Answered4 years ago

Can I extend a visa on arrival after returning from Laos?

Visa on Arrival Visa Extension Visa Exempt Entry Thailand Visa Rules Travel from Laos to Thailand Border Bouncing

Tod *********

asked May 24, 2022

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Michael Weber

Hi, I have maybe the same problem, I want to get a visa on arrival after coming back from Laos. Do you know if I can extend it?

Answer summary

Michael Weber is seeking information about obtaining and extending a visa upon his return to Thailand from Laos. A commenter clarifies that he may be confusing 'visa on arrival' with '30-day visa exempt entry', which is available to nationals of certain countries. They explain that these visitors can extend their stay for an additional 30 days under specific conditions, but also warn about the limitation on re-entering Thailand by land without exhausting the allowed entries.

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Tod *********

Remember people (especially ones thinking of just 'border bouncing' <- going to the border stamping out and back in to get a new visa exempt entry

you can only get TWO 30 day visa exempt entries by land in a calendar year <- that rule is still in effect.

The only countries that have 'unlimited' 30 day visa exempt entries by land are Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

4 years ago

Michael *******

Good to know!

And if I need 15-20 more days I would need to go back to Laos isn't it? There will be no other way to extend the visa in Thailand?

Also probably the more important- can I change that visa to a religious one? I know that from the tourist one I can

4 years ago

Ellie *******

@Michael ******

, with tourist entry (visa-exempt or tourist visa), you can apply for a 30days tourism extension one time only. After that, you gotta visa-run or border-bounce again.

You need to talk with the organization that would support your Non-R and your local immigration office about the possibility to change the tourism entry to Non-R (religious).

4 years ago

Michael *******

@Tod ********

thank you very much for the answer!

I tried to get a tourist visa in Laos but got rejected (some problem with the bank) but I only need 2.5-3 month in Thailand until I can change my visa to a religious one. It is my first time in Laos for the visa run. Do you know if after the 30 days exempt I can extend it in Thailand and if I need more time, to go again to Laos?

4 years ago

Tod *********

@Michael ******

you can indeed apply for a 30 day extension on your 30 day visa exempt entry stamp at the immigration office in the area where you stay for 1900baht

4 years ago

John ***********

O Gorman Trevor strange because a few years back it was just 15 days at the Malay boarders. Danok and Pedang

4 years ago

John ***********

@Tod ********

I thought it was only 15 days when you did a border bounce.

15 days including the same day you go.

I could be wrong and corrected but I’m going on past experience.

4 years ago

Tod *********

@John **********

they rescinded that 15 day unlimited visa exempt entry by land rule on Dec 1, 2016 (that's when it was published in the Royal Gazette) and the two 30 day visa exempt entries in a calendar year took effect on Jan 1, 2017. So a good while back

4 years ago

John ***********

@Tod ********

ah ha thanks for that clarification.

Years fly by too fast.

4 years ago

Tod *********

I think you are confusing the terms of entry. You wouldn't get a "visa on arrival" to get back into thailand 😕

I think what you are talking about is coming in to thailand on a 30 day visa exempt entry. What that means is you didn't BUY a visa at a thai consulate before you came here but due to your nationality you are stamped in FREE for 30 days

people from 51 countries can do that and they can also get a 30 day extension on that entry

What is your nationality?

4 years ago