How many times can a visa-exempt 30-day stay be renewed in Thailand, and does having a course with a Thai institution help with extensions?

Visa Exempt Entry Visa Renewal Tourist Visa Extension Rules Thai Educational Visa Visa Regulations

Jun 21, 2022

3 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

How many times an a visa exempt 30 day renewal be done ?

And 

If one has a course can they ..have the support of a Thai institution 

Dies this allow or aid an extension 

I have had 1 extension on a 30 day already ?

540

views

likes

all likes

replies

images

users

TLDR : Answer Summary

A visa-exempt entry for 30 days can only be renewed once, extending the stay by 30 days (not 15 days as previously thought). If an individual has the support of a Thai educational institution, they can apply for an education visa, which can provide a longer stay. Most courses include the necessary visa fees, making them a potential option for extending one's stay.

Terry ********

You only get one extension on a 30 day visa exempt entry. I think it’s only for 15 days. If you get a 60 day tourist visa, the extension is 30 days.

3 years ago

Stuart *********

@Terry *******

both options are 30 days.

3 years ago

Terry ********

@Stuart ********

they must have changed it because I’m pretty sure it used to be only 15.

3 years ago

Stuart *********

@Terry *******

During the pandemic there was a time that visa exempt entry allowed 45 days to allow for the mandatory quarantine, but I don’t recall extensions ever being 15 days. Perhaps you’re thinking of land entry. Up until 2016 there was a rule of only 15 days on land entry for visa exempt but they changed that back to 30, with a limit of two per calendar year.

3 years ago

Terry ********

@Stuart ********

I’ve never done it myself but before the pandemic a friend came to visit on visa exempt. He went to get an extension and he told me they only gave him 15 more days. So, I don’t know.

3 years ago

Reply to

Terry ********

Stuart *********

I’m assuming the second part of the question is about education visas. If you have the support of a Thai educational establishment then you can indeed get them to organise a visa for you. You need their support. Most course fees include tuition fees and visa fees, so may seem expensive at first.

3 years ago

Mike ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

I have a signed letter of support and acceptance etc for the 3 week course .

I will take it to the immigration office and see how we go and report back !

Thanks !!🙏🏻

3 years ago

Brandon ************

@Mike *****

not enough. 3 weeks won't get you anything. An ED visa requires approval from ministry of education which takes weeks to receive and then you go to immigration with a huge pack of paperwork from your school, over 100 pages.

3 years ago

Stuart *********

@Mike *****

Good luck. Almost always it’s the school that sorts the visa out for you rather than you applying direct. Perhaps they’ll let you. You can only try.

3 years ago

Reply to

Stuart *********

Garrett ***********

No idea what the 2nd part of your question is, but visa exempt entries and tourist visas can only be extended once. There's no exception to that. Currently until July 25th you can still apply for a '60 day covid unable to travel extension'.

3 years ago

Duncan *******

Once.

3 years ago

Reply to

Duncan *******

Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else

... members · 60% approval rate

The Thai Visa Advice And Everything Else group allows for a broad range of discussions on life in Thailand, beyond just visa inquiries.

Join the Group

Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else

View the Conversation