How can I extend my visa exemption in Thailand before it expires, and what documents do I need?

The most important question is "which immigration office?".

IF you're using Chiang Mai, Bangkok, Buriram, Phuket, Chiang Rai and a couple other ones (Surat Thani/Samui maybe) all allow people to apply for extensions when they have 45 days or less left on their current stamp.

IF you're using Bangkok, you'll go to Muang Thong Thani, and they only accept 300 people a day.

>So, I should go to Immigration on Friday to extend, yes?

Which immigration office would you want to use?

>Not sure I understand the COVID extension versus regular extension.

A 60 day extension of stay based on unable to travel due to COVID-19 is issued by the immigration office for people who can't return home. A 30 day extension of stay based on tourism is issued by the immigration office for those who want to stay longer as a tourist. MOST immigration offices require a person to get a 30 day extension of stay based on tourism before getting a 60 day extension of stay based on unable to travel due to COVID-19.

The documents for a 30 day extension of stay based on tourism and a 60 day extension of stay based on unable to travel due to COVID-19 are almost the same, and I recommend applying for a 60 day extension of stay based on unable to travel due to COVID-19. The worse that would happen is they would grant you a 30 day extension of stay based on tourism first.

Different immigration offices have different requirements, but all require the following:

1. Your passport and:

a. a copy of your data ("picture") page

b. a copy of your most recent visa (if you have one)

c. a copy of your most recent stamp

d. a copy of your departure card

2. A TM30, filed in the immigration office.

3. The forms (each immigration office may have different forms, and ant to use their special forms)

4. [FOR COVID-19 extension of stay only!] A letter from your embassy saying you can not return, OR a print out from your embassy website saying they don’t issue the letters, OR a print out of a letter from the embassy saying they don't issue those letters.

5. 2x passport pictures

6. 1,900 THB.

[FOR COVID-19 Extension of stay only] Different immigration offices have different policies. *SOME* may require:

- The ID card of the property owner where you are staying

- Copies of *ALL* stamped pages in your passport