Answered5 years ago

Do I need to extend my Non-Immigrant O visa if my stamp allows me to stay longer than the visa expiry date?

Non-Immigrant O Visa Visa Expiry Dates Immigration Stamps Visa Extension Thailand Immigration Rules

Iain *********

asked Sep 9, 2021

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Hi guys, 

My Non immigrant O visa expiry date and the stamp I got at immigration in Bangkok are both different, with the visa expiring before the date on the immigration stamp. Do I still need to extend my visa or can I just stay in Thailand until the date on my immigration stamp?

Answer summary

The actual expiry date of your Non-Immigrant O visa is not as critical as the 'permitted to stay until' date indicated on your immigration stamp. When entering Thailand, you receive a stamp that often grants you a certain number of days (typically 90) to stay. Therefore, you can stay in Thailand until the date on your immigration stamp, regardless of the visa expiry date. No extension is necessary unless you plan to stay beyond that date.

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Stuart *********

If you’re referring to an actual sticker visa that you have in your passport then that was used when you entered so the date of its expiry is irrelevant. On entry you’d have been given 90 days to stay. Check your stamp. It will say something like “permitted to stay until xx/xx/xx.” That is the date you are allowed to stay in Thailand until.

5 years ago

Steve *******

The 'admitted untill' stamp in your passport is the one to go by. The date on the visa is basically the 'use by' date.

5 years ago

Iain *********

@Stuart ********

ok that’s great! Yeah I was referring to the sticker visa I got from the embassy, it’s says valid until 17th sept but the immigration stamp says 29th September. I’m

Planning on leaving before the 29th anyway and I didn’t want to extend my visa just for 10 days.

Thanks for the quick response! Much appreciated.

5 years ago

Stuart *********

@Iain ********

ok. No issue. As I mentioned your visa was used the second you entered the country so any expiry date on that doesn’t matter it’s USED. It was valid for entry into Thailand for 90 days since issue. Because you’ve entered Thailand it’s finished. The stamp in your passport saying “permitted until” is what counts. so if you leave before the 29th then you’ll be fine.

Donna **********

thanks.

Stuart *********

yes. If you get a tourist visa today, it’s valid for 90 days from today. That allows you to enter Thailand. On the day you actually enter you’ll be stamped in for 60 days. The visa is “used” and finished. The date you’ve been stamped into is what let’s you stay in Thailand. There’ll be words like “permitted to stay until” xx/xx/xxxx date. Changing visa types to a working visa in Thailand and getting a work permit are a completely different issue. Depending on what type of work and the company you plan to work for may or may not allow you to change a tourist visa (or exempt entry) in country.

5 years ago

Donna **********

@Stuart ********

so your visa and your entry stamp are different dates... ok. The date on the entry stamp is when you need to leave by? So if I get a tourist visa and then leave a week or two after it is issued, enter thailand. I have until the entry stamp expires to get a work permit and work visa?

5 years ago

Stuart *********

@Donna *********

no the visa date starts from the day it is put in your passport. Depending on visa type it may be valid for 90 or 365 days. It is the sticker that allows you to enter Thailand. It doesn’t allow you to stay. Your entry stamp starts from the day you enter Thailand and that’s what allows you to stay in the country. Most visas are “used” the second you enter. Some are multiple entry so are valid until the date they expire. You can enter and leave Thailand using the same visa until that date. Most embassies won’t sell multiple entry ones these days (except the OA/OX) because exiting and entering is quite hard.

5 years ago

Donna **********

@Stuart ********

when the embassy website says the visa starts when it is issued that is not the case? It starts when you land in Thailand?

5 years ago