Foreigners not penalised for overstaying

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The Department of Immigration is shutting offices for the foreseeable future, but foreigners needing visa renewals should not be overly concerned.

Hanoi (VNA) - The Department of Immigration is shutting offices for the foreseeable future, but foreigners needing visa renewals should not be overly concerned.

As the nation ‘stays at home’ to avoid the spread of COVID-19, the department office will close from April 2 until further notice, according to a source from the department.

However, if a visa belonging to any foreigner staying in Vietnam right now expires while their offices are closed, the holder will not be penalised.

Instead, visas can be renewed when the office reopens.

https://en.vietnamplus.vn/foreigners-not-penalised-for-overstaying-during-national-social-distancing/171073.vnp

 

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From Viet Nam News

Foreigners stuck in country due to COVID-19 can stay until June 30

HÀ NỘI — Foreigners entering the country under visa waiver programmes, e-visas or tourism visas after March 1 will be automatically given stay permit extension until June 30 free of charge.

The Immigration Department announced on Monday all stay permits for these people will be automatically extended and do not need to be renewed.This means from now until June 30, they can stay or leave the country without doing any paperwork.

The move is aimed to help those stuck in the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Foreigners who entered the country before March 1 will also be considered for this permit extension as long as they can prove they cannot leave the country due to the pandemic.

In these cases they need certification by their diplomatic mission in Việt Nam through an official diplomatic note with a translation in Vietnamese.

Those who obtained documents from the Vietnamese authorities certifying that they have undergone quarantine or treatment for COVID-19 or are stuck here due to reasons beyond their control are also eligible for the stay permit extension.