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Is it easier to extend a DTV visa or do a visa run for a 180-day stay in Thailand?

DTV Visa Visa Extension Visa Run Bangkok Immigration 180-Day Stay 90-Day Reporting Visa Rules Thailand

Nov 17, 2025

a day ago

Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hello guys, I’ve got a couple of questions about extensions vs border run. 

We’ve had our DTV visa for over a year now and living in Bangkok. During that year we were in and out of Thailand every 2 months so never had to do 90 day reporting nor extension. 

We last reentered in July, already did our first 90day report in September and our 180 day stay ends in December. 

Would you say it’s easier to do leave and re-enter like a visa run OR do another 90 day reporting followed by a DTV visa extension and get another 180 day stamp? 

Has anyone encountered any issues with doing a DTV visa extension? 

If “visa run” like option is easier, I was thinking of flying to KL for the weekend and back as it’s the cheapest flights for our dates. Are there any easier options you’d recommend? 

Many thanks in advance

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The discussion centers around the experience of managing a DTV visa in Thailand. The user has been in Thailand for over a year and asks whether it's easier to do a visa run or to extend their current visa for another 180 days. The comments suggest that visa extensions can be challenging and require extensive documentation. Many recommend doing a border run to countries like Malaysia, highlighting that immigration often prefers this method over extensions. Additionally, a quick 90-day reporting process is noted as straightforward and hassle-free.

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Andrew *********

Border run. Immigration dont want anything to do with the DTV will point blankly refuse to deal with you or make it very difficult for you.

Fly to KL or where ever. Land border runs are basically out atm. Cambodia and Myanmar closed and now a Laos border crossing doing something or other.

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John *********

Don't extend, just take a nice short break to say HCMC (very inexpensive) and enter for another 180 days, keep life simple

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thank you

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Anonymous *************

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David ********

It depends on the immagration office that you will do your extension. Mine wanted all the same paperwork as originally supplied but also photos of my house with me included like 4 different photos. I did the trip out to KL nice 4 days sightseeing came back in no probs. Next time do the same but maybe another place to visit.

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thank you for your reply 👍

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John *********

that's it, keep it simple, no paper work, let the dtv do the talking

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John *********

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John **********

Extensions are difficult to obtain and immigration don't like doing them, you will need all the information you provided originally but updated to the time you apply for the extension plus 500k baht in the bank for 1 month. Much easier just to cross a border and return

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thank you for your reply, exactly what I was asking for.

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Anonymous *************

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Elías ********

You have a visa, it's not a "visa run".

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

What I mean is a ‘leave the country and re enter to get a new stamp’ move which is pretty much the same as a visa run.

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Luit *****************

A border run or border bounce is the thing that will be limited for people without visa, it is a trip to the border where you stamp out, stamp in at the neighbour country and stamp back in, just to get a new stay.

For DTV and other multi entry visa the term also is applicable of course, but for now not a problem, it only shows you use the visa in a way it was not meant.

A visa run is a trip to most times a neighbour country, but also other third countries are possible, to just get a visa for Thailand, and not apply in the normal way in their home country.

This is how a lot of members here applied for their DTV .

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John *********

Anonymous participant visa runs (soon to be banned) is for cheap charlies, and various undesirables, criminals etc,going across a land border, flying is more discerning and you get to see a nearby City etc

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Elías ********

a visa run can be done by land or air, as the main purpose is to "renew" one's stay in or order to keep living without a visa. Hence, the term it's not applicable for DTV or other visa types visa holders. As for we're concerned, we can exit and enter freely by land or air as many times we want.

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Elías ********

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劉*

visa run out of work nor unfair of work got it

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

I do not understand what you mean by “visa run out of work nor unfair of work got it”

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Elías ********

Participante anónimo visa runs are not allowed anymore (read it for visaless people who wanted to get another visa exempt entry).

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Luit *****************

@Elías *******

That also is not called a visa run, but a border run or border bounce.

A visa run is when you travel to a neighbour country to apply for a visa, like so many do here to get their DTV.

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Luit *****************

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Elías ********

Flying in and out is easy, an in country extension isn't.

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Elías ********

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Anonymous ******************

Reporting takes 5 minutes and is free. Down load the form and fill it in, take it to the office. Easy.

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Anonymous *************

ORIGINAL POSTER

🤦🏼‍♀️ I didn’t ask about the reporting, I’ve clearly stated it’s already done.

I’m asking about issues about doing a visa extension vs a visa run.

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Anonymous ******************

Anonymous participant just don’t do the extension is what everyone will say.

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Anonymous ******************

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