Answered8 years ago

What is the difference between extending a visa and activating another entry on a multi-entry visa in Thailand?

visa extension multi-entry visa Thailand immigration Non-Immigrant visa O-A visa O-X visa

Tod *********

asked Jan 16, 2019

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ATTENTION MEMBERS:

Terminology lesson for today

The difference between "extending" a visa and "activating another entry" on a multi-entry visa.

Extension of Stay <- can ONLY be gotten at the immigration office. ALL extensions of stays cost 1900baht no matter the length of time they are issued for.

IF you have a multi-entry visa and you exit/re-enter the country you are NOT extending your visa :/ You are activating another completely NEW entry on the visa. One last time it is NOT an extension.   

-Exiting/re-entering on a multi-entry tourist visa gets you a new 60 day stamp 

-Exiting/re-entering on a regular multi-entry Non-Immigrant visa gets you another 90 day stamp 

-Exiting/re-entering on a multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type O-A visa gets you another year stamp 

-Exiting/re-entering on a multi-entry Non-Immigrant Type O-X visa gets you another 5 year stamp. <- NONE of those entry stamps are extensions.   

The mix up between activating a new entry on a multi-entry visa AND getting an extension from the immigration office causes a LOT of confusion..

Answer summary

This post clarifies the key distinction between extending a visa and activating a new entry on a multi-entry visa in Thailand. An extension of stay can only be obtained at an immigration office and costs 1900 baht, regardless of duration. Conversely, using a multi-entry visa to exit and re-enter Thailand activates a new entry, not an extension, resulting in a new stamp for specified durations depending on the visa type (60, 90 days, 1 year, or 5 years). The discussion highlights common misunderstandings regarding these processes, particularly in relation to multi-entry visas.

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Bim *******

I am so glad

@Tod ********

put this definite statement that explains the difference. I came across this yesterday at my local immigration office that I hope you maybe able to shed some light on that left me a little confused. I have a 5 year PE visa that expires in July this year. It's a multi entry visa but I have never used it to leave the county only to have a long stay here until I got to retirement age. Last year I had to renew my British passport that sent the extension of stay out of sync because it expired in January and they were unable to give me my normal yearly extension only to when the passport expired. So when I got the new passport the yearly extension of stay started in January rather than the July.

Hope your with me so far. So yesterday I went for my final extension of stay expecting to only get the said extension until the visa expires in July but they gave me a year. I queried it as I said I don't wish to be on overstay after July in case it was an error. They made a phone call to Bangkok and came back to me saying that we are happy to give you a year but don't leave the country in that time as the extension will be cancelled. Can anyone shed any light on this for me.

8 years ago

Bim *******

@Tod ********

great thank you for taking the time to reply

8 years ago

Tod *********

@Bim ******

correct, AND I'm saying IF you wanted to exit/re-enter the country just before your ELITE VISA expired you would get stamped in for a WHOLE new year again. taking you to July 2020.

8 years ago

Bim *******

@Tod ********

that's interesting thank you. So your saying the extension is OK and I have nothing to worry about.

8 years ago

Tod *********

That visa you hold is unlimited exits/entries for the validity of the visa. EVERY entry gets you a totally new year stamp. Now the fact you decided NOT to exit/re-enter the country and get another year stamp doesn't change the fact that you get a yearly extension on that visa no matter if it's expiring the day after you got the extension.

Just so you're clear, IF you were to go to a border, stamp out of thailand, stamp in&out of another country and then stamp back into thailand ON or before the date your PE VISA expires you'd get stamped in for a WHOLE new year and would be stamped in until July 2020..

8 years ago