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How many days before a visa-exempt entry can I apply for a 30-day extension in Thailand?
Visa ExtensionThailand Visa RulesVisa ExemptionImmigration OfficeTourist VisaThailand Immigration Process
Apr 13, 2026
18 days ago
Surya *********
ORIGINAL POSTERIf come in visa exempt after how many days can you do the 30 day extension?
I only need an extra 5 days and depending on travel route would be easier to do when in town with immigration office.
I only need an extra 5 days and depending on travel route would be easier to do when in town with immigration office.
TLDR : Answer Summary
When arriving in Thailand on a visa exemption, you can typically apply for a 30-day extension starting from around 30 days before your visa exemption period expires. Some immigration offices are more flexible and may allow you to apply 45 days or just a week before expiration, while others require you to apply within the last 30 days. It's advisable to inquire directly with the immigration office you plan to visit for their specific policies, as it's often a point of confusion among expats.
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Jason *************
They usualy prefer it when its a week before current visa or exempt is up.
Surya *********
ORIGINAL POSTERJason Bracegirdle thanks. Really hard getting a precise answer . Had hoped would be some guidelines but kind of knew being Thailand it would depend on who is holding the stamp and the weather lol
Jason *************
Surya Llwynog no worries, ive done many. I think the nature of the extension is for it not to have been planned, but then again it's thailand like you said because my return is always booked for 90 days đ€Ł . Everything now is based on your personal previous history .
Surya *********
ORIGINAL POSTERJason Bracegirdle I'm in for 35 days if flight happens. My history shouldn't be a problem. Great timing from Thailand to throw this one in when a lot of other things are happening đ€Š
Thanks for good responses đ
Thanks for good responses đ
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Surya *********
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Peter **********
BewareâŠMeta/FB does not always tell the truth.
Better to address Thailandâs Immigration Bureau with your questions and await a recognised response from them.
Better to address Thailandâs Immigration Bureau with your questions and await a recognised response from them.
Surya *********
ORIGINAL POSTERPeter H Bates no shit lol
The best and only answer to question I would fully trust is if someone pointed me to an official page. Not finding that myself I asked a group where there might be knowledgeable people.
The best and only answer to question I would fully trust is if someone pointed me to an official page. Not finding that myself I asked a group where there might be knowledgeable people.
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Surya *********
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Gerar ********
You can apply for the extension at any stage of your stay but some immigration offices ask you to do it within the last 30 days for some reason.
Surya *********
ORIGINAL POSTERGerar Teuben thanks. If visa exempt drops to 30 days then that would be at any time after arrival.
Gerar ********
Itâs officially always possible to apply for the extension at any stage during your stay.
But some immigration offices can be just a little bit difficult about this.
But some immigration offices can be just a little bit difficult about this.
Surya *********
ORIGINAL POSTERGerar Teuben I had heard of people having difficulty in provincial offices with some things. I might pass back through BKK mid trip so sadly might have to stay a bit and sort this out. Or still factor in a trip to Malaysia or Laos. I'm working on assumption that by August will be 30 days exempt so was hoping there would be official guidelines but seems not.
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Surya *********
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Giorgio ******
starting 30 days before end of exemption.
John **********
Depends on the immigration office, some are 45 days before, some are 30 days before and some 7 days before. Ask the immigration office you plan to use
Surya *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@John *********
thanks. Won't be needed unless they drop visa exempt to 30 days as I need 35 days . Open plans at moment as difficult to plan as things stand so don't know which one will use.Reply to
Surya *********
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Sean ********
I got my extended 10 days before exempt entry expired.
Frédéric *******
I got the 30 days extenssion after 1 month in thailand. don't need to worry too much
Surya *********
ORIGINAL POSTERFrédéric Cornu if it drops to 30 days through then I need to do at an office that's convenient on travel or pass one when needed. So not so simple and does need to be considered.
Frédéric *******
Surya Llwynog two years ago I had to go to the ambassy 1 week after my arrival, they agreed to stamp my 30 days extension. if you can't stay long enough, there is many options. you can go to vietnam for a week and come back to thailand. it's a fun alternative
Surya *********
ORIGINAL POSTERFrédéric Cornu thanks. I know the options I've combined trip with cambodia in past. Trying to get an answer to this to help decide .
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Surya *********
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Magnus *********************
Think itâs from day 30 you can do that.
Yes, do when youâre close to an immigration office.
No need to jump over a border and waste time.
Yes, do when youâre close to an immigration office.
No need to jump over a border and waste time.
Surya *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Magnus ********************
that would be last day if it drops to 30 days so hopefully that would change as well. I had planned to pop into another country anyway but uncertainty over flights currently making that difficult.Magnus *********************
Surya Llwynog That is just a rumor, government hasnât decided anything about change from 60 to 30.
Government does this every year to evaluate.
If you have entered with a 60 day exemption then it will not change when youâre here.
Government does this every year to evaluate.
If you have entered with a 60 day exemption then it will not change when youâre here.
Surya *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Magnus ********************
I am not entering until July. The answer to this question will help me decide plans should it change.Magnus *********************
Surya Llwynog Sorry but If they decide to change from 60 to 30. No one knows. Itâs government decisions.
My guess if they change it will be in November.
