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What are the differences between the Thai COE application and applying for a Tourist Visa (TR) in Malaysia for the longest possible stay?

COEThailand Tourist VisaVisa ExtensionVisa ExemptionCOVID-19 Travel RestrictionsTourist Visa (TR)Visa Regulations for Expats
Apr 14, 2021
4 years ago
Tim ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I tried to find this answer but can't get a clear roadmap. Apologies if this is repetitive.

I am from a visa-exempt country (UK/Canada) and am getting lost with the best way to do the tourist visa (TR) in order to stay as long as possible in Thailand with possible visa extensions.

What is the difference between the online COE application and doing a TR visa through the Thai Embassy here in Malaysia? Do I do both?

The COE gives me 45 days (I think) but what does the TR visa give me through the Thai embassy?

How much extension can I get with each option....?

Thank you to any kind soul who can guide me in this....
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion details the pathways for expats from visa-exempt countries (UK/Canada) to stay in Thailand, comparing the Certificate of Entry (COE) and the Tourist Visa (TR). The COE is required for entry and is tied to health checks related to COVID-19, while the TR visa offers 60 days of stay with an option for one 30-day extension. Travelers can opt for visa exemption, allowing a stay of 45 days that can also be extended once. Comments provide clarification on document requirements and current administrative practices in light of the ongoing pandemic.
Jazz *******
@Tim ********
 would you get the TR here in Malaysia? Are u now processing it?
4 years ago
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Tim ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jazz ******
 yes. Il start it next week when my flight is confirmed.
4 years ago
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Jazz *******
@Tim ********
 Hey~ Have you already got an appointment to visit Thai Embassy here in MY? As when we checked the website, it requires to be in person?
4 years ago
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Tim ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jazz ******
 yes I'm going tomorrow morning
4 years ago
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Jazz *******
@Tim ********
 Drop some message. Will just ping you directly :)
4 years ago
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Jazz *******
@Tim ********
 Are u applying for a Tourist Visa? Or the STV? Still on dilemma what to choose. Haha
4 years ago
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Jazz *******
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Siobhan ************
you have to be in the country of your passport to apply for a visa. I'm from the UK but was in the US when we came to Thailand, unless you want to go back to your country your only option is the visa exempt entry. It can be extended and it's possible to change to a different visa once you're in Thailand. I applied for my COE through LA embassy
4 years ago
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Carine ******
@Tim ********
 COE is the Certificate of Entrance approved by the Thai gov globally in order to get into Thailand.

Apart from that, you are also required to get whatever visa needed (ie Tourist Visa (TR)60 days, Tourist Visa Exemption 45 days etc, as per nationalities (countries bilateral agreement) and personal choices). Hope that clarifies it.
4 years ago
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Tim ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Carine *****
 yes for sure, got it all squared away, thanks Carine!
4 years ago
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Tim ***********
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Garrett ***********
@Sio****
 That's not true. Only the STV and Non-OA requires you to be in your home country.
4 years ago
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Joel *******
@Siobhan ******
 Many countries have the rule that you can only apply from somewhere you have residence (can be different to your passport country). But I'm pretty sure Thailand don't have this rule - although it could be down to the individual embassy to decide
4 years ago
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Joel *******
@Siobhan ******
 This is not true. Thailand do not have this rule - you can apply for a visa at any Thai Embassy or consulate - it doesn't have to be in your country of residence.
4 years ago
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Siobhan ************
@Joel ******
 not what I was told by several visa agencies when my husband and I came in January, apologies if I'm wrong
4 years ago
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Siobhan ************
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Siobhan ************
yes, they give you all the forms you need at the immigration office. no idea on the TR visa we just did the visa exempt and had no issues at all
4 years ago
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Siobhan ************
a week before your visa is due to end. you go to the local immigration office and apply for the extension. usually you have to apply for the 30 day extension first and then the next time you go you get the 60 day covid extension. the amount of covid extensions you can get is unlimited providing they are extended by the government
4 years ago
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Tim ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Siobhan ******
 is it pretty automatic? Gosh those 60 day visas would be fantastic...hope they are still around....

