Stay past your visa or temporary residence deadline in Vietnam and Decree 282/2025/NĐ-CP applies a fine, starting at VND 500,000 for under 16 days and reaching VND 40,000,000 for a year or longer. Once an overstay hits 16 days, expulsion can also come into play.
What you are reading is an independent guide, not a government page. We take no payments and file nothing on your behalf. Have a look at the national e-visa portal before you set off.
Vietnam Overstay Penalty: The Fine Scale
Article 21 of Decree 282/2025/NĐ-CP sets out these brackets; the decree was published in Official Gazette No. 1583+1584 of 17 November 2025.
| Length of overstay | Fine (VND) | Expulsion possible |
|---|---|---|
| Under 16 days | 500,000 to 2,000,000 | No |
| 16 to under 30 days | 5,000,000 to 10,000,000 | Yes |
| 30 to under 60 days | 10,000,000 to 15,000,000 | Yes |
| 60 to under 90 days | 15,000,000 to 20,000,000 | Yes |
| 90 to under 180 days | 20,000,000 to 25,000,000 | Yes |
| 180 days to under 1 year | 25,000,000 to 30,000,000 | Yes |
| 1 year or more | 30,000,000 to 40,000,000 | Yes |
For an individual, the highest rung of that ladder doubles as the ceiling. Organizations can be fined as much as VND 80,000,000, and authorities may pursue a violation for one year.
When Does Overstaying Start?
Your clock starts running the moment the temporary residence certification handed over at the border lapses, so write that date down when you arrive. The Law on Entry, Exit, Transit and Residence of Foreigners lets you remain only for that term.
Travellers who fall under Vietnam’s visa-exemption resolutions receive 45 days counted from their date of entry, whereas an e-visa stays valid for as long as 90 days.
- Germany, France, Italy, Spain, the UK, Japan and South Korea (part of the 12 countries in Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP): no visa required, 45 days, whatever the passport type or purpose, 15 March 2025 to 14 March 2028.
- Poland, Czechia and the Netherlands (part of the 12 countries in Resolution No. 229/NQ-CP): no visa required, 45 days, tourism only, 15 August 2025 to 14 August 2028.
- India, China, the US, Canada and Australia: e-visa, either single or multiple entry, valid for up to 90 days.
How to Avoid a Vietnam Overstay Fine
Either leave before your certification runs out, or arrange an extension with immigration first.
Check your expiry date
On the day you arrive, look at the expiry date printed on your temporary residence certification.
Apply for extension
Want to stay longer? Send your extension application in before that date.
Apply for e-visa
Starting from scratch? Head to the national e-visa portal: 25 USD for single entry, 50 USD for multiple entry.
Under Resolution 127/NQ-CP, in force since 15 August 2023, e-visas are open to citizens of every country and territory.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How much is the Vietnam overstay penalty for less than 16 days?
Decree 282/2025/NĐ-CP, Article 21, places it between VND 500,000 and VND 2,000,000. At this length, expulsion does not apply.
Is it possible that I will be expelled from Vietnam because I overstayed my visa?
Yes. Where an overstay reaches 16 days or more, expulsion can be ordered on top of the fine.
What is the Vietnam overstay penalty if the stay exceeds 90 days?
For 90 to under 180 days it comes to VND 20,000,000 to 25,000,000; for 180 days to under a year, VND 25,000,000 to 30,000,000; and for a year or more, VND 30,000,000 to 40,000,000.
At what point does my permitted stay in Vietnam truly begin and finish?
It stretches from the day you entered until the temporary residence certification given at the border expires. Look at the temporary residence certification you were handed at the border, because that date is what counts, not the duration printed on your e-visa.
Are visa-free nationalities subject to the same Vietnam overstay penalty as holders of e-visas?
They do. Any foreigner who remains past their temporary residence term falls under the Decree 282/2025/NĐ-CP fine scale, no matter how they entered the country.
For Polish citizens, does the 45-day visa-free stay include trips that are not for tourism?
No. Resolution 229/NQ-CP limits the 45-day exemption to tourism, and only until 14 August 2028. If you are travelling for another purpose, an e-visa is worth considering.
Where is it possible for me to apply for an e-visa so that I avoid overstaying in Vietnam?
Go to the national portal at evisa.gov.vn, which the Immigration Department operates. Single entry costs 25 USD, while multiple entry costs 50 USD.
For how long can I extend my stay in Vietnam rather than overstaying?
Extension rules are not covered by our sources, so no figure can be given here. Get in touch with your local immigration office or the e-visa portal long before your certification runs out.
Sources and verification
- Government of Viet Nam, Official Gazette No. 1583+1584 – Decree 282/2025/NĐ-CP, Article 21: the fine brackets and the expulsion rule
- National Database of Legal Documents, Ministry of Justice – Law No. 47/2014/QH13 covering entry, exit, transit and residence
- Government of Viet Nam online newspaper – Resolution No. 44/NQ-CP, visa exemption for citizens of 12 countries, 45 days counted from entry
- Government of Viet Nam online newspaper – Resolution No. 229/NQ-CP, tourism exemption running to 14 August 2028
- Government of Viet Nam e-newspaper – Resolution 127/NQ-CP, e-visas open to citizens of every country and territory
- Viet Nam Immigration Department – the national e-visa portal together with its fees
- Consular Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Viet Nam – entry visa exemption page (links the ministry’s visa exemption list)
