Is it legal to renew my visa in Thailand with a border run and a tourist visa application?

Mar 6, 2024
9 months ago
Antoine **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello, can someone tell me if I can renew my visas as such ?

NOT looking for agents, I simply ask if this plan is LEGAL

* Entered on a visa exemption on 13th Feb (ends 13th March)

* Want to do a visa run and get the tourist visa sticker (extend to 13th April)

* Then before Songkran, make a visa renewal in Bangkok to have a visa until 13th of May

Is this possible regarding the policies in Thailand ?

Good plan ? thanks
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The OP is seeking confirmation on the legality of a plan to extend their stay in Thailand. They entered on a visa exemption and are considering doing a border bounce to obtain a new 30-day stamp, followed by applying for a tourist visa sticker to extend their stay further before Songkran. The responses clarify that while the plan involves a border run and extending stays legally, the OP may be confusing two terms: 'visa run' (obtaining a visa at a consulate) and 'border bounce' (retrieving a new entry stamp). The plan is possible with proper understanding of these terms.
James ********
I believe that the OP has the answers needed for his question.

Thanks all for your helpful replies.

Comments Closed
Bart **************
You get 60 days from a tourist visa sticker, not 30.
Dannie ***************
Antoine **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dannie **************
so I ll do a border bounce right ? thanks for the key info
Dannie ***************
@Antoine *********
Yes, for another VISA EXEMPT entry into Thailand…then you can extend that 30 days if you wish.
Antoine **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dannie **************
Thanks so much, really appreciate it !
Dannie ***************
@Antoine *********
Just a follow-up of Tod’s advice with illustrations.
Tod *********
I think you're confused a bit about what you're actually wanting to do

You're here on a 30 day visa exempt entry

You sound like you're not going to ANY thai consulate to get a "tourist visa sticker" because you say that would give you 30 days (Apr 13th)

It sounds like you don't want to do a "visa run" <- where you go to a thai consulate and buy a visa

BUT

what you really want to do is a "border bounce" <- where you go to the border, stamp out of thailand, stamp in and out of another country and then right back into thailand to get a new free 30 day entry stamp

and

after that you want to take the one 30 day extension at the immigration office for 1900baht

That is a totally workable plan, just know all you're going to go get is a free entry stamp at the border not any "tourist visa sticker"
Antoine **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
Hey there, thanks for taking the time to reply. I might have confused you but I actually want to do what you just described (thanks again).

Get out of Thailand = get a tourist visa / come back to bkk / 30 day extension.

I just wondered if the authorities will look at me funny when I ask the 30 day extension as it would be almost 90 days straight. What do you think ?
John **********
@Antoine *********
as
@Tod ********
says you won't be getting any visa, you will be entering visa exempt same as you already have. Your current entry can also be extended by 30 days so you can be more relaxed about when you need to border bounce if you do so
Antoine **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I m just looking for the most legit way to stay as a tourist for 2 more months until 13th of may basically, as I heard a week before Songkran it will be pretty busy administration wise
Antoine **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
Yes, the idea is only to stay until 13th of May. For now I simply got this stamp when I entered from Cambodia by land on 13th feb
Nongnuch ********
@Antoine *********
"Antoine L'avocat - John Stanners Yes, the idea is only to stay until 13th of May. For now I simply got this stamp when I entered from Cambodia by land on 13th feb" WATCH OUT - you did not get a stamp until May 13th. You only got a stamp until 13th of MARCH! You can however apply for a 30days extension of the stay permit on immigration for 1900 Baht
Tod *********
@Antoine *********
that is just a free entry stamp and you can enter by land to get a stamp like that ONE more time this year.

and

take the 30 day extension on it as well at the immigration office

That gives you the 2 more months you want
Antoine **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
So i should simply do a border run / enter back bkk / extension. Thanks a lot for the support sir !
Ellie *******
@Antoine *********
You can apply for a 30-day tourism extension now before you do border bounce as Tod described if you want.
John **********
@Antoine *********
is that your first time entering Thailand by land this year. How long have you spent in Thailand in the past year?
Antoine **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
Thanks for your answer. First time I enter Thailand in 2024. Last time was in 2020 for 1 month only
John **********
@Antoine *********
OK. To get to the 13th of may you are going to have to extend the stamp you currently have at the immigration office serving the area where you are living. Then you are going to have to do a border bounce to get another stamp similar to the one you have now and also extend that at immigration. I would avoid using the border that you entered on at aranyaprathet as it has a bad reputation. The easiest would be to just use an agency to bounce out and back
Tod *********
@Antoine *********
you still aren't glomming on to the fact that you won't get a tourist visa by just exiting re-entering thailand, 😕

IF you want a tourist visa you GO to a thai consulate and BUY one and when you come in you'll get stamped in for 60 days

Your story seems like all you're doing is exiting/re-entering the country to get a new free 30 day entry stamp and then taking the 30 day extension

You're far from the first foreigner who bounced out and back to get a new free 30 day entry stamp, and they won't say anything about you getting the 30 day extension on that entry
Antoine **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
What will I get when I exit Thailand ? or you simply advise me to go the thai consulate (i m in bkk) and get a tourist visa for 60 days ? didn't even know it was possible. thanks again
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