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Can British citizens apply for a Thai e-visa while already in Thailand?

Apr 2, 2023
3 years ago
Nerissa *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello,

Does anyone know if you are able to apply for a Thai e-visa (we are British citizens) when you're already in Thailand? We are due to go on a visa run on Wednesday and return on the 12th but will still be short of time because our flights go back to the UK on the 26th of May. Yes we can extend once at immigration but to get a 3 month visa right now would be great because we would actually like to extend our UK flights & stay a bit longer. Is it possible or do you need to apply for the visa from your own country before you leave? Thanks for your help in advance.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
British citizens in Thailand cannot apply for a tourist visa or e-visa while they are within the country. To obtain a tourist visa, they must travel to a neighboring country and apply at the Thai embassy there. Various commenters provided insights about the process, including the ease of obtaining a visa in places like Vientiane, Laos, and Penang, Malaysia, typically taking one or two days to process.
Susie *********
In Penang, you submit the visa in the morning and collect 2pm the next day. Very straightforward. Requirements on the Thai Consulate Penang website
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Nerissa *******
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@Susie ********
Thanks so much..
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Nerissa *******
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Richard *********
Phnom Phen thai embassy, use an agent,takes 3-4 days cost $60
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Nicola *******
Neighbourhoods country as everyone says. I plan to do that in few weeks so you may do that too. You can travel to Vientiane, Laos and get the tourist visa there the next day. Make appointment at Thai embassy in Vientiane online site, 12go you can book bus or trein. What you prefer travelling with. Just book Airbnb or hotel for 1 or 2 nights, is pretty cheap and even one’s close to embassy too. Or more if you want to see around. First day you apply for it and second day midday you can pick it up. That’s what I read everywhere and gonna do.
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Nerissa *******
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@Nicola ******
Ok great thanks so much 😊
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Nerissa *******
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Nerissa *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ok thank you very much. Is it fairly straightforward forward to apply at the Thai embassy in a neighbouring country? And do you get 3 months?
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Brandon ************
@Nerissa ******
you need to check their websites. They have all the requirements. Some require an appointment ahead of time to be able to apply in person. Many have a 2-3 day waiting period after you apply until you get your passport back with visa.
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Nerissa *******
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@Brandon ***********
thank you. 😊
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John **********
@Nerissa ******
straight forward enough but it will give you 60 days which you can extend for an additional 30 days at your local immigration office
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Nerissa *******
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@John *********
Thanks so much 😊
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Stuart *********
No. You cannot apply for a tourist visa (or evisa) within Thailand. You can travel to a nearby embassy or consulate to apply for one (they don’t use the evisa system). You’d need to check their websites for specific requirements.
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Brandon ************
E-visa does not change the rules of applying for a visa. You apply through the consulate of the country you are physically in. You cannot get a tourist visa in Thailand.

If you want a tourist visa you need to go to one of the neighboring countries, go to the Thai embassy or consulate there, and apply for a tourist visa as none of the embassies in SE Asia participate in evisa yet.
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