Answereda year ago

Can I still apply for a Non-Immigrant O Visa directly at the embassy in Kuala Lumpur?

Non-Immigrant O Visa Thai Visa Application e-Visa Platform Embassy Procedures Visa Processing Times Southeast Asia Consulates

Arnaud ***************

asked May 22, 2025

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Hello to the group,

I would like to know if it is still possible to apply to a non-immigrant O visa directly at the embassy (Kuala Lumpur for instance), or if the only way is to use the e-visa platform.

Thanks in advance for your feedbacks.

Answer summary

The process to apply for a Non-Immigrant O visa at Thai consulates has changed. As of January 1, 2025, all Thai consulates transitioned to the eVisa online platform and no longer accept walk-in applications for visa submission. While some consulates in Southeast Asia allow personal appearances for payment after online application, it is recommended to avoid the Malaysian consulates due to reported slow processing times and strict documentation requirements. Alternatives like Vientiane or Savannakhet might offer better experiences for visa applications.

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Tod *********

Actually this question; Can you still walk up and apply for a thai visa at a consulate? gets asked quite a lot

The answer is NO. There are no walk up apply thai consulates anymore.. ALL the thai consulates which weren't already on the eVisa online web-portal switched over on Jan 1 2025.

There are a few consulates in S/E Asia (Vientiane/Savannakhet in Lao and Yangon in Burma) where you apply online then go to the consulate in person to pay for the visa, but the application is still done online thru the eVisa web-portal

Just a suggestion, I personally would avoid the 3 consulates in Malaysia (KL, Penang & Kota Bharu) 😮 For some reason since they went to the eVisa online process they got really slow in processing and picky about documentation..

You'd be far better going to Vientiane or Savannakhet for a 90 day Non-O visa. Reports there are that some people actually got the approval for their Non-Imm visas (B, ED, O) when they were on the way back to their hotels after showing up and paying for the visa in person at the consulate 🙂 So just a couple business days processing time

a year ago

Arnaud ***************

@Tod ********

very useful answer, as usual. Thanks a lot.

One last question regarding that run, if I currently have a non-OA, I go to an embassy abroad and apply to a non-O. If for any reason the latter is not granted, can I come back to the kingdom with my non-OA still valid?

a year ago

Tod *********

@Arnaud **************

now on the other hand IF you are on yearly extensions from the immigration office from an old OA visa, you have a re-entry permit, you can get a new the new O visa from a consulate without any issue at all.

a year ago

Arnaud ***************

@Tod ********

thank you so much 🙏🙏🙏

a year ago

Ellie *******

@Arnaud **************

, be aware that re-entry permit wouldn't buy any additional time. it expires at the same as the current stamp expires, and will be stamped in for the same last date with the current stamp..

a year ago

Tod *********

@Arnaud **************

correct, they would exit/re-enter to get that "free" second year, THEN when they went to try for the Non-O visa they would get a re-entry permit before they left (just in case) so that if they didn't get the Non-O granted they would get back in on the stamp they had

a year ago

Arnaud ***************

@Tod ********

yes, I would apply to a re-entry before if it means being able to re-enter safely in case of the new application going wrong for any reason. It is actually for my parents. Changing to a non-o would be more convenient. But keeping the non-OA alive is important to make sure they can come back

a year ago

Tod *********

@Arnaud **************

, there is no extension, 😕 You would have gotten a new ENTRY STAMP on that visa before it expired, it's not an extension of anything

AND

If you exit/re-enter before the visa expires, get a new year ENTRY STAMP and wanted to go get the Non-O visa you could do that BUT in order to keep that entry stamp "alive" in case you didn't get the O visa issued, you would need to buy a re-entry permit BEFORE you exited on that entry stamp because otherwise that stamp would cancel when you left

a year ago

Arnaud ***************

@Tod ********

that's great!

And in the case I am on the extention period, can I then apply to a non-o abroad, and still come back with it if anything wrong happens regarding the application?

a year ago

Tod *********

@Arnaud **************

the OA visa is a year long mulit-entry type visa, it allows unlimited entries for the validity of the visa itself

Each entry gets you stamped in for a year OR as long as your valid mandatory medical insurance is valid for (up to a year)

IF just before the VISA itself expires you exit/re-enter the country (by air or land doesn't matter) and you have a new year of the mandatory medical insurance you will get a new entry stamp for a year (or as long as your insurance is good for up to a year)

That's how most people on an OA visa get two years of stay out of a visa that is valid for one year

a year ago

Arnaud ***************

@Tod ********

I am not familiar with that second year aspect. Can the exit/entry be done both by plane and land transport? (with the new insurance of course)

a year ago

Tod *********

@Arnaud **************

well you usually get TWO years of stay out of an OA visa, by exiting and re-entering just before the visa itself expires (and having a new year of the mandatory insurance)

So that means

if you're still on the first year, of the visa, you can exit, wait until the VISA itself expires THEN apply for a new Non-O visa

OR

if you're already on that "free" second year (meaning the original OA has expired and you're on the year entry stamp) you could just leave and go get the Non-O visa any time

a year ago

Arnaud ***************

@Tod ********

thanks again these really are precious advices. I'll go through the extension first then and reassess my options then.

a year ago