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Can I switch from a student ED visa to a tourist visa while staying in Thailand?

Non-Immigrant ED Visa Tourist Visa Visa Rules Thailand Visa Extensions Border Runs Duration of Stay Chiang Rai Immigration Expat Visa Advice

Dec 19, 2018

6 years ago

Dennis **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hey guys,

I have a student ED non Immigrant Visa, multiple entry from July 2018 to June 2019. I only got a duration of stay until the end of December 2018 cause thats the end of the Semester. I will be travelling in Thailand though until the 14. January. Then i will go back home to germany. My question is: i dont want to leave the country before the 1. January but rather go to immigration in chiang rai and get a Tourist Visa for 30 days instead. Is that possible?  

Many Thanks in advance.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A user with a Non-Immigrant ED visa is inquiring whether they can switch to a tourist visa without leaving Thailand. The community responses emphasize that it is not possible to obtain a tourist visa within Thailand and advise that a border run is necessary to re-enter the country and receive a new visa.

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Dennis **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

So i can basically just drive to ban houayxai from chiang rai right?

6 years ago

Dennis **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thank you :)

6 years ago

Tod *********

@Dennis *********

, yep, get there, stamp out of thailand, walk across the bridge stamp in and out of myanmar, walk back across and stamp into thailand again.

6 years ago

Dennis **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Alright, this is all possible within one Day right

6 years ago

Tod *********

@Dennis *********

nope you don't BUY anything for thailand because you HAVE a valid year-long, multi-entry Non-ED visa in your passport.

You're paying to get stamped IN & OUT of Myanmar. The thai entry stamp you'll get when you come back is free..

6 years ago

Dennis **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Okay that Sounds like a good plan, so i dont really enter Myanmar but simply go to the border and "buy" a New 90 days right

6 years ago

Tod *********

@Den***

you're better NOT bouncing out and in with the Lao border because you might be required to buy a visa for Lao just to stamp in and out.

You could bounce out and back in at the Mae Sai - Tachiliek border with Myanmar for 500 baht to get another 90 day stamp.

6 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

Lloyd ********

As you have a visa, your schooling has nothing to do with your permission to stay. BUT, you are only allowed to stay for 90 days at any one time, so you will have to do a "border bounce" to activate another 90 day entry.

6 years ago

Dennis **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

So i can basically just drive to ban houayxai from chiang rai right?

6 years ago

Reply to

Dennis **********

Robert *******

Just to show the difference as Lloyd mentioned:

6 years ago

Robert *******

If you have the 1 year Multiple Entry Non Immigrant ED Visa you get on each entry you make before the valid until / enter before date 90 days of stay, nothing to do with your semester.

6 years ago

Lloyd ********

do you have a visa that you got from outside Thailand or an extension that you got at immigration inside Thailand ?

6 years ago

Dennis **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I got it outside

6 years ago

Reply to

Dennis **********

Jason ***********

You can’t get a tourist visa within Thailand. You’ll need to do a border run.