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What is the process and documentation required to extend a DTV visa in Thailand without leaving the country?
Jan 5, 2025
a year ago
Shalev ******
ORIGINAL POSTERHey, I need to extend my DTV visa soon. What documents do I need to provide, and can I extend it without leaving the country?
TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion involves extending a DTV visa in Thailand and the possibility of doing so without leaving the country. There is uncertainty regarding the documentation required for the extension as no one has reportedly extended a DTV visa from within Thailand. Many commenters suggest opting for a border run to obtain a new visa stamp by exiting Thailand and re-entering. Concerns have been raised about the potential for immigration officials to demand documentation at the borders in the future.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Take the basic DTV Qualification Test to see if you're eligible for the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV).
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the DTV Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
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Tony *************
Who’s to say the immigration at borders won’t start asking for documents too after a year or so?
Ko ************
Will ************
Don’t bother just leave and come back. Initial indications are update of ALL paperwork from original application
Sam ******
@Will ***********
this is only really an issue for soft power DTVs because you'd have to purchase another 6 months of whatever soft power option you went for.For people on remote work/online work DTV, assuming they still have their job then showing updated paperwork isn't an issue at all, and is certainly much easier and cheaper than sitting on a bus for 16-20 hours which is what you'd need to do if you were border bouncing from Samui or Phangan.
Reply to
Sam ******
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Romain ****
Just spend a weekend in Vietnam and don’t waste your time and money ;)
Christopher ********
Wouldn’t it just be easier to fly to Malaysia and back ?
Jirka ********
@Christopher *******
extension cost 1900 thb..i don’t think the flight will be cheaperSam ******
@Christopher *******
depends where you live.Reply to
Sam ******
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Patrik *******
Following
Romain ****
@Patrik ******
“…” > enable notificationsReply to
Romain ****
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Chris ******
maybe it helps 🙏
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Tod *********
@Chris *****
would be a good interview IF they'd actually ASKED the Immigration Division of the Royal Thai Police about the requirements for the extension instead of a person from the MFA <- that runs the embassies that sells the visas 🙁 All his running on about what would be required for an extension and then at the end he said "BUT that's under the jurisdiction of the immigration division" 😮
Meaning he has no idea what really will be required.
I was at Chaengwattana last week asking and they still didn't have any hand out for DTV holders to refer to or a directive from the head of immigrations as to how the extension process will work
In fact while I was there, two people asked and they told them to bounce out and back and get a new 180 day stamp
Reply to
Tod *********
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Julien ****
Very good thread. Following. When my extension come, I will try to do it at the immigration office.
J.P. *********
@Julien ***
Good idea. Try, and if it is complicated, then do a border run as back up.Wannikea *********
@Julien ***
everyone is advising not to do an extension, and you say great thread and will choose to do an extension at immigration, really?Julien ****
@Wannikea ********
getting advise from people that have never experienced it is not really worth my time.Sam ******
@Wannikea ********
obviously not everyone lives in Samui or Phangan where doing a border run costs 20,000 bahtTodd *********
@Sam *****
border bounce from Samui is 3500 bahtSam ******
@Todd ********
if you want to go by bus and waste 18 hours of your life, sure. Extension takes 30 minutes and costs 1900 baht. It's entirely reasonable for people to prefer that option.
Todd *********
@Sam *****
first complaint was about the cost. Even though you clearly don’t know the cost. And now is about the time. Fair enough, Transport is by van and does take about 18 hours. If you are not impoverished, you can also simply fly direct to Singapore from Samui and either come right home or enjoy a few days in Singapore.
Extensions for DTV, nobody knows the requirements yet but only permitted one per 5 year visa. So at some point, a bounce or travel will be required. And will need several over the 5 year term.
Sam ******
@Todd ********
"Extensions for DTV, nobody knows the requirements yet but only permitted one per 5 year visa. So at some point, a bounce or travel will be required. And will need several over the 5 year term."I don't think this is correct. It's 1 extension per entry, not 1 per visa. So in effect you only need to bounce once a year.
And yes champ, I do know the cost. You're looking at a minimum of 12,000 baht to fly return to Singapore or KL out of Samui. Can go up to 20,000 at busier times. Not to mention 6+ hours turnaround. Or 18 hours if you want to go by bus. That's significantly more time and money than extending no matter which route you choose.
Anyone typing "just do a border run" obviously has not considered that a lot of people in this group live in Samui/Phangan where border run is always the worst option.
Todd *********
@Sam *****
it ‘appears’ to be one per visa. Not one per entry. But we will know this more clearly in the future. Maybe some of the experts weigh in hereKevin ********
@Sam *****
a border run from samui is 18 hours and 4800 bahtSam ******
@Kevin *******
It's 20,000 if you want it to not take 18 hours.As someone who's done said border run over 40 times, you're basically looking at 2-3 days lost work due to fatigue from the bus trip, along with the cost.
So for someone who is actually working online in Samui, extending at immigration is both easier and much cheaper.
Wannikea *********
@Sam *****
border bounce to Ranong certainly is no where near thatReply to
Wannikea *********
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James ********
@Wannikea ********
they do exist 🤪Julien ****
@James *******
Hey grandpa. This is not a dating site. Calm down.James ********
@Julien ***
don't have time to calm down. We're going to visit Taipei for 5 days later this week. At the end of January will be in Chiang Mai for the beautiful Floral Festival and parade. Then in mid February will be in Lopburi for the Annual King Narai Fair.We love to see first hand Thailand.
