Can I apply for a Special Tourist Visa (STV) after arriving in Thailand as a visa exempt traveler?

Special Tourist Visa STV Visa rules Thailand immigration Visa application process UK travelers Visa exempt countries Covid extensions

Dec 24, 2021

3 years ago

Dylan *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi, Anyone have any luck getting a STV after arriving in thailand under the visa exempt country list. Im from the UK and was told I can apply for a visa whilst in thailand but now im being told by others i cant? Anyone done this before at a local immigration office in thailand?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The Special Tourist Visa (STV) cannot be applied for while inside Thailand and must be obtained from your home country prior to traveling. Some users noted that while the STV application cannot be conducted within Thailand, if the home country allows for online application as an e-visa, a visa run may be necessary after applying. Alternatives like a COVID extension may also be available to extend your stay.

Steve *******

You cant get an STV in Thailand

3 years ago

Charles ********

You cannot switch to the STV inside Thailand.

However, if your home country issues it as an evisa, then you can apply for it online while in Thailand... But then you will need to make a visa run to switch to it. With test and go canceled, that would be more of a pain... But still do able. Enjoy Cambodia for a week or two and then come back via sandbox to enjoy phuket.

Alternatively, the covid extension is still available. You can use that to drag out the time and hope that things are better for a visa run.

3 years ago

Dylan *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi Charles! Thanks for letting me know, yeah i have the application via the evisa but obviously don't want to pay for everything, police report, insurance ect just for it to be declined haha. Do you know how many times you can use the covid extension? and also how long the extension is? but yeah ill probably do that and hope they allow test and go for certain countries so i can just come back easily!

3 years ago

Brandon ************

@Dylan **********

Covid extension is for 60 days at a time.

There's no limit on how many times you can do it, but it's at the discretion of the immigration officer and the laws renewal of the law instructed the officers to be more strict when granting them.

The biggest thing is there's a lot of uncertainty. They only extend the program 2 months at a time and usually only 1-2 days before it ends.

Currently the last day to apply for a Covid extension is January 25th.

So for example if you applied January 15 and got 60 days you'd be good through the middle of March. If they didn't extend the program you'd then have to find another option or leave.

But if they did extend it you could apply for another one through the end of March and then wait to see if they extend it again. It's basically living on the edge 60 days at a time.

3 years ago

Dylan *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Brandon ***********

I see! Thanks Brandon. I entered the country on the 10th of this month. Do you think I should wait as close to the 10th as I can or a little earlier before heading to the office

3 years ago

Brandon ************

@Dylan **********

they will likely make you take your regular 30 day extension first, so you'll be good until around February 10th.

In most offices when you apply for your first Covid extension it starts the day you apply and doesn't get added on, so you lose any days you had left. So you'll probably want to apply a few days before the 25th so you don't lose too many days. If you get lucky they could even announce if they are extending the program early and you can apply in early February to not lose many days. Subsequent Covid extensions should be added onto the end though since they are for the same reason.

3 years ago

Reply to

Brandon ************

Charles ********

@Dylan **********

I am not an expert on the extention, but there are many in the group. It is 60 days and you can potentially apply for it several times if they keep extending which no one knows.

3 years ago

Reply to

Charles ********

Michael ********

STV has to be applied for in your country of residence.

No tourists visas are available in country.

3 years ago

Reply to

Michael ********

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