Answered4 years ago

Can I apply for a tourist visa after leaving Thailand on a volunteer visa?

Visa Extension Volunteer Visa Tourist Visa Visa Regulations Thailand Immigration Swiss Citizen Visa Rules

Anna *******

asked Jan 13, 2023

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Hi, I have an urgent problem.

My Volunteer Visa expires on the 18th of January. But I want / need to stay in Thailand until January 31. My employer cannot extend the employment due to financial reasons. Can I leave the country (e.g. to Laos) and apply for a tourist visa there? I will not work after January 18 but I need to stay in Thailand until January 31 for personal reasons.

I am originally from Switzerland and so my home country is very far away.

Answer summary

The user is seeking advice on staying in Thailand beyond the expiration of their volunteer visa. They need to remain until January 31 but cannot extend their visa through their employer. Commenters suggest that as a Swiss citizen, they can leave Thailand and return on a visa exemption allowing a 45-day stay, provided they comply with regulations concerning their volunteer visa and work permit.

6 repliesnewest first

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James ***************

Where are you staying in Thailand ?

4 years ago

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

As a citizen of Switzerland, you can leave Thailand and enter again on visa exempt, which will give you 45 days in Thailand without a visa.

If you're on the original 90 day visa you received from an embassy overseas, then you don't need to do anything except leave Thailand. If you're on an extension then you need to cancel your work permit and volunteer extension before you leave though or you could end up being fined 20,000 baht in the future for failing to cancel it since you signed a document that said you would do so.

The only problem you might run into is that volunteer visas and extensions are the most widely abused type and will likely cause extra scrutiny no matter what you do. But Laos is known as one of the easiest places to try and enter Thailand from, so it might be okay. You may still consider using a border run agency to take you across and bring you back though, to ensure a smooth process.

4 years ago

Tony *******

Depends on your visa extention record in thai.

4 years ago

Anna *******

I have extended my 3-month volunteer visa one time for 3 month extension (I came here on July 22). I have never been here on a (extended) tourist visa. The last time I was in Thailand was 5 years ago and only for 5 days.

4 years ago

Kool *******

@Anna ******

you will have no problems. You don't need a visa, just a visa exempt stamp entry, for free. Cross into Laos, then come right back into Thailand. If you have a plane ticket out of Thailand on the 31st that will really help.

4 years ago

Tony *******

@Anna ******

try a medical visa for 30 days extention , or visa run

4 years ago