Answered4 years ago

Can a 30-day tourist visa be extended in Thailand?

Thai visa rules Tourist visa Visa extension Visa exempt entry Thai immigration Visa runs

Grenville ***********

asked Sep 2, 2022

1.2k

views

replies

likes

Hi all apologies if this has been asked before but can you extend a regular 30 day tourist visa? I’ve got friends staying with me who only have 6 days left on their visa and are wondering whether they can get an extension at a Thai immigration office or whether they need to do a visa run across a border? Grateful for any tips. Thanks

Answer summary

In Thailand, you cannot extend a regular 30-day tourist visa because such a visa does not exist. Those who enter without a visa can receive a 30-day stamp, known as visa exempt entry, which can be extended once for an additional 30 days at a local immigration office. Alternatively, if they entered the country with a 60-day tourist visa, they would typically need to perform a visa run (exit and re-enter Thailand) if looking to stay longer after the initial period.

6 repliesnewest first

Click comment and we will ask for your email, then OTP, then name.

Stuart *********

As Brandon mentioned, if they got a stamp for 30 days then they have no visa. They were given a visa exempt entry. This can be extended once for 30 days more at a local immigration office. They add on the days so there is no downside to applying early.

Because they were allowed entry under the visa exempt system there is nothing to stop them crossing a border exiting and re-entering Thailand for another 30 days at “no cost”. Obviously that would depend on whether they’re near a border and doesn’t include costs of getting to such border.

There is a limit of two land border entries visa exempt per calendar year.

If they fly somewhere else and return then there is no technical limit on how many times they can do that, except at some point the immigration officer is going to start asking questions why you’re doing that and could even possibly deny you entry.

4 years ago

Derek *******

@Stuart ********

Hi Stuart, I am confused by the

*****

day visa exempt situation - is it so that I (Canada/EU dual citizen) can enter with visa exempt for 30 (or 45?) days, and then I can get one 30-day extension? My girlfriend is Indonesian and she would like to do the same. Getting a Tourist visa (60 days) is not possible since we're not near an Embassy. Sorry to ask you directly, but I think it's best to go straight to the expert :)

4 years ago

Stuart *********

@Derek ******

currently visa exempt entries are 30 days. On October 1st (until March 31st) they will be 45 days. You can get one extension of 30 days from that.

4 years ago

Derek *******

@Stuart ********

wonderful, thank you! 🙏🏻😊

4 years ago

Stuart *********

Both Canadian and Indonesian passport holders can enter visa exempt.

4 years ago

Brandon ************

There's no such a thing as a 30 day tourist visa. Everyone who enters with a tourist visa gets stamped in for 60 days.

If they entered with NO VISA and were stamped in for 30 days, it's called visa exempt. It's eligible for one extension of 30 days at the local immigration office.

4 years ago