Can a South African passport holder extending a 30-day stay to 60 days in Thailand?

Mar 19, 2024
8 months ago
Valerie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Can a South African passport holder who enters on the 30-day stay extend to 60 day visa? Any advice for a newbie - arriving this week?

Thanks
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A South African passport holder entering Thailand with a 30-day visa exemption can extend their stay by applying for a one-time 30-day extension at a local immigration office, allowing a total of 60 days. Alternatively, they can obtain a 60-day visa from a Thai embassy before entering, which is also extendable by another 30 days. It's important to note that the initial entry does not grant a visa but a visa exemption that can be extended.
Jan ******************
@Valerie *****
As you soon are leaving. You’re entitled to a 30 days visa exemption which can be extended with another 30 days at your local immigration. If you want to stay further (with no visa) you’ll need to do a border bounce (can be done in just one day by road) and you’ll get possibility for another 30+30 days.
Valerie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jan *****************
how do o get the 30 day extension? You mean at the airport?
Stephen *********
@Valerie *****
immigration office
Jan ******************
@Valerie *****
No, you first get a 30 days visa exemption stamp at the airport. This you can extend with another 30 days at the local immigration where you stay in Thailand.

If you want to stay longer, you’ll need to cross the border one time in order to get a new visa exemption at the border. (Can be land or air).
Valerie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jan *****************
ok thanks 🙏🏽
Roberto *********
As
@Bra****
says and alternatively, you can get a 60-day visa from an embassy, which can be extended a further 30 days
Brandon ************
You cannot extend TO a visa.

You can enter 30 days visa exempt and apply for a one time 30 day extension. That will bring you to 60 days total permission to stay, but it's not a visa.
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