Vietnam Exit Visa 2020

Vietnam Exit Visa 2020: Overstaying visa means you remain in Vietnam longer than the permitted validity duration on your Vietnam visa or stay in Vietnam on an expired visa.

How to avoid it

Before discussing the possible penalty you may face at the time of departure for overstaying your visa, it is best to avoid it in the first place.

Always check the date on your visa stamp: There have been cases where the officials give a wrong date on the stamp (postdating it back 1-2 months compared with the correct one can be a huge issue and you will not be able to explain all the details when caught violating the laws). Make sure that the visa you get shows all the correct details, especially the valid dates.

Keep a note or set an alarm of the last date you must leave the country: Sometimes you may be held off because of an extended trip, a wedding, hospital treatment or loss of documents which lead to the overstay. It's always helpful to remind yourself of this important date so as to avoid any possible penalty or consequences.

How To Leave Vietnam With Expired Visa

For some reason, foreigners residing in Vietnam may let their Vietnam visa expire, or they, unfortunately, get their passport damaged or even lost. What to do in this case to get an exit visa?

1. Exit visa in the cases of expired visa

Know the penalties: You will have to pay a fine fee for overstaying and either (1) extension fee if you plan on staying longer or (2) exit visa fee if you plan to exit. In case you plan to exit Vietnam right after overstaying, the situation may not be as serious and the penalty fee is not high - you can pay by yourself in the Vietnam Immigration Office at the airport and then leave the country. According to the 150/2005/NĐ-CP Decree, the fine will be between VND 500,000 and VND 2,000,000. For those who overstay less than one week, this rate might be applied. For longer overstay, the fees are various depending on the nationality and the previous visa.

In reality, there are quite a few people overstaying for several months, even one or two years. The fine fee for them is much bigger. Moreover, the case becomes serious since more documentation related is required.

Steps to get an exit visa:

-       Contact us immediately for advice on the fee details

-       Submit your passport at our office for processing exit visa

-       Receive your passport back with a new exit visa

-       Get ready for leaving Vietnam after few days (the due exit date is noted in your passport)

2. Exit visa in the case of damage or lost passport

In case you lose your passport and stay beyond the visa valid date, go immediately to ward police and fill the Passport Lost Report and get confirmation sealed by the Ward Police. Then contact your Embassy in Vietnam for passport renewal which may take a few weeks. If your country does not have an embassy in Vietnam, you can contact the nearest Embassy in another country and ask for diplomatic note.

Your embassy or consulate will issue a letter to the Vietnam Immigration Department and request their support for a new visa or travel document for you to exit the country. You can then leave Vietnam using the new passport and exit visa.


Diplomatic note:

The new passport will get a new visa stamp if you wish to stay in Vietnam, or a seal noted the expiration date if you wish to leave Vietnam (exit visa). The new stamp will cost more. The exact cost depends on your previous visa type and the requested type of the new visa. However, not all foreigners are approved to have a new one. Sometimes people can request visa extension after paying the fine fee. Not all are the same; therefore, the Immigration will consider and decide themselves, it is not written in black and white.

Normally the exit visa will be valid seven days from the issuing date. It is the scheduled time for you to exit Vietnam. In case you wish to come back you can totally request a new visa approval letter for your coming entry.

3. Exit visa at the airport

In reality, many foreigners choose to arrange the exit visa at the airport when you leave Vietnam. Actually, this is possible for several foreigners only, especially those who have overstayed Vietnam just one or two days. Regarding legalization, it is not accepted. Therefore booking a flight in advance and doing the exit procedure at the airport in Vietnam is totally risky.

In short, foreigners in Vietnam are advised to have a careful plan and finalize whether to stay or leave the country at least one week prior to the expiry date of the visa. Visa extension, though expensive, cost much less and easier than being a force to pay the fine fee and request an exit visa.