Answered4 years ago

Can you leave Thailand while renewing your Extension of Stay (EofS)?

Extension of Stay Visa Renewal Re-entry Permit Immigration Rules Thailand Expat Visa

Martin ********

asked Nov 18, 2022

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Question: 

When you are renewing your EofS at immigration. 

1. Can you leave the country while you have a under consideration stamp. 

2. Does it invalidate your renewal application. 

3. Only applies if answer to No 1. question is Yes and No 2. is No. And if so are there rules on how to go about this. ( inform your immigration office time allowed to be away and so on.

Answer summary

When renewing your Extension of Stay (EofS) in Thailand, you can leave the country with an under consideration stamp. This does not invalidate your renewal application if you purchase a re-entry permit, valid only for that specific stamp, and return before it expires. It is crucial to inform your immigration office of your travel plans, especially if they conduct an in-home visit.

6 repliesnewest first

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Tod *********

1 - you can leave the country while you're under the 30 day extension of stay when waiting for your yearly extension to be approved

2 - it does NOT invalidate your process IF you buy a re-entry permit <- which is valid only for that under consideration stamp AND if you get back before the stamp runs out.

BUT

You definitely need to TELL your immigration office of your plans to be out of the country to coordinate the in home visit (if your immigration office does one).

as far as time away, you have to come back on the re-entry permit before that stamp runs out or you're back to square one and lose everything 😕

4 years ago

Dannie ***************

@Alex ******

All my extensions

4 years ago

Alex *******

@Dannie **************

Thanks! And that is only the first extension or any extension?

4 years ago

Dannie ***************

@Alex ******

Can’t speak for others, but for me it has been 30 days or a few longer.

Whatever they put in, unless you let them know you need something different, it is your obligation to appear on that date.

4 years ago

Martin ********

@Tod ********

Thanks for this. Just one other question so I have a multi Re entry up until my expiry date of my EofS. And I believe you can apply for a renewal max of 45 days before it expires. So my thinking was to apply for my EofS 45 days before it expires my multi re entry permit runs to the same date as my EofS. And just say to my IO I’ll be back a two day before both expires. To pick my new EofS up and they’d plan a visit around me being back. That would work I’m presuming. Does that sound right?

4 years ago

Tod *********

@Martin *******

talk to your immigration officer, remember the 30 day under consideration is the first month of your new extension (as a rule) so it's added to your current stamp.

You make sure that your old re-entry permit covers you leaving during that time period (confirm it with the immigration office)

I'd hate for you to be penny wise and pound foolish and lose the entire extension because you wouldn't spend 1000baht on a re-entry permit leaving during the under consideration time period.

4 years ago