Can a Malaysian or Hong Kong passport holder extend their 30-day visa exemption upon arrival in Thailand?

1. NEED TM30

Your friend will need to make sure his accommodation provider register him for TM30 (Registration of Foreigner's Residential Address) within 24 hours of entry into Thailand.

He will need a screenshot of the TM30 Registration for his application for extension of stay.

List of documents required for application is attached. This is from the immigration office at IT Square Lak Si.

TM30 can be registered online by the accommodation provider:



Or



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2. WHERE TO APPLY FOR EXTENSION OF STAY (VISA EXEMPT)

The immigration office to apply for extension of stay (Visa Exempt) is dependent on his accommodation address.

Generally speaking, if his accommodation address is in Phuket, he cannot go to the Immigration office in Bangkok. He has to go to the immigration office in Phuket.

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3. APPLY IN BANGKOK PROVINCE

If his accommodation address is in Bangkok province:

Option 1. Apply in person at immigration office in IT Square Lak Si



Option 2. Apply online via a paid service (authorised agent) called VFS, and after approval, bring your passport for "stamping" at:

Immigration Division 1, 3rd Floor, Government Complex Building B (Chaeng Wattana)



VFS charges minimum 500 THB service fee in addition to the 1,900 THB "Visa fee".

Service Fee:

• Regular Service fee: 500 THB to get your E-Extension decision within the next 7 business days.

• Express Service fee: 1,500 THB to get your E-Extension decision within the next 3 business days.

• Super urgent service fee: 5,000 THB *You can also apply for a super urgent service, to get your E-Extension decision within the next day (only business day).

I have been told by VFS that they will charge only 500 THB for Express and Super Urgent services, from 1 May to 31 Jul 2023. I recommend you confirm this in writing via email before application, if your friend is going to use VFS.

Note that VFS only services customers with Bangkok address.

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4. IMMIGRATION OFFICE AT IT SQUARE LAK SI

The immigration office at IT Square Lak Si has a lunch break between 12:00pm to 1:00pm. The last queue number issued is at 3:30pm.

Depending on your friend's arrival time in Thailand, he may not make it in time to apply on the day of arrival.

There are 2 photo-taking, printing and photocopying shops next to the immigration office.

Your friend will need to make sure he has everything in the list before he goes to the counter to get a queue number.

He will need to fill out 3 forms.

So roughly, it will take 1 hour to photocopy passport pages, take a photo if he does not have one, fill out the forms, etc.

Recommend your friend arrive at 9:00am (hopefully get approved before lunch break) or 1:00pm (just after lunch break).

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VFS in Bangkok is a Global visa application centre ,nothing to do with Thai visa

I would suggest they use the Malaysian passport, because the Hong Kong passport could be stamped in with visa waiver which cannot be extended.

If you enter visa exempt you do not go to Chaeng Watthana for an extension, you go to the office at IT Square Laksi. You can go the day of arrival because in Bangkok you can apply when you have 45 days or less left.

Immigration has nothing to do with VFS.