How to Convert Visa Status Inside Vietnam 2026: No Border Run Required
Can you change your visa status without leaving Vietnam? > Yes. As of 2026, under the amended Law No. 118/2025/QH15, eligible foreigners can convert their visa status (e.g., from a Tourist eVisa to a Work or Investor Visa) inside Vietnam without a border run. You must belong to an exempt category (investor, family member, or hold a valid Work Permit) and submit the NA5 form along with your sponsor’s documents to the Vietnam Immigration Department in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City. Processing typically takes 5 working days.
How to Convert Visa Status Inside Vietnam 2026: No Border Run Required
The End of the “Border Run”: 2026 Policy Updates
For years, expats in Vietnam dreaded the “border run”—the costly and time-consuming requirement to fly out to Bangkok or take a bus to Cambodia just to activate a new visa.
With the enforcement of Law No. 118/2025/QH15 (effective July 1st, 2026), the Vietnam Immigration Department has streamlined the process. If you legally entered Vietnam and your circumstances have changed, you can now apply for a Visa Status Conversion (Chuyển đổi mục đích thị thực) directly from within the country.
Who is Eligible for an Inside-Vietnam Visa Conversion?
Not everyone on a tourist visa can simply switch to a long-term residency. To qualify for a domestic conversion, you must fall into one of these three specific categories:
1. Tourist eVisa ➡️ Work Visa (LĐ1 / LĐ2)
If you entered Vietnam on a holiday and secured a job, you do not need to leave.
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Condition: You or your employer must have already obtained a valid Work Permit (Giấy phép lao động) or a Work Permit Exemption Certificate.
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Target: New Zealand experts, English teachers, and corporate transferees.
2. Tourist eVisa ➡️ Investor Visa (ĐT1, ĐT2, ĐT3, ĐT4)
If you decide to start a business or invest capital into a Vietnamese entity during your visit.
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Condition: You must prove you are an official investor or a contributing member of a legal entity in Vietnam (via an Enterprise Registration Certificate – ERC).
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Note for Kiwis: The ĐT4 Visa (investments under 3 Billion VND) is currently the most popular route for Kiwis establishing a long-term base in Vietnam.
3. Tourist eVisa ➡️ Family Visa (TT / VR)
If your family situation changes while inside Vietnam.
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Condition: You must prove a family relationship (spouse, child under 18) to a Vietnamese citizen or a foreign professional holding a valid Temporary Residence Card (TRC).
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Requirement: Your Marriage or Birth Certificate from New Zealand must undergo Consular Legalization to be accepted.
Step-by-Step Conversion Process in Vietnam
Changing your visa status requires dealing directly with the Vietnam Immigration Department, not a local police station.
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Prepare the Sponsor Dossier: Your guaranteeing company or family member must compile their legal profiles (Business License or Vietnamese ID).
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Complete Form NA5: This is the official “Application for visa issuance, stay extension.” It must be signed and stamped by the sponsoring entity.
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Submit the Application: Bring your original passport and the dossier to the Immigration Department:
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Hanoi: 44-46 Tran Phu Street, Ba Dinh District.
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Ho Chi Minh City: 333-337 Nguyen Trai Street, District 1.
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Receive the Receipt: You will be given a receipt stating the collection date. Do not leave the country while your passport is being processed.
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Collect the New Visa/TRC: Return on the appointed date to pay the stamping fee and collect your passport with the new visa status.
Processing Times & Government Fees (2026)
| Conversion Type | Standard Processing Time | Gov Fee (Single Entry) | Gov Fee (Multiple Entry) |
| Visa Conversion (General) | 5 Working Days | $25 USD | $50 USD |
| Conversion to TRC (1-2 Years) | 5 – 7 Working Days | N/A | $145 USD |
| Conversion to TRC (3-5 Years) | 5 – 7 Working Days | N/A | $155 USD |
Note: Government fees must be paid in Vietnamese Dong (VND) at the current exchange rate. Agency service fees for document preparation and legal representation are separate.
The Dangers of “Black” Visa Extensions
A word of caution for 2026: The Immigration Department is heavily cracking down on illegal “visa agents” offering under-the-table tourist extensions or fake company sponsorships.
If you are caught using a fake sponsor to convert your visa, you face severe penalties, including immediate deportation, heavy fines, and a 5-year ban from re-entering Vietnam. Always ensure your conversion is based on legitimate employment, investment, or family ties.
Author: Stanley Ho
Stanley Ho is the Founder and CEO of TRANSOCEAN, serving as the Lead Consular Consultant.With over 23 years of expertise in Vietnamese immigration law and global mobility, Stanley specializes in securing Vietnam Visas, Work Permits, and navigating complex Visa Conversions. His mission is to ensure 100% legal compliance and seamless transitions for Kiwi expats and Oceania professionals relocating to Vietnam.