Also do you know if there is any different between landing with VISA exempt vs TR Visa? Trying to decide if I should go for TR visa instead of visa exempt
4 years ago
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Tim ***********
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Tim ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Siobhan ******
 I am in malaysia and I know people who applied for the TR visa in Malaysia but they wee American so I know you can apply for the visa in the country you live in, not the one your passport is from. So you are saying that the visa exempt is extendable?
4 years ago
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Siobhan ************
@Tim ********
 yes 30 days guaranteed extension. And at the moment you can do 60 day covid extension as well
4 years ago
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Tim ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Siobhan ******
 so when can you do the 30 days and when can you do 60 days? As soon as you arrive or how does that work?
4 years ago
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Tim ***********
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Jazz *******
In relation with this, should it be TR is the one to apply and not the special tourist visa?
4 years ago
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Joel *******
@Jazz ******
 That's right. I hear for the COE application you can send in a copy of your visa application as proof that you've applied - you don't need to wait for the visa
4 years ago
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Joel *******
@Tim ********
 Personally I went the TR visa route, but I probably could have saved money by going visa exempt and then extending... but I didn't want to have to change my flights around.
4 years ago
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Jazz *******
@Joel ******
 thaaanks for the insights. So for the TR this needs to be applied to thai embassy right and after that process also the COE?
4 years ago
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Jazz *******
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Joel *******
@Jazz ******
 Yup, TR is 60 days, visa exempt currently 45. It says you can only extend once but at the moment while the borders are closed they're letting people extend indefinitely
4 years ago
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Joel *******
@Jazz ******
 Yes. TR, or visa waiver if you're eligible. AFAIK both are extendable
4 years ago
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Jazz *******
@Joel ******
 TR is the 60 days right?
4 years ago
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Jazz *******
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Joel *******
@Jazz ******
 Everyone in the know right now is saying the STV is trash and not to bother with it. Also Thailand is stopping doing it after September.
4 years ago
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Jazz *******
@Joel ******
 Oh I see. So it should always be the TR which i believe that can be extendable right?
4 years ago
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Jazz *******
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Tim ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jazz ******
 from what I understand an STV cannot be extended in Thailand.
4 years ago
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Jazz *******
@Tim ********
 This is what I saw so quite confused if its really extendable or not :D
4 years ago
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Tim ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jazz ******
 This is great! However, the STV make the most sense because you get up to 9 months..which is amazing, but is that guaranteed? Everyone says dont do the STV..come in with the TR Tourist visa...
4 years ago
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Jazz *******
@Tim ********
 True that! saw some feedbacks too about STV and most of them here still advise to get the TR ~.~
4 years ago
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Joel *******
@Jazz ******
 The STV is not so good if your plans are in any way flexible, because you have to book the entire 3 months accommodation before applying for the visa. Also since they're discontinuing it in September, it could be that they refuse renewals after then too.
4 years ago
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Tim ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Joel ******
 this helps. Now just deciding on visa exempt or tr visa. ...
4 years ago
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Tim ***********
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Jazz *******
@Tim ********
 let me. Scavenger hunt again the picture i saw about the visa 😅
4 years ago
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Jazz *******
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Joel *******
I applied for the TR visa because I was worried about the airline telling me my return flight was too late. But for an extra 15 days vs visa exempt it does seem like a lot of money and hassle for not much benefit.
4 years ago
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David ****
@Joel ******
 doesn’t TR visa give you a total of 90 days? 60 initially and a 30 day extension?
4 years ago
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Joel *******
@David ***
 Yes, but I'm pretty sure I could have got the same 30 day extension on the visa waiver, right?
4 years ago
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Tim ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@David ***
 I believe its 30 days + 60 extension.
4 years ago
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Tim ***********
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Joel *******
@Garrett **********
 It's €50 here and yes, that's a lot for 15 days. In Thailand I could get 30 days for that price.
4 years ago
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Garrett ***********
@Jo**
 $40 is alot of money to you?
4 years ago
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Garrett ***********
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Rene *****
You are mixing COE and Visa’s up. Check on the thai embassy’s website which visa you’d like (which will depend on your length of stay); then apply the visa (or go for visa-exempt route) and after you have done that, apply for the COE
4 years ago
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Tim ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Rene ****
 Thanks Rene gotcha. I understand it now. All travelers need the COE but its an option to get the TR vs go in under visa exempt.
4 years ago
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Rene *****
@Tim ********
 exactly. Good luck!
4 years ago
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Rene *****
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Alan ********
The COE isn’t anything related to you visa or visa exemption. It’s just checking your insurance and inbound and outbound flights along with your ASQ booking.

I’m a UK citizen but mine was issued by the Washington Embassy because I was in the USA. However I was advised that I should be making the application for a visa to the embassy in which I’m resident. As that wasn’t an option the guidance was to enter on the visa exemption which gives 45 days, but can be extended while in Thailand to give an extra 30 days.
4 years ago
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Tim ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Alan *******
 gotcha thanks for responding! I know someone who is American who applied for the TR visa while in Malaysia through the Thai embassy in Malaysia. My question is should I go with the TR 60 day visa or just go in under the visa exempt 45 days. I am trying to staying Thailand as long as possible...
4 years ago
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Tim ***********
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Benjamin ******
> Do I do both?

Yes you will. A tourist visa gives you the right to stay in Thailand for 60 days, and a CoE tells the Thai government you do not have COVID-19 and you can enter. These are two separate documents.

>The COE gives me 45 days

No, that would be the visa exempt.

>How much extension can I get with each option....?

For both the visa exempt and a tourist visa, you can get ONE 30 day extension of stay based on tourism. IF the Thai government is selling them, you can get "unlimited' 60 day extension of stay based on unable to travel due to COVID-19; "unlimited" until the Thai government says no.
4 years ago
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Tim ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Benjamin *****
 Very clear! Thanks for responding. So I guess the decision is to get the TR visa of 60 days or the visa exempt of 45 days. I want to stay in Thailand as long as possible..
4 years ago
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Benjamin ******
@Tim ********
 Get the tourist visa, it's more flexible. When you do, figure out some way to stay longer (i.e. study at a language school/ university).
4 years ago
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Tim ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Benjamin *****
 or hope that I can get these 60 day covid extensions, right? Dont want to study at a language school! Or is it possible to just pay for it and get the visa?
4 years ago
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Tim ***********
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Garrett ***********
You apply for a COE after you have a visa. COE is a covid specific thing.

A tourist visa can only be extended 1 time in country for an extra 30 days. At the moment there are "covid unable to travel" extensions for people who are "stuck" in the country, but I wouldn't plan my stay around them lasting.
4 years ago
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Tim ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Garrett **********
 ok gotcha, thanks for responding...Its clearer now to me.
4 years ago
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Tim ***********
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