Just like in every other country, overstaying Vietnam visa has its own consequences. Find out its fines and recommendations.
Vietnam visa is required for foreigners who want to get into Vietnam legally (except for those eligible for Vietnam visa exemption). Trouble happens when they overstay in Vietnam without extending/renewing their Vietnam visa. In this case, foreigners must pay for a penalty/fine for overstaying Vietnam visa.
Now, let’s figure out what overstaying Vietnam visa means, its fines, and how to cope with it.
What is Vietnam visa overstay?
Basically, overstaying visa in Vietnam means that you stay in Vietnam longer than your Vietnam visa’s permitted validity duration, i.e an expired visa for Vietnam.
Overstaying Vietnam visa could result in harsh consequences. Thus, before you or your loved one enters Vietnam, you had better understand the consequences/penalty of overstaying, how to avoid it and what to do if you have overstayed your Vietnam visa.
Consequences of Overstaying Your Visa in Vietnam
According to the Immigration Law of Vietnam, the penalty of overstaying a visa varies, depending on the type of visa and specific circumstance.
According to the law on administrative fines of Vietnam, the fine imposed on overstaying a visa ranges from VND 500,000 to VND 40,000,000, depending on the number of days of overstaying.
In addition, those overstaying a visa Vietnam may be blacklisted by the Vietnam Immigration Department and subject to forced deportation. Worse, you will never be able to come back to Vietnam again in the future.
Vietnam Visa Overstay Fines
This section will let you know in details “How much do you have to pay if you overstay your visa in Vietnam?“.
In Vietnam, the fine for overstaying a visa is charged by days of overstaying. It is clearly provided for in Article 8 of the Circular No. 144/2021/NĐ-CP as follows:
- Overstaying for less than 16 days: VND VND 500,000 – VND 2,000,000 (~US $22 – US $88)
- Overstaying for 16 days – less than 30 days: VND 3,000,000 – VND 5,000,000 (~ US $133 – US $221)
- Overstaying for 30 days – less than 60 days: VND 5,000,000 – VND 10,000,000 (~ US $221 – US $441)
- Overstaying for 60 days – less than 90 days: VND 10,000,000 – VND 15,000,000 (~ US $441 – US $661)
- Overstaying for at least 90 days: VND 15,000,000 – VND 20,000,000 (~ US $661 – US $885)
- Foreigners who do not comply with competent agencies’ decisions on forcing them to exit Vietnam and continue to reside in Vietnam: VND 30,000,000 – VND 40,000,000 (~ US $1,320 – US $1,760).
How to Avoid Overstaying Vietnam Visa In Advance?
Prevention is always better than cure. This applies for not only health, but also overstaying visa issue. It is best to avoid it in the first place with the following tips:
- Check the expiry date on visa stamp right at Vietnam airports. There are cases in which the officers give a wrong date on the visa stamp. It can be a huge issue and the travelers then cannot explain in details upon caught violating Vietnam laws. Therefore, make sure that your visa shows correct details, particularly valid dates.
- Take note or set an alarm of the last date of your Vietnam visa validity. You may forget it due to a wedding, hospital treatment, an extended trip, and lost documents, which result in overstaying your visa. Thus, always remind yourself of this crucial date in order to avoid possible fines or repercussions.
- If you would like to overstay beyond your visa’s expiration, you must file for a Vietnam visa extension.
What to Do If You Have Overstayed?
The most convenient way to solve the problem is to pay the fine when you only overstay for one or two days. Payment can be made to the immigration officer at the airport when you exit the country. The fine is approximately VND 500,000 or US$ 25.
The most convenient way when you overstay your visa is to pay a fine to the Immigration Officer at the airport when you exit the country in case you just overstay 1 or 2 days.
However, it is not the best way to deal with this issue as your passport will be marked by the officers with regards to the overstaying, which might affect your further visit to the country. In this case, we highly recommend you to extend your expired visa to further remain in the country even though it takes a few more days.
What to Do If You Lose Your Passport?
In case you overstay in Vietnam due to losing your passport, then go instantly to the local ward police office and fill in the Passport Lost Report to obtain confirmation sealed by them. After that, contact your country’s Embassy/Consulate in Vietnam for renewing your passport. It may take several weeks to carry out the renewal. In case your country does not have an official Embassy/Consulate in Vietnam, contact the nearest Embassy in a neighboring country and ask for a diplomatic note.
Your Embassy/Consulate will then issue a letter to the Vietnam Immigration Department and request essential support for a travel document if you want to leave Vietnam or a new visa if you want to stay longer. With the former case, you then can exit Vietnam by using the new passport and exit visa.
How to Exit Vietnam If Your Visa Is Expired
To leave Vietnam legally, you must pay all penalty fees and follow any required procedure by local officials, like submitting an explaining letter or applying for an exit visa.
► See how to get a Vietnam exit visa
In case your overstaying is just several days, you can pay the penalty directly to Immigration Officer at Vietnam international airport upon leaving.
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