HANOI, Dec 12 — Fines for foreigners who overstay their permitted period of residence have been sharply increased, with penalties rising as high as ₫40 million (RM6,235), under new government regulations taking effect soon.
The Vietnam News Agency reported that the tougher sanctions are set out in Decree 282, which comes into force on Monday (December 15), and replaces a 2021 decree governing administrative penalties related to public order and security.
Under the new rules, foreigners who remain in Vietnam beyond the validity of their temporary residence certificates, residence cards, or approved extensions, without authorisation from immigration authorities, will face fines that escalate based on the length of the overstay.
Short overstays of fewer than 16 days will continue to incur fines of ₫500,000 to ₫2 million (RM77.94 to RM311.75)
However, penalties rise steeply thereafter. Overstays of 16 to under 30 days will be fined between ₫5 million and ₫10 million (RM779.39 to RM1,558), while those exceeding 30 days may face fines of up to ₫15 million (RM2,338).
More serious violations carry heavier sanctions. Overstays of 60 to under 90 days will be fined up to ₫20 million (RM3,117), rising to ₫25 million (RM3,896) for overstays of up to six months.
Foreigners who overstay by six months to under a year face fines of up to ₫30 million (RM4,676), while those remaining illegally for a year or longer may be fined as much as ₫40 million (RM6,235), which is double the previous maximum.
The decree also allows authorities to impose deportation on foreigners who overstay by 16 days or more, depending on the nature and severity of the violation.
The new penalty framework represents a significant tightening compared with Decree 144, under which the maximum fine for overstaying was capped at ₫20 million.
Hanoi’s Immigration Office has urged foreign residents to closely monitor the validity of their residence documents and complete extensions on time.
They warned that deliberate overstays could not only result in fines and deportation, but also affect future entry into Vietnam.
Authorities also reminded hotels, employers, and other organisations that host foreign nationals of their obligation to verify residence documents and report suspected overstays to the police.
Failure to do so, they said, could result in penalties for the host establishments themselves.
Vietnamese residents are encouraged to report cases of illegal residence or suspected immigration violations to local police, as part of broader efforts to maintain public order.
