Can South Africans switch from a Tourist Visa to a Non-B Visa in Thailand without returning home?

Question

For South Africans:

Has anyone switched from a Tourist Visa to Non-B recently (with all of the required documentation from home and your new school)? App some people have been required to return to SA to get their first Non-B. Would be nice to know if this is a new blanket regulation, or only applies to some people. TIA.

Ask Thailand · Answer

The post inquires about the possibility for South African citizens to switch from a Tourist Visa to a Non-B Visa within Thailand, expressing concern over potential requirements to return to South Africa for the first Non-B Visa. Community responses clarify that there is no official law mandating South Africans to return home to obtain a Non-B Visa. However, some applicants may face differing experiences based on location, particularly in Kuala Lumpur, where approvals from the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs are required, taking about four weeks. Other locations like Vientiane are reported to issue Non-B Visas without the need to return, provided applicants don't have specific restrictions based on their current visas.

Tod ********* · Answer

There is NOTHING written into law that states S/A passport holders must go back to their country to get a Non-B visa (or any visa). There are S/A's who have visas from Pretoria that have writing on them stating they need to go back to S/A to get a visa and at this time Vientiane is NOT letting people get any visa if you have that writing on a visa from Pretoria.

K/L has a new policy that S/A passport holders have to have their applications approved by the MFA in thailand before they will issue visas to them (and as [mention redacted] said it is taking 4 weeks for that). Penang wil issue Non-B's for teaching but anyone applying there needs police checks from both their country AND thailand.

Vientiane will issue them without a problem (as long as you don't have a visa from Pretoria with thai writing on it) and you only need a police background check from either your country OR thailand.

Ellie ******* · Answer

FYI. [mention redacted] made post regarding to it...

[url redacted]

Ron ******* · Answer

Reports on here it takes 4 weeks in KL if your planning on doing it there.

Leannè ******** · Answer

Im in the process of doing mine now - doesnt look like there are any problems.

Terence ********* · Answer

Did mine last week no problems.

Can South Africans switch from a Tourist Visa to a Non-B Visa in Thailand without returning home?

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