What are the rules for extending a tourist visa and visa exemption in Thailand?

Feb 27, 2018
7 years ago
Janya ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hello All.

I would like to double confirm whether my understanding is right.

So basically you can enter Thailand for 30 days then extend another 30days at immigration office. Then you would need to go other country and comeback for 30days then u can do another extend for 30 days. And that's wud be all you can do for a tourist visa?

Please give me advice.

Thanks
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TLDR : Answer Summary
This discussion clarifies the difference between visa exemption and tourist visas in Thailand. Visa exemption allows a 30-day entry, which can be extended by another 30 days for certain nationalities. In contrast, a tourist visa requires prior application and grants an initial 60-day stay, extendable by 30 days. The responses emphasize that extensions are based on nationality and that multiple entry visas can be an option for easier re-entry.
Tony *********
Tony *********
Marco lives on samuie so from there you whould go to Ranong.

Its just a example.
Jason ******
Wouldn't it be more cheaper & convenient if your going to Laos (since you have to leave Thailand anyways) and apply for a Tourist Visa and come back with 60+30 days instead of going all that way, only to return on a Visa exempt and get just 30+30 days and having to do that again in 60 days compared to having 90 days total?
Sergey *********
Well, that's visa exemption. And, for example, citizens of Russia can extend 30 days only for 7 days more. So it depends on your citizenship, at least. Same visa exempt, but different countries - different rules. If you want to stay more than 60 days, it's better to get Tourist Visa at Thailand Embassy/Consulate in your country.
Tod *********
Stephan, I mean a year from Jan 1 to Dec 31. If you're from one of 44 countries you can only border bounce for a 30 day visa exempt entry by land TWO times in a year

BUT russians aren't part of that program. . .
Tod *********
Stephan Wolf Fowler correct, that's all they can extend a 30 day visa exempt entry. BUT they are not limited to just two 30 day visa exempt entries by land in a year like most people either. They can border bounce all the want by land
Janya ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
thank you so much
Tod *********
Janya Ning, he could go to the Thai consulate in Vientiane Lao and get a tourist visa easily. I'd say, because it's an emergency and he doesn't have time to get a tourist visa before he comes here, just have him come in on a 30 day visa exempt entry, extend that for 30 days, then go get a tourist visa at a thai consulate in a nearby country
Janya ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
so basically he can get a Thailand tourist visa from another country that is not UK?what wud he need to show?
Sergey *********
@Tony ********
, witch, really?! Sorry, just can't stop laughing =)))
Tony *********
He will have to fill out a T.M.6 On the plane he can write your address on there.

And will be

handed in on arrival into Thailand
Tod *********
@Ja***
, he is unlikely to get questioned at all coming in to thailand if he doesn't have an extensive history of living here on back-2-back visa exempt or tourist visa entries.

With that being said, once he's here, rather than flying out and back in to get a 30 day visa exempt entry stamp he would be better served spending the time in another country to get a single entry tourist visa. it only takes a couple days

But yes, a letter from you stating he'll stay at your place should work IF he's asked.

Most people that are questioned are asked about proof of funds (20K baht in cash or the equivalent in another currency) rather than proof of lodging.
Janya ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
thank you so much for your super useful information. The thing is he would need to be in Thailand for an emergency basis. So for his proof of hotel booking I can just give the letter he will be stay at mine right?
Tod *********
@Ja***
, there is in theory no limit to the number of visa exempt entries someone can get when flying in BUT at some point they will be questioned by the officer at passport control and possibly be asked for proof of funds, proof of a hotel booking and proof of onward travel <-all of those are legal requirements that you hafta show when asked.

He should go to a thai consulate and BUY a tourist visa so when he comes in he'll get stamped in for 60 days (and he can extend that for 30 more days too).
Janya ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Samwise Fila I have been reading the posts but it wasn't clear so I just want to make sure it is correct.
@Tony ********
thank you so much

I
@Tod ********
so if he flew out to another country he can get another exemption for 30 days and extend another 30 days.

So it wud be 120 days he can be in Thailand per year?
Alan *****
Very good Tony, keep it up the good work
Tony *********
Not everyone knows.

We're here to help them.
Tod *********
@Janya *****
a UK passport holder would get 30 day visa exempt entry and they could extend for 30 more days for 1900baht at the immigration office if they needed to
Janya ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Uk passport holders would this work? He would need to come for emergency so basically we would really have no time for visa
Stéfan ********
Yes, but only for certain countries. And it's not a tourist visa, but a visa exemption. What's your passport?
Tod *********
@Ja***
, then you'd get a 30 day visa exempt entry IF you came to thailand.
Janya ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Not mine though
Janya ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
UK
Julia ************
What you talk about is a visa exemption, not a tourist visa. The process is correct though. A tourist visa is 60 days, you have to apply for it at an embassy or consulate beforehand and you can extend it for 30 more days as well.
Terary **********
George Bowen If you are in your home country, you can also get a multiple entry visa. This allows you to come and go a little easier.
Tod *********
Ayahuasca, ALL extensions of stays (no matter what you're extending) get added to your current expiration date so you never lose any days by going early.

Also single entry tourist visas are valid for 90 days from the date they're issued <- meaning you have 90 days to enter thailand and get stamped in for 60 days.
Tod *********
@Ja***
, no :/

a visa exempt entry gives you 30 days and you can extend that by 30 giving you 60

a tourist visa gets you 60 days and you can extend that by 30 giving you 90.
Janya ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
So basically visa exemption can get even more days than the toursit one?
Paul *******
George Bowen yes
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