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What are my options for extending my stay in Thailand with a tourist visa?

Tourist VisaVisa ExtensionRe-entry PermitVisa ExemptionThailand Immigration RulesExpat Help
Nov 19, 2023
a year ago
Joel *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Short question long; need some advice

I’m on a tourist visa in Thailand, ends dec 15th, I’m leaving to anuther country Dec 5-12th.

On day of departure I have 195 days in Thailand in the last 365 days, both sporadic and longer visits, I’m backpacking the last years, and now I want to stay here 2 months more if possible. My options I have figured out are;

1. Can I get a re-entry stamp on my normal tourist visa, get back from other country on the same visa, and do a month extension after that?

2. Simply go here on visa exemption, get one month, then extend?

Is there any chance of getting denied on option 2? Should I then go with option 1 to be on the safe side?

Anyone got any tips? Can a vip-package (fast immigration) help me improve my chances with option 2?

And no, can’t get a new visa in the other country, and no I cannot afford the Thai elite visa lol.

Thanks 😊
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is currently on a tourist visa in Thailand expiring on December 15, while planning to travel abroad from December 5 to 12. They wish to extend their stay for two more months and are considering two options: obtaining a re-entry stamp on their current visa and then extending it, or entering with a visa exemption for a month followed by an extension. There's concern about the likelihood of being denied entry with the second option due to the length of stay in Thailand within the past year. Commenters advise that while a re-entry permit may help, every entry is subject to the discretion of immigration officers. Additionally, there's mention that extended stays may raise questions about residency status.
Xr ***
i think everything resets with the new year, no?
a year ago
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Joel *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Xr **
 heard both that they go for calendar year or last 365 days, I’m unsure. Also, seems like it’s only a guideline as well, so no real hard rule for it 🥲
a year ago
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Joel *******
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Brown ********
Id be getting the tourist visa for sure. You'll be fine with that and not have to worry about the extension
a year ago
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Joel *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brown *******
 how hard would it be to get the tourist visa in for example Lao, given my prior history?
a year ago
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Brown ********
@Joel ******
 as long as you have the requirements shouldn't be hard at all be it I have never got one from there
a year ago
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Brown ********
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Michael **********
chances are that next time you come in you get denied cuz you've spent over half a year in thailand which moves you from the status of "tourist" to the one of "resident". I was in thailand for 4 months this early year and at the 3rd time I got in, I got questioned about the reasons I was there for such a long time and seemed totally unhappy. If I were you, I wouldn't even try to enter the country again without a visa, there are really high chances you won't make it out of the airport
a year ago
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Maxim ***********
@Michael *********
 spent over half a year in thailand which moves you from the status of "tourist" to the one of "resident". Says who? I've been here 12 years and the first 9 years I was mostly on tourist visa and visa exempt entry. I have no idea what any of you guys are talking about with your 180 days rule. It's not a rule, never have been. It's internet stuff that newb regurgitate everytime there a new post, lol.
a year ago
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Michael **********
@Maxim **********
 dude, perhaps you haven't realized that the immigration got much stricter after covid cuz there were a lot of people like you. Back in 2004 I could get a triple entry visa that could allow me to stay in thailand for 9 months and then you could just go to penang to get a double entry one. As I said I got questioned by the immigration the last time I got in the country and I was there for just 4 months. Perhaps you haven't realized that 12years ago nobody used ED visa while nowadays they have gotten much stricter with those as well. 183days isn't a rule but it's the line that most of the countries consider dividing residents from non residents.
a year ago
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Michael **********
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Joel *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *********
 yup, exactly what I’m afraid of. However I’m actually just backpacking tourist but that might be hard to prove/explain still.

Would you suggest maybe going to Cambodia and trying the land border (so I don’t spend all my money on tickets / time in airport detention) and hope for luck there if I would try the visa exemption?

I will consult an agency as well, but I guess land border would end up being cheaper…
a year ago
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Maxim ***********
@Joel ******
 This group is full of people with no first hand experience that give awful advices, so take everything with a grain of salt. I've been in and out of Thailand a lot since 2010. On my 3nd passport. Never had an issue. There is no 180 days rules, that's a made up thing. There are two rules of thumb that have been true since forever: 1: Avoid poipet border ; 2) Avoid entering from BKK airport. If you can avoid both your chance of denial is extremely low. I did my two visa exempt entry this year (Nong Khai both time since I live 1 hour from that border). I have a lot of first experience with visa run and visa exempt, I probably did over 25 in the last 10 years. It's super easy, don't worry. You just need to stay up to date.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Maxim **********
 BKK, DMK and Phuket are all about the same.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
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Brandon ************
@Joel ******
 if you're going to use a land border then go to Laos, not Cambodia.
a year ago
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Joel *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 alright, thanks for the tip! I’m gonna google a bit which land border from Laos to use, you have any you can recommend? Vientiane may be good?

Also, could getting the extensions + reentry work if I enter through land border? I guess it’s only valid for air arrival right?

