Answered3 years ago

Can my friend from Ethiopia extend her 15-day visa on arrival in Chiang Mai for an additional 3 days?

Visa on Arrival Visa Extension Thailand Immigration Ethiopian Travelers Chiang Mai Immigration

Susie *********

asked Jan 30, 2024

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Hi, I have a friend from Ethiopia who is planning to come to Thailand for holiday. She will get the 15 day visa on arrival, but would like to stay 18 days. She will be in Chiang Mai. Can anyone advise on the process for getting the visa extension at immigration in Chiang Mai? I’m only familiar with the visa waiver extension in BKK so not sure what to tell her. Thanks!

Answer summary

Your friend from Ethiopia will not be able to extend her 15-day visa on arrival in Thailand, as it does not qualify for an extension. She will need to show proof of onward travel for her 15-day stay. An alternative option is to travel to a nearby country and then re-enter Thailand, which would grant her another 15 days.

9 repliesnewest first

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Richard ***************

Just cross over to another country nearby then re-enter Thailand to get more 15 days in Thailand...

3 years ago

Nongnuch ********

@Richard **************

she cannot get another VOA at a land border, she must use the airport. And consecutive VOA will get rejected. She should apply for a 60-days tourist visa in her home country if applicable

3 years ago

Richard ***************

@Nongnuch *******

Good to know!

3 years ago

Michael ********

@Richard **************

which neighbouring countries accept visa on arrival for ethopians ?

3 years ago

Richard ***************

@Michael *******

I am not sure

3 years ago

Graham ******

@Richard **************

So why answer?

3 years ago

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

Visa on arrival does not qualify for an extension.

As part of the application for the visa at the airport, your friend will be required to show their flight out of Thailand within 15 days or they will not be allowed to enter the country.

3 years ago

Susie *********

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

- thanks - I didn’t realise the VOA was not extendable. Is that a hard rule ie no point in bothering to go to immigration to try once here? Noted your point re the flight dates needing to be within 15 days jn that case anyway.

She really wants to be in Thailand for two events around three weeks apart. And she is travelling elsewhere, so returning home to get a tourist visa is not easy. Would you think that being here for a week, then leaving to another Asian country for a week (where she has a job/visa / residence), then coming back to Thailand and getting another VOA would work? Ie not a bounce but leaving the country for a week or so then coming back? She has been in Thailand once before, a few years ago, but seemed to think the VOA was 30 days then, so hence she hadn’t thought this would be an issue. She has no other ‘problematic’ travel history to Thailand. Thanks

3 years ago

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

@Susie ********

There's one option but it's not guaranteed, and your friend will still need to show a flight out of Thailand within 15 days to get into the country.

If at the very end of the stay, like the last day (if it's a weekday), go to immigration and apply for an extension. Any extension.

If the office accepts the application (they do not have to accept it) they will take the 1900 baht fee and stamp in the passport "Application denied, days to leave Thailand"

This is not an extension, it's an extension denied 7 days.

Leaving to another country and returning in between would also work.

3 years ago