Answered4 years ago

What options do we have for extending our stay in Thailand beyond our 30-day visa-exempt entry?

Visa Extension Visa Exempt Entry Retirement Visa Alternatives Chiang Mai Immigration Office Tourist Visa Thailand Immigration Rules

Christine *****

asked Sep 13, 2022

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Hi, my partner and I (both over 60)arrived in Chiang Mai on a 30 visa exempt visit on 2 September. We would very much like to extend our visit until 30 November; i.e. get another visa extension after our first 30day extension. What is the best way to do this? I seem to get a lot of conflicting information.

Applying for a retirement visa is not an option for us.

Thank you for your assistance

Answer summary

The user and their partner are in Thailand on a 30-day visa-exempt entry and wish to extend their stay until November 30. They are seeking options for extending their visa since applying for a retirement visa is not feasible for them. Suggestions include applying for a 30-day tourism extension (one time only), followed by a necessary border run to re-enter Thailand on another visa-exempt entry afterwards. Travelers were advised to visit the immigration office in Central Chiang Mai for a quicker processing experience. Additionally, a Single-Entry Tourist visa could be obtained from a neighboring country's embassy, providing an initial 60 days with an option for a further 30-day extension.

14 repliesnewest first

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Tod *********

Also IF you're in Chiang Mai go to the new immigration office at Central Chiang Mai (2nd floor)

NO one is ever there, people are skating in and out in like 15 minutes with their extensions

4 years ago

Simon *********

Retirement Visas do not necessarily require large bank deposit.. Maybe reconsider.

4 years ago

Joanna *********

@Simon ********

please explain or pm.me as I also read that this was the case?

4 years ago

Keven ****

With an extension, you’ll make it until around November 2 (60 days total). If this was your first visa-exemption stamp this year, you would then need to leave and re-enter the country to get new visa-exemption stamps. There is a limit of two VE stamps per calendar year by land. You could also apply for a Single-Entry Tourist visa at an embassy in a neighbouring country, which would give you 60 days, with the possibility to extend that for another 30 days at immigration, for 1,900฿.

4 years ago

Christine *****

@Keven ***

thank you. That is what we will do, then. Much appreciated.

4 years ago

Rob ***********

I thought it was 45 days now

4 years ago

Greg *******

@Rob **********

45 day visa doesn't start until October 1st.

4 years ago

Graham ******

@Greg ******

Tourist Visa is still 60 days, visa exempt will be 45 days temporarily

4 years ago

Greg *******

@Graham *****

Yes, from 1st October.

4 years ago

Ellie *******

@Rob **********

, tourism extension stays for 30 days. Exempt entry will be for 45 days when you arrive in Thailand on or after 1 Oct.

4 years ago

Bill **********

@Ellie ******

has that now become absolutely official ie posted in the Royal Gazette?

4 years ago

Ellie *******

Depends on your nationality, but if both of you entered on visa-exempt, you can apply for a 30 days tourism extension only once. So it'd take you to 31 Oct. Then you have to leave Thailand on border-bounce, then enter Thailand on visa-exempt entry again.

Here is general information for tourism extension. It shouldn't be different hugely from the one in Chiang Mai. Check with them and you can apply for it anytime now.

4 years ago

Christine *****

@Ellie ******

thank you. Is there a minimum period to be out of the country, or can we simply goto, e.g.Laos, get the stamps and come back?

4 years ago

Ellie *******

@Christine ****

No minimum time out of Thailand.

4 years ago