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What are the rules for extending a 6-month multiple entry tourist visa in Thailand?

Tourist VisaVisa ExtensionThailand Immigration
May 31, 2020
5 years ago
Beccy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi all,

I’m hoping someone can help and I’m sorry if this has been asked a million times! I’m here from the UK on a 6 month multiple entry tourist visa which due to the automatic extension will be valid until the end of July. However, I would like to try and apply for the three month extension to my visa (which I’ve read is possible) so that I can stay longer. Has anyone had any experience of doing this? Also, where would I go to request this? Any documents I would need to take aside from my passport? I would rather not wait until the end of the automatic extension to request a further extension!

Thanks very much in advance for your help 🙂
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user, on a 6-month multiple entry tourist visa from the UK, wants to know if they can apply for a 3-month extension of their visa that is valid until July. Community members clarify that while a tourist visa can be extended for 30 days (once), a full 3-month extension is not possible. They suggest utilizing the current amnesty for staying until the end of July, and then applying for a 30-day extension just before the amnesty ends. There is also discussion about switching to an education visa, which typically requires leaving the country to obtain.
Tod *********
Most people on 6 month METV (in normal times) would get almost NINE months of stay out of a visa that was valid for 6 months.

That's because they'd get the visa as close to coming to thailand as they could and make sure they bounced out and back one final time just before the VISA expired which usually gave them the last 60 day stamp taking them to almost 8 months and then extending that last stamp by 30 more days taking them to 9 months.
5 years ago
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Beccy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 got it! Thanks so much. 😀
5 years ago
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Beccy ****************
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Beccy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks both! So mine expires in a week or so. If I were able to leave and do a border bounce before end of July does that then buy me another 60 days even though my visa has officially expired by then? Really appreciate your help, thank you.
5 years ago
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Connie **********
Just to clarify from what immigration told me based on your dates: 1) you definitely won't be able to do a border bounce on that visa that would allow you to get another 60 days, 2) you should be able to get a 30 days extension but that depends on future announcements (my guess is they'll give some sort of paid extension to any visa type, but the duration may differ - could be 15 or 30 days)
5 years ago
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Beccy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Valid until 29th June and 60 day entry expired 6th May. I understand now though, as I am not able to do a border bounce I must wait out the amnesty and then try to extend by 30 days, that’s my only option 🙂
5 years ago
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Tod *********
NO, you are confusing TWO completely different things.

IF you could have bounced out and back in before the expiration date on your VISA <- that you got from a thai consulate before you came here you would have gotten another 60 day entry

BUT

Your current entry stamp has nothing to do with you being able to bounce out and back. That stamp just allows you to stay IN thailand for 60 days.

Right now you should take the amnesty until the end of July and then just before that apply for the 30 day extension that you didn't get yet. That will give you almost 3 months (2 months on amnesty and then the 30 day extension after it)
5 years ago
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Beccy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ah! Just seen there is some discussion about this!
5 years ago
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Beccy ****************
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Connie **********
As I said I HAVE an METV but it IS expired because I could NOT do a border bounce before the "Valid until" date. So I asked immigration if that qualifies for another extension once the amnesty ends, because I could not do a border bounce. They said no. If that is true for me, I am quite sure this is true for everyone whose METV expiration date is until July 31st. If you don't believe that, verify with immigration.
5 years ago
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Connie **********
As I said, from what immigration told me I am relatively sure that getting a 30 day extension before amnesty or after is immaterial, because the amnesty since April would have covered that period of time anyway. If the "valid until" date is until July 31st, it will not be possible to use that visa for reentry. As for a 30 day extension, you're right, it should be possible if you always have the right to do one with every entry. That's a situation I've never had.
5 years ago
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Connie **********
OK I did indeed get a 30 day extension out of my last entry stamp. What they told me is that not being able to do a border bounce does not qualify for right of entry. Normally one can enter on the "valid until" date, get 60 days, and extend these for another 30.
5 years ago
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Tod *********
Okay, the VISA being expired means you can't get another 60 day entry out of it. BUT that has NOTHING at all to do with whether you can get a 30 day extension or not

If you haven't gotten a 30 day extension on THIS 60 day entry you can wait out the amnesty and then go apply for the 30 day extension for 1900baht like normal

Whether the VISA is valid or not has nothing to do with whether you can get an extension or not on an entry stamp from the visa ;)
5 years ago
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Tod *********
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Connie **********
If your METV "valid until" date is AFTER July 31st and if borders reopen, it is possible to exit and reenter BEFORE that date. However, if the borders do not reopen before that date, it is NOT possible to extend the METV inside the country. I have one myself, did border bounces before, and asked immigration about this.
5 years ago
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Eze ********
What is the 'Valid Until' date on your Multiple Entry Tourist Visa?

If the borders open between Thailand and a nearby country before your original visa is no longer valid, it may be possible to do a border bounce to get another 60 days using your visa and then get a 30 day extension on top of that.

Having said that, I have no idea how immigration will look upon people who have been in Thailand continuously for many months (due to the Coronavirus) and who still try to stay longer.
5 years ago
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Tod *********
you're right, as long as their VISA is still valid once the borders open up they should be able to bounce out and back to get a new 60 day entry (providing they meet new entry requirements if there are any) .
5 years ago
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Tod *********
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Beccy ****************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Okay, thanks both. And do you know about swapping from a tourist visa to an educational one? Is that an option? For context, I moved here with my partner in January and covid has made my job hunt trickier than expected so I’m trying to buy some time until a job offer comes through.
5 years ago
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Tod *********
Most private schools require you leave and get the 90 day ED visa from a thai consulate in a nearby country. BUT seeing as borders are closed to entry I highly doubt you're doing that any time soon :/

Your first step would be talking to a school that offers ED visa support and ask them.
5 years ago
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Tod *********
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Tod *********
As it now appears that people can indeed take the amnesty time and then if they haven't gotten an extension yet apply for one I'd say, take the amnesty and then just before the end of July go apply for the 30 day extension for 1900baht.

That's the easiest and most logical way to max out your time.

There's little reason for applying for a 30 day extension and paying the 1900baht seeing as you'd be covrered on the amnesty anyway. :O
5 years ago
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Borja *********
@Tod ********
 i also in a 2 months tourist visa that already finished (19 may) so of course inside the amnesty , and really interest in that unused right for a month extension to apply it for after 31 july ,so waiting news if posible or not , appreciate it if you or anyone can confirm all this with a real case about this ,...by the way i need go to inmigration this week to pass the entry stamp from old passport to my just new passport , will try to get any information about this ...
5 years ago
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Matt *******
Hey
@Tod ********
 has it been officially confirmed/announced that you can go on amnesty and apply for extensions (all types of extensions?)
5 years ago
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Matt *******
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Tod *********
there is no 3 month extension for a tourist visa.

You get stamped in for 60 days when you arrive and you can extend that ONCE for 30 more days for 1900baht
5 years ago
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Robert *******
As you have a Tourist Visa the only Extension of Stay you can apply for as a tourist is the 30 day and only once on each entry with this visa
5 years ago
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Robert *******
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