By Sumer. Checked against official sources on 2026-10-21. A few points are still open; they are listed under Sources.
If you want to stay in Vietnam longer than your visa or visa-free period allows, the law calls it an extension of temporary stay. The rules are short but easy to misread, especially the part about who is allowed to apply. This guide sets out what the immigration law and the 2026 fee circular actually say, and marks clearly what we could not confirm.
Article 35 of Vietnam's Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners says that a foreigner who wants to extend a temporary stay must ask the agency, organisation or individual that invited or sponsored them to carry out the procedure. In practice that is your employer, your school, a Vietnamese family member, or for tourists usually a travel agency acting as sponsor. The application goes to the Immigration Department or to the immigration office of the provincial police, and only diplomatic and official visa holders deal with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs instead.
The same article gives the immigration authority five working days from receiving a complete file to decide. Working days exclude weekends and public holidays, so apply well before your permitted stay ends. If the file is incomplete, the clock does not start.
Fees are set by the Ministry of Finance. Circular No. 28/2026/TT-BTC, in force since 1 April 2026, replaced the earlier fee circulars 25/2021 and 62/2023. Its fee table lists an extension of temporary stay at 10 USD per extension. If you need a new visa rather than an extension, the same table lists 25 USD for a single-entry visa and 50 USD for a multiple-entry visa valid up to 90 days, with higher fees for longer multiple-entry visas. Agencies that handle the paperwork for you charge their own service fee on top, which is not set by law.
Since the 2023 amendment to the immigration law, citizens of countries that Vietnam exempts from visas unilaterally are given 45 days of temporary stay at the border. The amended Article 31 adds that they may be considered for a visa or an extension of temporary stay under the law. The wording is may be considered, not a right, and we could not find an official guide to how this works in practice. Ask your sponsor or the immigration office before relying on it; our visa exemption guide explains which countries get the 45 days.
The 2023 amendment allows e-visas of up to 90 days, single or multiple entry. The law's extension article does not exclude e-visa holders, but we could not find an official statement on whether an e-visa stay is extended or replaced with a new visa. Treat any agency's promise on this as something to confirm with the immigration office.
The city police website lists the Hai Phong Police headquarters at No. 2 Le Dai Hanh, Hong Bang, but its immigration page does not give an address for the immigration office, so we have not listed one. The same website links to the online page for declaring a foreigner's temporary residence, which is a different procedure from extending your stay; see our temporary residence declaration guide.
Not directly. The law says the agency, organisation or individual that invited or sponsored you must submit the request, for example your employer or a travel agency.
The official fee under Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC is 10 USD per extension. Agencies may charge a separate service fee.
The law gives the immigration authority five working days from receiving a complete file.
The law says visa-free visitors may be considered for a visa or an extension, but it is not guaranteed. Check with your sponsor or the immigration office first.
Checked 2026-10-21. Items still open: How visa-free (45-day) and e-visa stays are extended in practice: extension of stay or a new visa; The current online procedure and application form for extensions on the Ministry of Public Security public service portal; The address of the Hai Phong Police immigration office; Whether Law No. 118/2025/QH15, in force from 1 July 2026 for this area, changed the extension rules.
Related: Hai Phong living dashboard