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I believe that you need to have at least 6 months of passport validity when applying for a visa to enter VN.

@jayrozzetti23

I'm going to apply for an Evisa now (currently, I have more than 6 months of validity left), but when I enter in December, I will have less than 6 months remaining. So, I have a concern regarding whether my passport's validity will meet the requirements for entry.

Hello K&SBB.

My passport is valid until April of next year, but I would like to apply for an EVISA when I enter the country in December. Is that possible? If so, can I enter Vietnam?

You must apply for, and hold, an eVisa prior to arriving in Vietnam in December. You cannot enter and then apply. In fact, the airline will not allow you to board without your holding the eVisa.

I am planning to renew my passport while in Vietnam.
Thanks.
    -@K&SBB

Due to some upgrade/change to (Link), there no longer appears to be a "Faq" header.

If memory serves me (and it may not!), the now missing "Faq" page stated that you are required to have 6 months, post-arrival, remaining on your passport's validity, as well as two blank pages.

My advice is for you to renew your passport prior to applying.

@Aidan in HCMC

Thank you for your reply.

I currently reside in a foreign country as a visitor, not my home country. The embassy in that country informed me that I cannot extend my passport because I am living in this foreign country on a visitor visa.

Therefore, I am considering applying for an Evisa or a student visa as an option.

So, you are going to study in Vietnam?

    Hello everybody,
I'm seeking your advice, suggestions, and personal experiences.
My passport is valid until April of next year, but I would like to apply for an EVISA when I enter the country in December. Is that possible? If so, can I enter Vietnam?
I am planning to renew my passport while in Vietnam.
Thanks.
   

    -@K&SBB

Vietnam immigration law concerning entry snd exit states you must have 6 months left on your passport.

Renew your passport is the answer. If your country wont renew while youre in a another foreign country it most likely wont be different when you are in Vietnam.

    @Aidan in HCMC
Thank you for your reply.

I currently reside in a foreign country as a visitor, not my home country. The embassy in that country informed me that I cannot extend my passport because I am living in this foreign country on a visitor visa.

Therefore, I am considering applying for an Evisa or a student visa as an option.
   

    -@K&SBB

It sounds as if you need to go home first.

As mentioned above, you are supposed to have 6 months passport availability on the day you enter the country.

you could end up in the situation where your E-visa is approved but then you could be denied entry by an immigration officer if they see that you have less than 6 months remaining on your passport.

Having said all that, you probably just need to keep asking the question.

because the more you ask the question on social media the more you will get answers that say "don't worry about it" and "nobody cares" and "just go for it".

@Aidan in HCMC
Thank you for your reply.

I currently reside in a foreign country as a visitor, not my home country. The embassy in that country informed me that I cannot extend my passport because I am living in this foreign country on a visitor visa.

Therefore, I am considering applying for an Evisa or a student visa as an option.
        -@K&SBB

Understood. However, as member pogiwayne asked...

If your country wont renew while youre in a another foreign country it most likely wont be different when you are in Vietnam.         -@pogiwayne

I don't believe it's possible to "extend" any passport, anywhere. The expiration date on a person's passport is set in stone. You must apply for a new passport.

Also, to apply for a student visa you must already have applied to and been accepted by a VN recognized institution. To the best of my knowledge, it is then the school itself which will apply for the student visa on your behalf.

Contact your country's embassy again, and ask them how to go about getting your new passport (not an extension).

I don't believe it's possible to "extend" any passport, anywhere. The expiration date on a person's passport is set in stone. You must apply for a new passport.
   -@Aidan in HCMC

Almost certainly true.

Better to report the passport lost or stolen and apply for a replacement.

@OceanBeach92107

Totally correct, passports cannot be extended only renewed.

I don't believe it's possible to "extend" any passport, anywhere. The expiration date on a person's passport is set in stone. You must apply for a new passport.   -@Aidan in HCMC

Almost certainly true. Better to report the passport lost or stolen and apply for a replacement.    -@OceanBeach92107

Careful though. As I understand it, replacing a lost, stolen, expired, or damaged passport is considerably more complicated than submitting your still valid passport along with your application for the new one.

This at least was the experience of a fellow Canadian expat when he applied for his new one back around Nov.-Dec.  By returning his still valid passport, he was able to apply under what the Canadian gov't calls a "Simplified Passport Application". The new passport was couriered to him within ~5 days of the Canadian consulate office in HCMC receiving his application. The old, no longer valid passport was included in the courier envelope (minus the top corner of each of its pages).

@pogiwayne

Thank you for your answer.

The reason my passport cannot be renewed while I am in another foreign country is because it is on a visitor visa. Therefore, I am considering obtaining a student visa in Vietnam.

The process of getting a student visa is a lot more complicated than the usual renewal of almost expired passport.  You will need to apply for the school, get your transcripts together and send.  Wait for the school to accept, pay for the semester or year then wait some more for school to sponsor your application for a student visa.  AFAIK, most schools already start their quarters or semesters already so you will have to apply for the spring semester to start.  The crappy part is that most schools will also ask for at least 6 months on the PP.

@Aidan in HCMC

Thank you for your reply.

>>I don't believe it's possible to "extend" any passport, anywhere.

I live in another country, and the reason I cannot extend my passport is because I am living in that country on a visitor visa. With other types of visas, extending your passport is possible, but in this case,  due to the country's political instability and recent unilateral rule changes, it presents a challenge.

>>Also, to apply for a student visa you must already have applied to and been accepted by a VN recognized institution.........

Which school would you recommend for learning the Vietnamese language with a student visa?

@yng68bld

Thank you for your reply.

If I want to study the Vietnamese language at a school in Vietnam, can I obtain an offer letter before applying for a student visa?

With that offer letter, the embassy of home country may consider extending your passport if I plan to stay and study in Vietnam.

@K&SBB

Most Viet language schools have websites with contact infos.  Just a quick Google search gave me a dozen hits.  Send them an email to see if they can give you some kind of offer letters.