Visa Extension in Ho Chi Minh City: Agent or Sponsor?
A sponsor files your extension, not you. An agency can be that sponsor only as a company whose licence covers the service and which has a file at immigration. The government fee is US$10. Agencies advertise one month from US$30 to US$100 or more.
On this page
The law has no do-it-yourself route for an extension. A sponsor files it for you. The choice is which sponsor: an employer, a close relative or an agency company.
An agency counts as a sponsor only if it is a company set up under Vietnamese law. Its licence must cover the service. It must also have a file at immigration. An individual who is not your relative cannot sponsor you.
Who can file an extension
The law names the sponsor as the filer.
Người nước ngoài đang tạm trú tại Việt Nam có nhu cầu gia hạn tạm trú phải đề nghị cơ quan, tổ chức, cá nhân mời, bảo lãnh làm thủ tục tại cơ quan quản lý xuất nhập cảnh hoặc cơ quan có thẩm quyền của Bộ Ngoại giao.
A foreigner staying in Vietnam who wants an extension must have the inviting or sponsoring organisation or individual file the request with the immigration authority.
Law 47/2014/QH13, Điều 35 khoản 1
If you have a Vietnamese relative
A Vietnamese citizen sponsor must be a grandparent, parent, spouse, child or sibling. The sponsor shows proof of the relationship.
If you have an employer
An organisation that requests an extension must already have a file under Article 16(2) at the provincial police immigration office. Your employer files the request.
If you have neither
Use an agency company that is the sponsor on your file. Ask for the company name before you pay, because an organisation must already have a file at immigration.
What the government charges
The government fee is US$10 per extension. The national procedure page also lists US$10. The fee is collected in dong or US dollars. It is not refunded if you do not qualify or you refuse the result.
The legal time is 5 working days from a complete dossier. The dossier has two papers: your passport, one original, and the NA5 declaration form. Circular 70/2026/TT-BCA revised the NA5 form. See Vietnam immigration fees.
| Item | Government | Agency advertised |
|---|---|---|
| Fee for 1 month | US$10 | US$30 to US$100 or more |
| Time | 5 working days | 3 to 10 working days |
What agencies advertise
These are advertised prices, not quotes.
- Visumvietnamonline.com: 95 USD for a 1-month extension of a 1-month tourist visa. It says 5 to 7 working days, or 3 for urgent service.
- Visa.seniworld.com: US$30 to US$50 for a 1-month tourist extension. It says 7 to 10 working days.
- Vietnam-immigration.org.vn: a 1-month extension from 100 USD. It says 7 working days.
- Tanvanlang.com: 5 to 10 working days. It lists tourist visas as “Limited / often restricted” for extension.
Fines for overstay are set in dong, in bands by days overstayed, under Decree 282/2025/NĐ-CP. Resolution 44/NQ-CP gives citizens of its named countries 45 days from entry.
Before you hand over a passport
- The extension file includes your passport, one original.
- An agency asks you to send the original passport to its office, and the Immigration Department holds the passport during processing.
- When the dossier is filed online, the passport goes by public post to the receiving office.
- Get the sponsoring company’s name, because it must already have a file at immigration.
- Keep the receipt. The deputy head of the city office said a business whose accepted file has no result by the deadline should keep the receipt and contact the office.
A refusal gets no refund of the government fee.
Filing through your own sponsor in Ho Chi Minh City
The city police Immigration Management Division is at 196 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai Street, now in Xuan Hoa Ward (former Vo Thi Sau Ward, District 3).
The sponsor can file in person at the provincial police immigration authority. Online, it goes through the National Public Service Portal or the Ministry of Public Security portal. A result filed online can be posted, with the courier fee paid by the applicant.
Dossiers are received Monday to Saturday morning, except Tet and public holidays. Results are handed out Monday to Friday. The city police said they keep working on Saturday mornings.
196 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Xuan Hoa, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam · Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
See extending your visa in Ho Chi Minh City for the step-by-step guide.
E-visa and visa-exempt entrants
For citizens of a country that Vietnam exempts unilaterally, the border stamp gives 45 days, and the person may be considered for a visa or an extension. Resolution 44/NQ-CP gives citizens of its named countries 45 days from entry.
E-visa holders in Vietnam may be considered for a new visa if invited or guaranteed. An e-visa does not apply to a foreigner who lives in Vietnam. Tourist visas have limited options, and most visa categories need a sponsor. See Vietnam visa exemption and the e-visa guide.
If time runs out
An overstay of under 16 days is fined VND 500,000 to 2,000,000. An overstay of 16 to under 30 days is fined VND 5,000,000 to 10,000,000. A stay of 1 year or more past the term is fined VND 30,000,000 to 40,000,000.
An overstayer should go promptly to the Immigration Management Office of the city police to report, pay the fine and get guidance. The deputy head of the city office said the office may resolve a residence document earlier, case by case, so the foreigner does not overstay.
The full table is in overstay fines in Ho Chi Minh City.
Photos and clips uploaded to Google Maps (HCMC immigration office on Google Maps (opens in a new tab)) by Brian Loh, Tri Nh.
Not confirmed: How long an extension runs: the procedure sets no maximum. Whether an agency price includes the US$10 government fee: get an itemised written quote.
Common questions
Can an agency be my legal sponsor?
Only a company set up under Vietnamese law, and only if the service is within its operating licence and it has filed its papers with immigration. An individual agent cannot sponsor a stranger.
Can a foreigner file a visa extension without an agent or sponsor?
No. The law has the inviting or sponsoring organisation or individual file the request. A Vietnamese citizen sponsor must be a grandparent, parent, spouse, child or sibling, with proof of the relationship.
What is the government fee for an extension?
US$10 per extension. It is not refunded if you do not qualify or refuse the result.
What do agencies charge for a one-month extension?
Agencies advertise US$30 to US$50, US$95 and from US$100. These are advertised prices, not quotes. The government part is US$10.
How long does an extension take?
The immigration authority decides within 5 working days of a complete dossier. Agencies advertise 3 to 10 working days.
Does an agency need my passport?
Yes. The file includes your passport, one original. An agency that files for you will ask for it at its office.
Can I extend online?
Yes. The sponsor can file in person or online. When filed online, the passport goes by public post to the receiving office.
Can e-visa holders or visa-exempt visitors extend?
For citizens of a unilaterally exempt country, the border stamp gives 45 days, and the person may be considered for a visa or an extension. The e-visa portal points holders to a new sponsored visa.
What if I file too late?
An overstay of under 16 days is fined VND 500,000 to 2,000,000. A stay of 1 year or more past the term is fined VND 30,000,000 to 40,000,000.
Which form is used?
The declaration form is NA5.
Is the Ho Chi Minh City office open on Saturday?
Dossiers are received Monday to Saturday morning. The city police said they keep working on Saturday mornings.
Read next
General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.
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