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What does it mean if my VOA extension stamp says I need a re-entry permit before leaving Thailand?

Visa on Arrival (VOA)Re-entry Permit Visa Extensions Thailand Immigration Visa Rules

Jun 24, 2025

2 months ago

Philip *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

I went for a 30 day extension on a VOA and the stamp states that I must submit a re-entry permit before leaving? Anyone else have this?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A user sought clarification about receiving a stamp for a re-entry permit after a 30-day extension on a Visa on Arrival (VOA). Community comments clarified that the stamp indicates a reminder to obtain a re-entry permit if planning to leave Thailand and return within the validity of the visa. However, it's noted that a 30-day extension on a VOA typically isn't standard, as extensions generally max out at 7 days. Despite the confusion, obtaining a re-entry permit is not mandatory unless one wishes to use the remaining days after leaving.

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John *********

Just never overstay, not even 1 day

2 months ago

Dan **********

They let me leave, but then made me submit one when I came back into Thailand

2 months ago

Greg ***********

it is funny, they took the same stamp they normally use for the "1-year Extension of Stay" based on marriage or retirement. I guess they ran out of other (smaller) stamps. . . . . So you got stuck with the reminder that you can get a re-entry permit, but given that it would only keep a 30 days stay permit alive, gosh, it is not really worth to buy one

2 months ago

Stephan ***********

You cannot extend a VOA (Visa on arrival, you have to apply and pay for at entry) by 30 days, the maximum is 7 days. You were on a "visa exempt"... completely different thing...

To the re-entry-stamp, yes... that's totally normal. Nothing to worry about, no "must" to buy one.

2 months ago

Angelo ***********

@Stephan **********

Visa Exempts do not have the option of reentry. So I guess the stamp is an accident/mistake.

2 months ago

Graham ******

@Angelo **********

It is a generic stamp for all the Extensions of Stay hence the TOURIST stamp to indicate the reason it was issued

2 months ago

Angelo ***********

@Graham *****

We are talking about the Return Permit Stamp. Not about the extension of the visa exempt.

2 months ago

Graham ******

@Angelo **********

but the photo was an Extension of Stay stamp not a re-entry permit

2 months ago

Angelo ***********

@Graham *****

The mentioning is on the lower part of the photo ... sigh.

And the text of this post by the original author: is about the mentioning of the reentry permit, and not about the extension :P

2 months ago

Graham ******

@Angelo **********

As I said this stamp is a generic Extension of Stay stamp with the standard wording. All Extensions of Stay require a re-entry permit to maintain the status.

2 months ago

Reply to

Graham ******

Stephan ***********

@Angelo **********

Not the exempt, but the extension.

2 months ago

Reply to

Stephan ***********

Lee *************

Yep,

2 months ago

Len *****************

it's just a friendly note from immigration that if you are planning to leave and going back to Thailand before the permission of stay date expires, and want to use the remaining days left, you need to buy a re-entry permit. They stamp it usually to remind those who has 1 year extensions and sometimes they leave the country and forgot to buy the re-entry permit and when they return, their extension of stay is void already.

2 months ago

Philip *******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Len ****************

Thank you very much for your comment. Very helpful.

2 months ago

Reply to

Philip *******

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