Answered5 years ago

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

ED visa Tourist exemption Visa extension Covid extension Amnesty Thailand immigration

Klint ******

asked Jul 10, 2021

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My ED visa will expire in mid-Sept. and I'm exploring options. Have you heard of any instances of one switching from ED to tourist exemption without leaving the country (and then later going on amnesty)? Thanks!

Answer summary

The user is seeking information on switching from an ED visa to a tourist exemption without leaving Thailand, with some community members noting that obtaining a tourist visa in-country is not possible. Options discussed include applying for a 60-day Covid extension, which may still be available before the July 29 expiration date, and cancelling the current ED extension to apply for this alternative.

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Steve *******

You cant get a tourist exemption in country but you might be able to apply for a 'Covid extention' if it's continued after 29th July.

5 years ago

Jenn **********

u in pattaya?

5 years ago

Phil **********

Does anyone know when applying for the Covid extension ends?

5 years ago

Bobby ********

Phil Sheridan. July 29

5 years ago

Tod *********

okay first off get any 'amnesty' out of your head that stopped on Oct 31st 2020. That's when they started selling 60 day covid extensions for 1900baht.

What you'd do is cancel your current ED extension and IF the covid extension program is still running (it's set to expire on July 29th) you could apply for a 60 day covid extension. IF they decide NOT to extend the covid program you'd cancel your extension and buy a 7 day emergency extension that gives you a week to get out of the country :/

Those would be your choices.

5 years ago

Klint ******

@Tod ********

Thanks for this.

5 years ago

Bobby ********

It is totally impossible to get any form of tourist visa in-country. Suggest you get a 60 day covid extension before 29 July. With the continual mounting numbers here, Thailand may follow Vietnam's lead and start kicking people out!

5 years ago

Klint ******

@Bobby *******

Thanks. But getting 60 days from July 29 isn’t a lot better than my current 16 Sept expiry date.

5 years ago

Klint ******

Yeah, thanks. Will definitely have a plan B. Can I ask a follow-up question about this procedure?

I get a letter from my school sometime before Sep 16, then go to immigration sometime before or on Sep 16. I ask to cancel my ED and apply for this COVID extension (assuming they renew it past July 29). Then they either give me 60 days or give me 7 days, past a) Sept 16 or b) the date i go into immigration?

Does this all sound correct? Thanks again.

@Tod ********

5 years ago

Tod *********

@Klint *****

you can usually go and cancel an extension a couple weeks before the date on the "cancellation of study" document from the school

SO I'd have your school write the document stating your studies end on the date your current extension expires, I'd go to the immigration office 2 weeks before that, cancel the extension (they'll give you a new stamp until the date on the document from the school) then you can go forward with the covid extension if they're still officers or figure out a way to leave without needing the 7 day extension denied get outta dodge stamp

5 years ago

Bobby ********

Klint Rock. That's true. If you're not getting an ED extension, you can still get the 7-day "refusal" extension from the date of expiry of your visa. The covid extensions might be extended, but you're always better off to at least have a Plan B. We'll know in a few weeks anyway if it will be kicked out a bit longer

5 years ago