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What is the process for obtaining a Tourist Visa to Thailand for 90 days?

Tourist Visa (TR)Visa Extension eVisa Thailand Immigration Visa Requirements Expats in Thailand Onward Flight Booking Visa Exemptions

July 18, 2022

2 years ago

Melinda ***************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi All, my husband & I want to visit Thailand for 90 days starting in August. On the Thai evisa site, which is the easiest evisa to apply for and receive?  It looks to me like the Tourist Visa (TR) is the easiest one, rather than the STV. But I'm wondering if there is a max number of days I can ask for under the Tourist Visa?  

(I'm a US/Canadian citizen and my husband is a UK citizen.) 

Thanks for any & all help. Have a great day!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

For a 90-day stay in Thailand starting in August, the easiest option for expats is the Tourist Visa (TR), which grants an initial stay of 60 days, extendable for an additional 30 days at an immigration office. The Special Tourist Visa (STV) is advised against due to strict requirements and imminent termination. It's essential to check the requirements regarding onward flight bookings, as they can be randomly enforced by airlines and officials. Additionally, applicants outside their country of residence may face challenges in obtaining visas and might consider re-entering Thailand using visa exemptions.

Melinda ***************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi, our 60-day tourist visas were not approved due to us being outside of our country of residence. If we come back to Thailand as visa exempt, I understand we can stay for 30 days, extend for 30 days, then leave and come back for 30 days. My question is, is there any visa we can apply for from within Thailand, either by ourselves or through an agency, that will give us 90 days? Or will we have to do a visa run? Thanks.

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Mitchell *******

Just curious. It is my understanding that you can get the 60 day visa in most countries with a Thai Consulate or embassy. Which country were you trying to get it from?

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Mitchell *******

Ah, ok. You need to be physically in the country you are applying in.

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Melinda ***************

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Mitchell ******

, I tried to get it online through the evisa site in my country of residence, which is the US. I applied through the Los Angeles consulate. I've been travelling for a few months and now we are in Vietnam. We decided that we will try to go to Hanoi to the Thai Consulate there to get the 60-day visa next week.

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Melinda ***************

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Graham ******

@Melinda **************

You cannot get any tourist visa inside Thailand so unless you can get an Education Visa or similar then there is nothing you can do except re-enter to get stamped in again.

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Graham ******

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Susie *********

I have a related question which may also help the original poster - does anyone know how strict the Thai authorities (and the airline check in desks) are on the Tourist Visa and having an onward flight booking out of Thailand? Do you need to have the booking within the 60 days of your initial visa, then change your flight when you extend? Thanks

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Brandon ************

@Susie ********

how strict? If they ask and you don't have it, you're not flying.

How often they ask is completely random.

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Susie *********

@Brandon ***********

- ok perhaps poor wording. How consistently do they require it? Which you may have answered with your second comment that it’s random. On the visa application form it says something like an onward ticket, ‘or an itinerary or plan of travel’ is required to get the visa. So it seemed like perhaps the onward ticket wasn’t 100% requirement in this case and there might be some flexibility. Hence trying to triangulate with others’ experience. Seems like it’s just safer to book the ticket within the 60 days though, and minimise the stress

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Brandon ************

@Susie ********

in the US, the consulate always asks for proof of onward travel at the time of tourist visa application now. I don't know about other countries.

The rules for Thailand say you must be able to show proof of onward travel within the limits of your entry time period, and it's the airline's responsibility to ensure you meet the requirements before letting you board.

Whether they do or not is random depends on the specific agents you deal with, how busy it is, and a host of other factors.

Since it's the rule, isn't it best to be prepared to show documentation to meet the rules?

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Susie *********

@Brandon ***********

- this is what it states on the Australia TV application form as a requirement, ‘Copy of an airline ticket indicating the date of arrival and departure from Thailand, or letter stating the itinerary/travel plan of the applicant’. So perhaps you can see why I’m trying to find out if the second option is a feasible alternative to an onward ticket?

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Brandon ************

@Susie ********

what a consulate says and what immigration says is not related. They are completely different parts of the government that don't know about the policies of the other.

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Brandon ************

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Helen ********

@Susie ********

it's random. I've been asked on a TR visa but nothing when going visa exempt.

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Tony *********

@Susie ********

From my experience I have never been asked for a return / onward ticket for both , visa exemption or TR visa

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Tony *********

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Bob **********

TV then extend for 30 days

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Steve *******

The TR Tourist visa gets you stamped into the Country for 60 days. You can apply in Country for a further 30 days extention of stay at a cost of 1900bt.

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Melinda ***************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks, Steve.

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Melinda ***************

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Tony *********

TR visa is valid for 60days then you can extend 1 time with extra 30 days

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Melinda ***************

ORIGINAL POSTER

, great. Thanks for the info.

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Melinda ***************

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Phil ********

****************************

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Brandon ************

Do not apply for the STV. It has many strict requirements and is set to end soon anyways.

Tourist visa (TR) will get you stamped into Thailand for 60 days, and you can then apply for a 30 day extension at your local immigration office. That will get you the 90 days you are looking for and is your easiest option.

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Jasmine ********

@Brandon ***********

is this offical advice? Cos my understanding is, from my local Thai embassy is, if you get it before it ends in September, you can still extend twice for 90 days each?

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Jasmine ********

Ok we will be in Bangkok, it sounds like it depends which immigration office you go to. Is this thread in this group? Thanks

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Brandon ************

@Jasmine *******

there's already been reports of people going to get extension and only getting partial extensions until September 30th.

NEVER listen to what an embassy says about extending a visa inside Thailand, and never listen to what an immigration office says about getting visas outside of Thailand.

They are 2 completely different areas of the government that do not communicate with each other and don't have the same rules and guidelines.

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Jasmine ********

@Brandon ***********

ok where are these reports please? I haven’t seen them but haven’t been looking…And what would you recommend for a trip of 114 days?

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Brandon ************

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Brandon ************

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Melinda ***************

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thank you! 🙂

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Melinda ***************

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