Answered7 months ago

What are the rules and options for visa extensions in Thailand due to disrupted air travel?

visa extensions travel disruption Thai immigration tourist visa flight cancellations embassy letters

Jabron******

asked Mar 28, 2026

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Hi

What is the situation regarding visa extensions relating to disrupted air travel. I had a ticket cancelled and was given a refund and am now struggling to find a flight home and the few that I can see are going for ridiculous prices.

Answer summary

Travelers in Thailand facing disrupted air travel due to reasons such as canceled flights are inquiring about their options for visa extensions. It appears that immigration authorities may require documentation from embassies to justify extensions, although travelers have shared experiences of obtaining extensions with evidence of canceled flights. Some suggest alternative strategies, like hopping to nearby countries and returning on a new visa. Furthermore, there's mention of recent complexities added by Thai administrative requirements that could complicate travel for those currently stranded.

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Mike ******

Thai Admin in a nutshell - FIVE forms to be completed when you are in distress! What difference would it make if every one of these marooned tourists just turned up to catch a flight home with none of these. You have just ensured that the last memory of Thailand is an unpleasant one. They won't repeat it next year.

7 months ago

Steve *******

You can go to any other country east of Iran, since this is just a middle east war-issue and not a global travel issue.

And if you fly north first, there are direct flights to Europe that don't fly over the Middle east.

7 months ago

Malcolm **********

I'm only guessing but the reason they want the letter from an Embassy might be to limit the extensions to people whoo genuinely can not go home, like a country who have shutdown all air travel. They probably expect people to find alternative routes and don't consider 'flight too expensive' or 'excessivly long route, valid reasons. Just a guess but it does fit. You might be better off going to Laos for a week and coming back on a new visa if you really are having difficulty getting home but remember if you have had too many stays with extensions you might have difficulty getting back in.

7 months ago

Peter **********

Malcolm Whitlock If entering Thailand again, (new visa) it should be assumed the ‘show money’ and onward ticket requirements legally apply.

7 months ago

Malcolm **********

Peter H Bates Yes I agree you could only do this if you meet the normal requirements of entry but it MIGHT be a temporary solution to the problem. The real solution though would be to find a route out/ They might even be able to do a bit of country hopping getting visas to stay in diffeerent countries in this region until a suitable flight is available but that would probably be more expensive than just paying the extra for a a flight now if one is avaialble. I was assuming there was a good reason to want to stay in Thailand rather than somewhere else.

7 months ago

Tony ************

How many times,can I extend,a tourist visa

John **********

Jabron******

thanks

ArticulateC***********

Jabroniiiiii many embassies won’t supply the letter.

7 months ago

Stuart *********

Immigration know this so that’s why there is a “or” in the statement. You sign a declaration that you are unable to get a letter and show a cancelled flight and you can get an extension.

7 months ago