Hello,
I'm entering Thailand on the visa exemption scheme, which allows me to stay for 45 days as I understand. I would like to stay for 4 months (until end of March), so I have a few questions about my options:
* Is it possible to extend the 45 day visa exemption? If so, for how many extra days? Is there a procedure / form for that?
* As I understand, another option is to leave to a nearby country for a few days and come back, which I also wouldn't mind (actually, I plan to do that anyway).
* I could also get a proper tourist visa, but that would only give me a single entry for 60 days + 30 days of extension, and cost a lot more (then there's also the multiple entry visa, but this one is even more expensive and is also only 60 days per visit)
I think I'll do the visa exemption scheme and either try to extend it, or leave the country for a few days and come back. What I'm wondering is if I need to have on me a plane ticket for a flight out of the country within 45 days when entering Thailand?
Any other advice will be welcome as well.
TLDR : Answer Summary
You can extend your 45-day visa exemption by an additional 30 days at a local immigration office, using specific documents (e.g., TM7 form, copies of your passport and entry documents, passport photo, and a fee of 1,900 baht). Alternatively, you may perform a border run to a nearby country and re-enter for another 45 days. It's advisable to have a flight ticket out of Thailand, although checks are not common. Another option is to apply for a tourist visa, but this typically provides a 60-day stay plus a potential extension and comes at a higher cost.
