Read the Date Stamp in Your Passport Correctly
— Don’t Let an Overstay Surprise You!
When you cross the border into Vietnam (or re-enter after a visa run), immigration officers will stamp your passport with your entry date and sometimes your permitted stay period.
That little stamp may look simple — but reading it incorrectly can lead to serious trouble, including fines or being banned from re-entering Vietnam.
At Lynn Visa, we’ve seen many travelers misunderstand their stamps. Let’s make sure that doesn’t happen to you!
1. What Does the Date Stamp Mean?
When you enter Vietnam, the stamp usually shows:
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The entry date – the day you arrive.
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The number of days you can stay – often printed on your visa or eVisa (e.g. “30 days”).
👉 Important: Your stay counts from the date you enter, not the date printed on your eVisa approval letter.
2. Common Mistake: Confusing Entry and Exit Dates
Many travelers think their visa is valid until the end date on their eVisa, but that’s not always true.
If you enter a few days later than your visa start date, your allowed stay still ends on the visa’s expiry date, not 30 days from when you arrived.
Example:
Your eVisa says: Valid from Oct 1 to Oct 30.
You enter on Oct 10 → You must leave by Oct 30, not Nov 9.
3. How to Check Your Stamp
After the officer stamps your passport:
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Look carefully at the entry date.
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Find or calculate your exit deadline.
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Write it down or set a reminder on your phone.
At Lynn Visa, we even give our clients a reminder sticker on their passport — so both you and the officers can easily see how many days you have left. It’s one of our small ways to help you stay stress-free.
4. What Happens If You Overstay
Even one extra day can cause:
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Fines at the airport or border
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Possible entry bans on future visits
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Complications for your next visa
It’s simply not worth the risk!
5. Let Lynn Visa Help
Our team checks every client’s stamp at the border to make sure the date is correct before you travel back.
If you’re unsure or your stamp looks confusing, just send us a photo — we’ll confirm your allowed stay right away.
Because at Lynn Visa, we don’t just take you to the border.
We take care of you all the way back home. 💙
