Can I apply for a 30-day visa extension in Thailand now or must I wait until closer to my expiration date?

Oct 1, 2024
15 days ago
Logan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I've planned my stay to be in the country for 59 days

Understanding the entry visa is 60 days

However immigration has stamped my passport for 58 day allowance

The stamp says 30th Sept to 28th Nov

EDIT

Can I apply for the 30 day extension now or must I wait closer to the end date? Is there a restricted time frame?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user has been stamped for a 58-day stay in Thailand but planned to stay for 59 days. They are seeking clarification on the possibility of applying for a 30-day visa extension now or if they must wait until closer to the expiration date. Responses indicate that the user is correctly stamped for 60 days counting the day of arrival as day one. It is advised that the user can apply for a 30-day extension at a local immigration office without needing to wait, to avoid any potential fines for overstaying.
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Us *****
You can just sleep in the airport for 24 hours early, pay the 1 day over stay, or apply for a 30 day extension.
Lee ***********
Depending on flight times you might pass through passport control before the overstay, such as if your flight is 0200
Robin *****************
They allow you one day free, maybe, check it out
Ellie *******
@Robin ****************
, overstay fee would be waived if less than 24 hours at the departure airport, but you still get the stamp mentioning overstay.
Luc ************
Just pay the fine for 1 or 2 days overstay.
Joe *********
@Luc ***********
this should never be suggested. While it’s cheaper than an extension, it’s still recorded as an overstay and could potentially flag a person for other visa types.
Álvaro **********
@Luc ***********
to overstay on purpose is the worst and most stupid advice ever - specially when doing it right is a matter of 25€ .

An overstay will make you unable to get a LTR, Elite or the new DTV. It's a red flag if doing border bounces or visa runs. And even entering other countries that can put you in a hard situation as other immigration officers can see the stamp and there's no one country where they like overstayers.
Neil *********
@Álvaro *********
“unable to get an LTR, Elite or the new DTV”. This is a huge claim - do you mind posting factual information of this ?
Goodd *******
Day of entry is day 1. So it’s correct.
Ellie *******
60-day counts from the arrival date as day 1. That's correct stamp.

Depending on your passport nation, you may be able to apply for 30 days tourism extension at the local immigration office if you want.
Gabrio **********************
That’s 60 days you can extend for extra 30 days at the cost of 1900THB or you can risk to be couple of days in overstay and pay the fine of 500 THB per day at the airport.
Logan ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Can I apply tomorrow

Or must I wait till closer to the end of my visa
Ellie *******
@Lo***
, you have to wait at least 2 weeks depending the office. Bangkok, Phuket, a few more accept tourism extension when your stamp remaining 45 days or less. Most when less than 30 days. But Pattaya, Samui, and a few others accept tourism extension application only in the last week of your stamp.
Brian **********
Dont overstay. Go to immigration and extend. Overstay can make future visas harder
Justin ********
@Brian *********
the really sad part, when I went they convinced me "not to waste 1900 on an extension just pay over stay". Next day I had to waste another half day and taxi fare to get an extension once I found out about the eternal black mark and prohibition from ever getting Privelege etc.
Gabrio **********************
@Brian *********
not true the only risk is that if you get stopped and caught by immigration police they can arrest you deport you and ban you for a year if the overstay is less than 90 days or something like that. I had in the past overstayed for couple of days and never had a problem to get any visas after that. But yes better to extend and invest the time and money to do so for peace of mind.
Álvaro **********
@Gabrio *********************
you're so wrong. An overstay will make you unable to get a LTR, Elite or the new DTV. It's a red flag if doing border bounces or visa runs. And even entering other countries that can put you in a hard situation as other immigration officers can see the stamp and there's no one country where they like overstayers.

To overstay on purpose is one of the most stupid things to do - specially when doing it right is a matter of 25€
Brian **********
@Gabrio *********************
it's flagged for DTV, LTR, Elite. It can also be a point they hassle you for when you land on exempt, tr, metv. Glad it worked out for you in your individual case where you got lucky
Jordan ********
That is 60 days
James ********
You were stamped in correctly.

The day you arrive counts as Day #1.

October has 31 days

November 28 is total 60 days
James ********
What is your flight date departing Thailand ?
Arun *******
@James *******
you mean Nov 28 and not sept 28
Arun *******
😊
James ********
@Arun ******
thank you 😊
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