Is it possible to extend a visa after arriving on the 'Test & Go' program in Thailand, and what are the steps?

@Nguyễn *******

the Thailand Pass just means you satisfied the covid-related requirements for entering. The visa is what says why you’re coming (tourism, education, marriage, etc.), and how long you can stay — like a tourist visa for 60 days, for example. But Thailand also has specific exemptions for citizens from various countries that basically let you come in for thirty days without any visa at all.

In your case, it sounds like you did the paperwork for the Thailand Pass, but didn’t also apply for a specific visa, so you got in with a 30-day exemption. If so, you can probably get a 30-day extension at the immigration office. Assuming your exemption and extension follow the same rules that folks from the US get, Michelle’s comment above gives the basic info, and the information desk at immigration will have most of the paperwork you need. For passport photos, there are lots of places around town with signs on the window advertising passport photos, so just pick one with decent reviews on Google maps. You’re also going to need a printout of form TM 30 — wherever you’re staying needs to submit your info online and give you a printout to bring to immigration (If you’re staying at a hotel, they’ll know what to do. A private Airbnb might need to do some registration stuff in the system first.) And you’ll need copies of your passport page that has your photo on it, the passport page with the stamp for your current visa/exemption (i.e., the age with the stamp that says you can stay until the 26th), and a copy of your TM 6 — that’s the little “departure card” they would have given you when you first entered Thailand. They may have stapled it into your passport for you.

The extension costs 1900 baht, cash only.

I hope that helps! Visa extensions/exemptions/renewals/whatevers were super-confusing and stressful for me at first, but the officers are really helpful and patient.