Can I extend my Vietnam e-visa without leaving the country?

This is the single biggest difference between Vietnam and Thailand for remote workers. A Thai tourist entry can be extended at an immigration office; a Vietnam e-visa cannot. When the 90 days end, you exit.

What actually happens at 90 days

The e-visa is issued for a fixed window with a fixed exit date. There is no counter to visit and no extension fee to pay. Practitioners are consistent on this: the e-visa is not extendable, and the route to more time is either a new visa applied for through an inviting or guaranteeing organisation, or leaving Vietnam and applying again.

The good news is that a new application can be filed while you are still inside Vietnam. It does not extend your current stay, and it only becomes usable at a fresh entry, but it means you can land in Bangkok or Phnom Penh with the next e-visa already approved. Apply before you leave, allow three working days, and check the entry port you declared on the form matches the airport or land border you will actually use.

Which visas can be extended in Vietnam

Business visas (DN1, DN2) are the main route: with a Vietnamese sponsor these can be extended in-country for up to one year, typically in 5 to 7 working days, with a USD 10 stamping fee plus agency charges. Some older tourist visas obtained through an agency can be extended by 15 or 30 days through the sponsoring agency, applied for before expiry, in 5 to 8 working days, though this route depends on the agency and is not available for a self-applied e-visa. Work permit holders, investors and family members of Vietnamese citizens move to a temporary residence card rather than extending a visa, and permanent residence is open to very few.

How much is a Vietnam visa extension?

The government fee for extending temporary residence is USD 10, under the fee schedule of Circular 28/2026/TT-BTC in force since 1 April 2026, as set out by Vietnam Briefing. It applies only to the visas that can be extended, so it does not help an e-visa holder, and a sponsor or agency adds its own charge. For an e-visa the cost of more time is a new application: USD 25 or USD 50, as how much the Vietnam e-visa costs explains.

Do not overstay to gain time

Since 15 December 2025 overstays are fined on a sliding scale that starts at VND 500,000 to 2 million for under 16 days and rises to VND 40 million for a year or more, and deportation is possible from 16 days. A missed exit date is far more expensive than a flight.

Use the Leave By Check tool to work out your last legal day, and read the visa run section of our Vietnam visas guide before you plan the exit.