A Complete Guide to 5-year Vietnam Visa Exemption Renewal

Overseas Vietnamese and foreign nationals who are spouses or children of Vietnamese citizens or overseas Vietnamese are eligible for 5-year visa exemption. If you wish to renew your soon-to-be-expired visa exemption certificate, you need to apply for a re-issuance with a legitimate reason. 

This comprehensive guide by Thao & Co. breaks down key details about a 5-year visa renewal, making your application process a breeze to navigate.

Eligibility for a 5-year Vietnam visa exemption renewal

To qualify for a 5-year visa re-issuance, you must meet the following criteria: 

1. ● Being an overseas Vietnamese or a foreign spouse or child of a Vietnamese citizen or an overseas Vietnamese. 
2. ● Holding a passport or passport-equivalent document with at least 1 year of validity remaining.
3. ● Having entered Vietnam on a visa exemption certificate under the sponsorship of a Vietnam-based individual or entity and currently residing in Vietnam.
4. ● Having a valid reason for visa exemption re-issuance.
5. ● Not being under an entry/exit ban or suspension under the law of Vietnam. 

If you are planning on a short-term stay, check out the application procedure for a Vietnam travel visa.

Required documents for a 5-year visa renewal

Make sure you gather all the mandatory documents, and have them translated to Vietnamese as required for a smooth application process: 

1. ● Previous visa exemption certificate 
2. ● Visa exemption re-issuance application form (form NA9) 
3. ● Passport or passport-equivalent document or foreign-issued permanent residence document
4. ● Documents confirming your spouse/mother/father is a Vietnamese citizen or an overseas Vietnamese:
   • + Marriage certificate
   • + Household registration book
   • + Birth certificate
   • + Vietnamese passport
   • + Etc.

Step-by-step process for a 5-year Vietnam visa exemption renewal

The application procedure for visa exemption certificate re-issuance is quite simple with the following 4 steps.

1. ● Step 1: Prepare the required paperwork, including notary public translations of your foreign-issued documents.
2. ● Step 2: Submit your application dossier in person at one of the following offices of the Vietnam Immigration Department:

           + Hanoi: 44 – 46 Tran Phu, Ba Dinh District

           + Ho Chi Minh City: 333 – 336 Nguyen Trai, District 1

1. ● Step 3: The receiving officer examines your documents for their validity. If your application is complete and valid, you will go on to pay the fee and receive a receipt. On the other hand, if your application is incomplete, you will be asked to submit missing documents. 
2. ● Step 4: Bring your receipt and identity document to the Immigration Office to pick up your visa exemption certificate.

Application fee for a 5-year Vietnam visa exemption renewal

It costs USD 10 per applicant to apply for a 5-year visa exemption certificate re-issuance. Only after you have paid this fee in full will your application be reviewed. 

How long does it take for a 5-year visa to be renewed?

Within 5 to 7 days after receiving your complete application, the Immigration Department will send you a written notice of the result.

Your new visa exemption certificate is available for pickup Monday to Friday (except for the Lunar New Year Holiday and other public holidays). If you are asked to provide additional documents, the processing time can be longer. 

Where to find a reliable translation service for your Vietnam visa exemption renewal?

Living in Vietnam as an expat, you might occasionally have to deal with administrative procedures where your personal documents are required. In such cases, you will need to have your documents translated.

Depending on the requirements of the receiving authority, you will need to have the translations certified, notarized, or legalized. Therefore, it is vital that your paperwork translations are completely accurate and error-free. 

If you are looking for a high-quality translation service for your paperwork, Thao & Co. is here to help. We are experienced in translating personal documents, such as:

1. ● Birth certificates
2. ● Qualifications
3. ● Household registration books
4. ● Certificates of marital status
5. ● Criminal records
6. ● and others. 

Choose Thao & Co.’s certified translation services to enjoy: 

1. ● Translations performed by highly skilled linguists, ensuring accuracy, proper formatting, and legal validity.
2. ● Translation services available for 50+ languages: English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Khmer, and many more.
3. ● Speedy delivery guaranteed. For standard documents, translations will be ready within 24 hours. 
4. ● Our services come with affordable prices that are disclosed fully and transparently.
5. ● We are committed to maintaining the confidentiality and security of all client personal information and documents.
6. ● A free Certificate of Translation Accuracy is provided by Thao & Co. Notarization and consular legalization services are also available at a reasonable fee.
7. Our proprietary platform enabling quick and easy file transfer, invoices, and progress tracking.

We’ve gone over everything you need to know about a 5-year Vietnam visa exemption renewal.

For a free consultation regarding our document translation services, please leave your information on our Get a Quote page. We will get back to you as soon as possible!