Can I extend a 60-day tourist visa in Thailand without leaving the country?

Thailand Tourist Visa Visa Extension Non-O Visa Visa Types Immigration Regulations

Nov 28, 2024

2 days ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

I'm Canadian and am researching my options to return and spend time in Thailand. If I acquire a 60 day tourist visa, can I potentially apply and receive another 60 days without having to leave the country? If so, how reliable is the renewal option?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A Canadian inquiring about the possibility of extending a 60-day tourist visa in Thailand can typically extend it for an additional 30 days only, and this can only be done once. This means the maximum time spent in Thailand on a tourist visa is usually 90 days total. If looking for a longer stay, it's recommended to apply for a Non-O visa, especially if eligible, as this provides a more extended stay and easier extension options.

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Bart **************

A regular tourist visa extension is 30 days and you can only get one. To avoid leaving the country, you could apply for a visa in-country if you apply for one, or get the visit family extension (obviously only if you visit family).

2 days ago

Helen ********

@Craig ********

if over 50, why not get a Non O before you arrive? That gives you 90 days and you can arrange a year extension on it for 1900THB... the same price you would pay for a 30 day extension on the tourist visa. Canada still does an affidavit of income letter so you wouldn't need to bank the required funds in Thailand, just a visit to the consulate or the embassy in Thailand. Having the 90 days also allows you the option to open a Thai bank account for ease of paying for day to day expenses. You can get re-entry permit on the visa so you can leave when you want and as long you as come back before the visa expires it's another easy entry. If in Manitoba and West you apply online through the Vancouver consulate, who are great to deal with.

2 days ago

Bob **********

2 days ago

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

Unless you have a Thai wife or Thai child, the only extension you can get is a single 30-day tourism extension. That's 90 days total.

2 days ago

Robert ********

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

I doubt that. Isn’t it another 60 days?Everybody gets 60+30 with visa exemption. So what’s the reason to get a visa ?

2 days ago

Bart **************

@Robert *******

no reason to doubt, this one is quite established. If nobody publishes, announces or even talks about a tourist visa extension becoming 60 days (totaling 60 + 60), the fact that it no longer yields an advantage over exemption is still no reason to assume that it would.

2 days ago

Benjamin *********

@Robert *******

reason to get the visa is if you already have a recent history of a lot of visa exemptions, and it seems you're trying to live in Thailand off them, as many immigration officers have been "cracking down" more recently

2 days ago

Robert ********

@Benjamin ********

Ah ok. I’ve heard that your only allowed a certain number of entries per year. But didn’t know that one can work around that via visa 😂

2 days ago

Bart **************

@Robert *******

first off, the source that you posted there is not supported by any facts. Not much of what you read there is true. There is no border run limit of one, neither has there ever been one. There used to be a limit of two, but only for land borders, it didn't apply to entries by air.

The part there that is true is that there is an effective (unofficial) limit on the time you can stay in Thailand. You might get problems entering again once you pass six months.

However, coming back to the issue of whether or not a tourist visa yields an advantage, this still isn't one. Like exemption can be refused, a tourist visa can be refused. You can even get a stamp from an Embassy warning their colleagues that you abuse the system with too many exemptions/tourist visas. The main difference between exemption and a tourist visa is knowing at an earlier stage whether or not you are deemed ok to enter. That is why immigrations officers advise entrants to have a visa next time around. That is so that they don't risk flying all the way there and then find out after that their travel history is not supportive of a new entry.

a day ago

Steven *******

@Robert *******

There’s no official limit of entries per year. It’s up to the Immigration Officer you get.

2 days ago

Benjamin *********

@Steven ******

doesn't matter if there's official limit. They'll eventually pull you aside and say next time you need a visa. That's when it's time to get a visa 🤣

a day ago

Robert ********

@Steven ******

There’s an indirect limit

2 days ago

Steven *******

@Robert *******

This is outdated unofficial information.

2 days ago

Reply to

Steven *******

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

@Robert *******

tourist visa and visa exempt are the same right now. There's no benefit in getting the visa. But neither will give the 120 days that the op is asking about.

2 days ago

Reply to

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

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What are the best visa options for Canadians over 60 wanting to stay in Thailand for 5-6 months?

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