Hope you and yours have a great New Year.
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James ********
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Maurice **********
Go out and come back in. Dont make it complicated for yourself.
Sam ******
@Maurice *********
going out and coming back is a fine solution if you live in Phuket or near BKK. If you live in Samui/KPG going out and coming back either takes a whole day or costs you 20,000 baht.So if someone does actually have all their paperwork and can present it at immigration, that's simply going to be a better option than traveling. Don't assume everyone is in BKK and/or has access to cheap flights.
Maurice **********
@Sam *****
If they have the paperwork, ok. But that was his question.And 20.000 bath from Phuket to do a borderrun? Phuket or kpg - Malaysia is cheap with bus/boat (less than 2k).
Anyway, its his choice!
Ivan ************
@Mau****
there's a time factor too, this involves sitting in a bus/boat for what, 2 days? If someone actually has acceptable paperwork sitting around I can see the advantage of just extending in country. Would be interested what is required.Jirka ********
@Maurice *********
he speak about Samui, not Phuket!Reply to
Jirka ********
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John *******
I read the other day on a forum a fella has been into imagination To ask That question and They said
He needed to show The same as the first application so money and The rest
But That is not guaranteed until he has a stamp I guess
It will be interesting how many different experiences people have even at the same office 😜
He needed to show The same as the first application so money and The rest
But That is not guaranteed until he has a stamp I guess
It will be interesting how many different experiences people have even at the same office 😜
Sam ******
@John ******
did he say how much the extension would cost?John *******
@Sam *****
don't remember reading how much but 1900 seems like The normReply to
John *******
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Ivan ************
@Jo**
would be interested if immigration in country will take money in a foreign bank account which only has to be there immediately before applying. This would match the original requirements and would be easy enough for many but most other extensions they want it in a Thai account and there for a period before.John *******
@Ivan ***********
have To see who knowsReply to
John *******
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Peter *******
Yes don't bother with extension just do a border run as in the interview said immigration can ask all your paperwork and bank statement again so much more easy traveling a day out and in
Sam ******
@Peter ******
what if I'd rather show my paperwork again than sit on a bus for 22 hours?Peter *******
@Sam *****
just do it, nothing to loose worst case you do the road trip after declined, but hopefully going smoothReply to
Peter *******
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Lachlan **********
@Peter ******
exactlyReply to
Lachlan **********
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Pete *******
Great question!
Tod *********
no one knows how the extension process of the eVisa actually works
because NO ONE who has a DTV has ever extended one INSIDE the country at the immigration office
That means no one knows the requirements OR the documentation you need to present
Best advice is
EXIT/RE-ENTER the country to get a NEW 180 day entry stamp
because NO ONE who has a DTV has ever extended one INSIDE the country at the immigration office
That means no one knows the requirements OR the documentation you need to present
Best advice is
EXIT/RE-ENTER the country to get a NEW 180 day entry stamp
Dany ********
@Tod ********
how do you know that noone hasnt extended the DTV yet? the first that got it can extend for a week or two already. i got mine in august and can extend in 10 days. also depends on the office. some would probably have allowed it all of december alreadyKlaus *********
@Tod ********
Why should that be the best advice? If everyone just doing a border run we will never find out what requirements/ documents we need for the extension process. So why not find out at immigration when it’s time to extendKlaus *********
@Todd ********
Of course, but not with a visa run 😀Todd *********
@Klaus ********
nobody with DTV ever needs a visa run. Border bounce only. So we wait… until the first people apply for extensions.Klaus *********
@Todd ********
Yes sorry I confused the expression! What I meant is the border bounce. For me as a German the meaning visa run or border run is the same - crossing the border and come back and get another visa. But actually my post was about the „Best advice“.Reply to
Klaus *********
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Todd *********
@Klaus ********
well, for sure we will find out soonReply to
Todd *********
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Dca *****
@Tod ********
As a DTV Extension will have an Exemption of Re-Entry Permit like the ED Plus Extension, quite curious when someone exits and re-enters on a DTV Extension, will they get stamped in only up to that DTV extension, or will they get a new 180 days?? 🤷♂️🤷♂️🤷♂️Tod *********
@Dca ****
no one knows, at least to me it doesn't make sense to give them an entry stamp just until that extension expires, because they already hold a 5 year visa with unlimited entries of 180 days each entryI honestly can't understand why ANYONE would jump thru what ever hoops they will set to get an extension inside the country when they can bounce out/back and get a new stamp
Ivan ************
@T**
in the unlikely event the extension requirements are easily met, it saves money and more importantly time to get it in country, particularly if you are far from a border/airport. A lot of DTV holders are busy working and it can be a hassle to have to schedule a border run around work.If they'll take bank statement showing money in a foreign account and whatever other documents like showing proof you are working/have income, many people would be able to show that and if that's it, why not extend in-country for 1,900B.
I could see it being more complicated to the point it does make sense to just bounce but it's at least possible that immigration will only need holders to show stuff they have anyway or can get easily. Will be interested to see when someone actually tries to do an extension how they get on.
Bouncing is always a backup option in case immigration do want something you can't easily provide but I can see the appeal of not *having* to leave at the six month mark.
Dca *****
@Tod ********
Yup, just do a border bounce throughout the 5 years of the DTV is the easiest, straightforward thing to doJames ********
@Dca ****
Correct ✅Reply to
James ********
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