What is the process and documentation required to extend a DTV visa in Thailand without leaving the country?

@Sam *****

border bounce from Samui is 3500 baht

@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.

@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.

@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.

@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 here

@Sam *****

a border run from samui is 18 hours and 4800 baht

@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.

@Sam *****

border bounce to Ranong certainly is no where near that

@James *******

Hey grandpa. This is not a dating site. Calm down.

@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.

@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.

@Maurice *********

he speak about Samui, not Phuket!

@Klaus ********

nobody with DTV ever needs a visa run. Border bounce only. So we wait… until the first people apply for extensions.

@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“.

@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.

@Tod ********

Yup, just do a border bounce throughout the 5 years of the DTV is the easiest, straightforward thing to do

@Dca ****

Correct ✅