Iâve always said to have a return ticket that is re-bookable/change/cancel for a small fee is better.
Itâs a backup plan if something goes wrong.
My guess if they change it will be in November.
Iâve always said to have a return ticket that is re-bookable/change/cancel for a small fee is better.
Itâs a backup plan if something goes wrong.
Surya *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Magnus ********************
yes no one knows. But if someone knows the answer to my OP it would be helpful. I would be happy to pop into another country if needed and might do anyway. I don't need a changeable ticker.
Magnus *********************
Surya Llwynog Think you missing the point.
You canât enter Thailand on visa exemption rule without a ticket OUT of Thailand.
What you need or want to has
In fact, the airline company should not even allow you to board the plane đ
No sorry, there is no more pop around. To many try pop around and didnât leave, ended up with huge medical bills that no one took responsibility for.
You canât enter Thailand on visa exemption rule without a ticket OUT of Thailand.
What you need or want to has
*****
0% nothing to do with the facts đ In fact, the airline company should not even allow you to board the plane đ
No sorry, there is no more pop around. To many try pop around and didnât leave, ended up with huge medical bills that no one took responsibility for.
Surya *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Magnus ********************
your missing the point .....I have a ticket out of Thailand after 35 days.
So IF it changes I am looking into options.
IF I decide to stay in Thailand and need to extend I need to know at what point and where I can do this.
Hence the question.
Magnus *********************
Surya Llwynog đ€Ł itâs already been answered.
Even IF they change the rule from 60 to 30. DURING your stay. You need to extend.
I donât see how this can be hard to understand.
If and when you arrive, no matter if itâs 30 or 60 days. You need to have a ticket out.
I said you can get a ticket you can move, change, cancel. You can buy a ticket even now (from some company I forgot name of), there is no ticket, pay for a service đ
At what point and place đ§ at Shangri-La of course đ
Even IF they change the rule from 60 to 30. DURING your stay. You need to extend.
I donât see how this can be hard to understand.
If and when you arrive, no matter if itâs 30 or 60 days. You need to have a ticket out.
I said you can get a ticket you can move, change, cancel. You can buy a ticket even now (from some company I forgot name of), there is no ticket, pay for a service đ
At what point and place đ§ at Shangri-La of course đ
Surya *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Magnus ********************
if they change when already in I will have been stamped with 60 so no I won't need to change it.IF I need to extend because they change it before I arrive ( as at this point with travel uncertainty through middle east I don't want to get a 60 day tourist visa) then I need to know where and when. On hearing of possible changes I had initially planned to grab a flight down to Malaysia and travel back slowly through Southern Thailand . I found a flight I was going to purchase in morning and woke up to the news of the war.
I have flexible plans but I still need to make sure I am near a immigration office at right point of trip. Or if that doesn't work I can still pop into Laos or Malaysia depending on which way I travel.
So there a reason for asking this specific question. Do you know the answer to that or not ?
Magnus *********************
Surya Llwynog Sorry but now youâre confused about visa and exemption rule.
Visa is something you need to go get at embassy and apply for.
Exemption rule is something you get for free at a border checkpoint.
Itâs not the same thing.
Visa is something you need to go get at embassy and apply for.
Exemption rule is something you get for free at a border checkpoint.
Itâs not the same thing.
Surya *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Magnus ********************
no I am not !!!!Visa exempt is currently 60 days but might change to 30.
I can get a 60 day visa in advance but reluctant to for reasons explained.
So once again the reason for the original post ..........
Magnus *********************
Surya Llwynog no, your original question was as picture shows and that is what Iâve answered on.
Last question you suddenly talked about visaâŠ
If, big IF it will change, no one knows. IF it will change, IF your outside and already have tickets to jump around 30 days and 1 hour will not matter. You need to have it within the 30 days.
IF you already INSIDE and they change the rules it will not affect you at all.
Last question you suddenly talked about visaâŠ
If, big IF it will change, no one knows. IF it will change, IF your outside and already have tickets to jump around 30 days and 1 hour will not matter. You need to have it within the 30 days.
IF you already INSIDE and they change the rules it will not affect you at all.
Surya *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Magnus ********************
read the thread properly. You've never answered the question you guessed. You've got it all wrong .Magnus *********************
Surya Llwynog Iâm 100% sure I have answered you on this.
Colin *********
Surya Llwynog forget about whether the Visa Exempt will be reduced from 60 to 30 days. Nobody can say when it will happen or even if it will. The new government hasn't said anything about it since they were elected. It will take time for them to go through all the processes before it will become Law, if it ever does. It will likely be a few months away yet. Just plan your trip at the moment based on Visa Exempt being 60 days, because nobody has a Crystal Ball, that is going to accurately predict the future for you. When the time comes, if you need an Extension on your Visa Exempt stay, just go to the nearest Immigration Office.
Surya *********
ORIGINAL POSTERColin Boyland I've got several ideas at moment . Knowing at which point I can go to a particular office would be really handy.
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Surya *********
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Wannikea *********
At some offices up to 45 days before your entry stamp expires but most offices 30 days..
Surya *********
ORIGINAL POSTERWannikea Wanblee thanks. If visa exempt becomes 30 days that's at any time.
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Surya *********
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Colin **********
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Colin **********
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