Is the 45-day visa exemption in Thailand extendable, and for how long?

May 29, 2021
3 years ago
Jonny *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi everyone.

I understand that there is a 45 day visa exemption for certain nationalities.

Does anyone know if this 45 day visa exemption is extendable? If so, how many days can you extend it for?

If anyone could answer these questions for me it would be greatly appreciated.

Have a great day!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The 45-day visa exemption for certain nationalities in Thailand can be extended for an additional 30 days. Additionally, due to COVID-19, there is a potential to extend for another 60 days, subject to local immigration office policies. There are discussions surrounding marriage and retirement visas as options for further extending stays, which require different financial stipulations.
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Richard ********
30 days extension and if the situation don t change + 60 days covid extension....+ 60 .....+ 60 ......
Jonny *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Richard *******
oh can you extend for 60 days at the moment due to COVID??
Richard ********
@Jonny **********
I m not sure but I think the last day to extend will be tomorrow
Michael ********
@Richard *******
no its been extended till july
Richard ********
@Michael *******
can you apply to end of July for 2 more months ?
Jonny *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
ok, so if I were to arrive in mid June on the 45 day exemption I could extend for 60 days towards the end of July?
Michael ********
@Jonny **********
depends upon immigration office some will not issue the 60 day unable to travel extension until you have done the legally entitled 30 day extension
Mike *********
I'm going through the same process now, came on 30 day visa exempt and escaped quarantine on 21st. I will by Tuesday of this week have transfered 800.000baht into my Thai bank, then going to yasothon to apply for 90day extension, after 2 months then hopefully get married and apply for marriage visa. I think this is all correct but please advise if I'm missing anything or mis understanding any of the rules ?
George *************
@Mike ********
Just a thought. If you're age 50 or over you could get a retirement extension rather than a marriage extension. Especially as you seem to be bringing over 800,000 baht which is the requirement for retirement, marriage only requires 400,000 baht.

In general, a retirement extension is easier, more convenient to get than a marriage extension. You only need documents from your bank proving you meet the 800,000 baht balance in a Thai bank. You need other evidence for a marriage. You get the retirement extension approved immediately. You get the marriage extension approved after being under consideration for a month. You may get a home visit for the marriage extension but not for the retirement.

The only real advantage for the marriage over the retirement extension is less money needs to be kept in the bank for marriage than retirement. And you can withdraw that money to use outside of the mandatory balance period (2 months before application and 1 month after until you receive final approval), where as for retirement it must be 800,000 baht 2 months before application and 3 months after and then for the rest of the year never below 400,000.
Mike *********
@George ************
yes thanks George but I need to work too, hopefully starting contract in Vietnam soon, so at the moment just need extension of time to get marriage sorted
George *************
@Mike ********
Another important difference between retirement and marriage. ;-)
Mike *********
@George ************
yes, I believe I now know what I need it's just the process, and the information to make it possible, I think the best bet would be to either go to immigration and ask them directly for options or ask agent, but hoping not to do either to be honest as putting my head on radar.
George *************
@Mike ********
Yes, going into your local immigration office and asking for the requirements to get a Non-O visa based on marriage and to get a marriage extension is the best course.

In the meantime, if you want to look at how that process is done in Phuket I suggest taking a look at the following. Every immigration office differs in the details but the overall process is similar.

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Mike *********
@George ************
thanks again George for all your help 👍very much appreciated.
Michael ********
@Mike ********
90 day extension ?
Mike *********
@Michael *******
Sorry 90 day A/O visa
Michael ********
@Mike ********
ok contradictions you said you came in on visa exempt.
Mike *********
Hoping to apply for visa here
Mike *********
Michael ********
@Mike ********
so you cannot do a 90 day extension on visa exempt
Mike *********
@Michael *******
sorry I was told I could on another thread !

What are my options then ?

I need to mature the money in the bank I understand that, that's why I placed in there straight away after confirming with bank accounts still open etc.

My house is approx 80% finished now, girlfriend is going to start blue book process this week I believe (no idea how long this takes) but getting married soon too, just need the best way forward. Came on 30 day as sold up in England with nowhere else to stay
Michael ********
@Mike ********
ok maybe post your question so more people can advise who are more knowledgable than me.

Where are you based ?

Personally i would get married in civil ceremony quite quickly that doesnt need to be ceremony with family etc. The legal one matters for the visa but the Thai one is for family and friends. Me and wife did civil one on our own

Need paperwork from embassy etc for the legal one.

The 60 day covid extension has been extended until end of july, if you can get that on top of your 45 + 30 days would give you time.
Mike *********
@Michael *******
thanks Michael 😊

Yes getting civil first as realise quickest and definitely cheapest lol

Based in kut chum between yasothon and mukdahan.
Michael ********
@Mike ********
I would head to your local immigration as planned and tell them the full story and plans, take your bank book with you. You may find friendly immigration officer.

P.S

Its
*****
0 k for retirement visa and
*****
0 for marriage visa
Tod *********
@Jo***
what is your nationality? If you're a Brit, you can't get the affidavit of income from abroad notary letter anymore (they stopped Dec 2018)

That means IF you wanna get a 90 day Non-O visa based on marriage you bank 400K baht in a thai bank account, AND then to get the year extension you need to keep the money in the account for 2 months before you apply.

There is no "show pay stubs" etc option for you
Jonny *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
hey. I’m Norwegian/Irish but working in London so I’d need the affidavit from the U.K. embassy. But damn that’s a blow I didn’t know they stopped doing them. Cheers for letting me know.
Steve *******
30 days. 60 days if you're visiting Thai dependant relatives.
Jonny *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve ******
thanks for your response. I will be getting married to my fiancé when I am in Thailand so I will try to extend for 30 days and then change to a marriage visa.
Steve *******
@Jonny **********
you can do 40k a month, dont think the British Embassy gives affadavids anymore. You can change to a Non Imm O visa based on marriage for 90 days and then you apply for the yearly extention of stay.
Jonny *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve ******
what’s the process of changing to a 90 day Non Imm O visa? Would it be possible to do this in Thailand when I arrive on 45 visa exemption? I’m not currently married, I have the paperwork and everything so that when I finish quarantine me and my fiancĂ© can immediately get registered so I can’t get a non imm O visa before I get to Thailand.
Steve *******
@Jonny **********
You'll need to apply for the Non Imm O visa based on marriage first and then subsequently an extention of stay.
Jonny *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve ******
thanks for both your comments. My understanding is that I can get an affidavit from my embassy showing I earn more than 40,000 THB per month instead of the 400,000k THB that you both mentioned? I will be bringing a copy of my payslips and other documents to bring to the embassy for the affidavit. Hope that works. My understanding is that I can change from a visa exemption to a marriage visa in Thailand will make sure to do it ASAP when I finish quarantine.
Garrett ***********
@Jo***
You should get a tourist visa then first so you have more time. A marriage visa requires you to have 400k baht in a Thai bank account for 60 days.
Steve *******
@Garrett **********
Nope. The 1 year extention of stay requires the money to be seasoned for 2 months. The OP needs a Non Imm O visa first.
Michael ********
30 days one time
Jonny *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
thanks for your quick answer! Do you happen to know if I'm allowed to change to another visa type if I enter Thailand on the visa exemption? Thailand
Michael ********
@Jonny **********
People have been changing in country yes.
Jonny *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
Thanks again for your help! I appreciate it!
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