 3 more months.
Visa Renewal: It means that you are getting a fresh new visa sticker on your passport. Visa renewal fee is higher than the visa extension fee because visa renewal fee include the stamping fee and visa sticker fee. Visa renewal is ready for someone who:

– Entered Vietnam with visa exemption or a business visa.

– Has current visa is not corresponding to your staying extending requirement.

If you would like to upgrade your current visa from 1 month to 3 month, you have to apply to renew 3 month single entry or 3 month multiple entry.
If you would like to upgrade your current visa from single entry to multiple entry, you have to apply to renew visa (like a visa run).
1. Visit – Vietnam Visa Application

You can visit the website and click to Extra Services Visa.

2. Scroll down to “VIETNAM VISA EXTENSION AND RENEWAL”

3. Attach necessary documents and send to them

Passport scan (file attached)
Current visa scan (file attached)
Immigration stamp (file attached)
Latest date of entry
Your current address in Vietnam
The visa extension fee is approx US$60 – US$165, depending on your nationality.(available to 15 days to 1 month; 3 months please check prices)

If you want to escape the high visa extension or renewal fee, then you can also try “Visa Run to the Border“. In this case, you can take a bus (HCM to Cambodia bus at $8) or a cheap flight to neighbouring country, apply for e-visa or visa on arrival and then come back to Vietnam same day.