Answered3 years ago

Can a Russian national extend their 30-day visa on arrival in Bangkok?

Visa on Arrival Russian National Visa Rules Thailand Immigration Visa Extension Policies Tourist Visa Regulations

Adisorn *************

asked May 22, 2023

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Hi quick question for a friend - thanks in advance 🙏

Russian national arrived visa on arrival 30 days - can he extend for another 30 days at Bangkok immigration ? Any specific paperwork required 

🙏

Answer summary

A Russian national who entered Thailand on a visa waiver for 30 days cannot extend their stay. This entry method is not eligible for an extension. While they can apply for a tourist visa extension, it is likely to be denied, resulting in a 7-day notice to leave the country. An alternative option is to travel to Laos and then apply for a 60-day tourist visa upon re-entry.

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Khun *****

No, you can't

3 years ago

Tore *********

I won’t repeat what already said, but an option is to head to Laos and apply a 60 tourist visa and come back. Takes a few days

3 years ago

Stuart *********

@Tore *****************

They can also border bounce and get another visa waiver entry for 30 days. The limit of two land border crossings per calendar year doesn’t apply for visa waiver entries. How many times they’d get away with doing that is unclear.

3 years ago

Tore *********

@Stuart ********

true, less chance of issues with dedicated visa, though obviously more hassle

3 years ago

Stuart *********

Just to clarify what Ellie says. If a Russian arrived using a tourist visa and got 60 days on entry then they can extend that for 30 days.

If they arrived with no visa then they got a visa waiver stamp due to a bilateral agreement for 30 days. That cannot be extended. As Ellie mentioned they can apply but will be denied and given 7 days to leave.

3 years ago

John **********

@Stuart ********

that 7 day stamp which means you have to leave the country isn't a given. Nobody should be relying on that

3 years ago

Ellie *******

@Stu***

, thank you for clarifying especially about tourist visa part.

Originally I meant Visa On Arrival as it means, since Russians are also eligible for VOA (just nobody’d try to apply for).

3 years ago

Stuart *********

@Ellie ******

Yeah never understood the VOA for Russians. Why would anyone pay 2,000 baht for a 15 day entry when they can get 30 days for free.

3 years ago

Ellie *******

Unfortunately, Russians cannot apply for 30 days tourism extension. They entered on visa waiver for 30 days, not Visa On Arrival for 15 days. Visa-waiver entry is not eligible for tourism extension.

They can try to apply for a tourism extension, but the application would be denied, then get a 7-days-to-leave-Kingdom stamp (not an extension) that we don't recommend to get unless they have a specific reason to do this.

3 years ago