Thanks for helping a newbie out 😁
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Joel ******
 Nong Khai is known as the easiest
a year ago
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Brandon ************
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John **********
@Joel ******
 if you haven't already used up your allowed 2 visa exempt entries by land this year I'd recommend you speak to a border run agency. They'll look at your history and will only take you out if they can get you back in. I wouldn't recommend trying it yourself
a year ago
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Joel *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 I’m gonna check with an agency. I have never done a landborder crossing before, only flights.

Mostly afraid of getting deported back to my home country when going through the airport, and being held in the airport until then. Also could continue traveling in Cambodia/laos if I get denied.
a year ago
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Todd *********
@Joel ******
 I would jettison everything Michael B is saying here.

You cannot get a re-entry visa on your TV. If going to another country DEC 5-12 arrange for FastTrack at airport if you are flying back in and concerned about your history. You are permitted unlimited air entries. If coming back in by land consider and agent to facilitate. There are many thousands of long term tourists in the country.

You may be questioned, but that just immigration doing their jobs. Be honest. They aren’t ‘cracking down’ on SE Asia backpackers lol.
a year ago
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Todd *********
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Michael **********
@Joel ******
 well, if you have already just few chances by airplane, those would reduce close to none by land border and still you'd get really likely refused to get a 30days extension. U already done more than half a year in thailand, I'd suggest you to get multi entry visa. I wouldn't trust any agents/agency at all, they don't take a duck if you entry gets denied, they had already gotten the $ by that time
a year ago
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Todd *********
@Michael *********
 ‘really likely to get denied’???’ ‘I wouldn’t trust any agencies’ 😂😂😂Are you for real man?
a year ago
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THAI ******************************
@Michael *********
 We care very much about every customer, and want to ensure that they have no issues entering Thailand.

We even offer prescreening services to ensure no issue when entering the country, and VIP fast track/services.

If anyone feels concerned you can always consult with our team:

**********************
a year ago
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Alex ******
@THAI *****************************
 Is it still fully automatic via link and with immediate payment (which is big put-off) or we do it with real person (your actual worker) in Line?
a year ago
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THAI ******************************
@Alex *****
 Payment for this service is done through that link, but you should be able to consult with our team over line if you have any questions or concerns (but for pricing it is done through the link).

Once payment is made you are connected with our team, and assigned a case number. The automation is only for payment, and general documents so our team is fully prepared to assist you.
a year ago
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Alex ******
@THAI *****************************
 Sorry that was not what I experience few months ago... You worked (in Line app) insisted that I finish everything via that link (and the payment), even if I asked several times that I'd like to discuss my visas & stamps history first, but they just keep saying "please do it via link and finish everything there"... So I gave up...
a year ago
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Alex ******
(sorry for typo errors I'm outside)
a year ago
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THAI ******************************
@Alex *****
 Very sorry you had this issue. Please send our team a screenshot of this comment if you run into any issues like that as they should be able to inform you without making you use that link.

(the only exception would be if you were asking for a quote)
a year ago
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Alex ******
@THAI *****************************
 I tried to talk about this option with your worker on Line few months ago, but all they did was pointing me out to your internet link for that VIP/fast-track service, where it's all automatized... I wanted to discuss it with real person (your worker) first and to ask more details, but again they just told me to follow the link and apply & pay there directly at once, so I didn't do it... Hopefully things changed now and we can actually do this procedure with real person (on Line) and not a machine via link? (it's not small amount to pay, so it's reasonable request)
a year ago
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Joel *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *********
 yeah, true… but for the extension, are they usually hard on those too? I haven’t heard of anyone getting denied an extension no matter the time they’ve spent here. I might just have lucky friend but yeah, I thought the extensions was basically show up, pay, and you’re done?
a year ago
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Michael **********
@Joel ******
 nope, it doesn't work that way, especially when you do that systematically and if you've spent over 6months in thailand. They've become pretty strict, as I said above, I wouldn't push your luck to the limit
a year ago
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Joel *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *********
 alright, we’ll see what I do. I might end up up in Laos is Cambodia instead, do I might give the land border a try still then, just because it’s low risk if I get denied and I can simply go back to the origin country. Never done a land border crossing before either, only entered by flight.
a year ago
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Joel *******
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Brandon ************
A re-entry permit won't guarantee you re-entry as every entry is at the discretion of the immigration officer, though the odds may be a little higher than visa exempt.

I'd probably get the extension before traveling then buy the re-entry permit while you're at immigration and see how it works out.

Or do the VIP entry (not the same as fast track which just has a special line). With VIP entry you'll tell the agency what your entry history looks like and they'll quote you the price to meet you as you exit the plane and take you to the correct line which will ensure you can enter.

I'm sure there are agencies that offer the VIP entry but the only one I know of is
@THAI *****************************
a year ago
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Joel *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 thank you, very good tip! I’ll give it a look, friend has recommended me the same agency as well!
a year ago
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Phil ******
@Joel ******
 great idea as you may be denied next entry according to immi officers in normal channels.....
a year ago
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Phil ******
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