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What should I do about booking my return flight for the Tourist Visa in Thailand, and how likely is a 30-day extension to be denied?

Tourist Visa Special Tourist Visa (STV)Visa Extensions Thailand Immigration Travel Requirements

May 26, 2022

3 years ago

Norm **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Two questions regarding Tourist Visa (SVT).

I'm about to apply for my SVT.  I intend to stay 90 days. So, 60 days and file for an extension in Thailand as required. Proof of round trip flight is required with SVT application.  Should I book my return flight for 90 days, as that is how long I intend to stay?  Or, do I need to book my return flight for 60 days, then reschedule the departing flight after getting my extension?  Next question, are 30 day extensions denied very often?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is applying for a Special Tourist Visa (STV) to stay in Thailand for 90 days and is seeking advice on whether to book a return flight for 60 days or 90 days, given the requirement for a round-trip flight, and how often 30-day extensions are denied. Community comments suggest that a return flight should be booked for 60 days to meet airline requirements, and extensions are rarely denied if all paperwork is in order.

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Kathryn *******

STV being scrapped in Sept. we were going to apply for it however Thai Embassy confirmed it is being canned in Sept 22.

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Briana *******

@Kathryn ******

any idea if you can still get an STV extension up until Sep 30 2022? Or are they cutting off STV extensions on July 3 2022 like they said they would last year when STV was supposed to end Sep 2021.

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Kathryn *******

@Briana *******

I’m sorry I don’t know what the actual date is in sept where they just won’t extend.

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Kathryn *******

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Todd *********

you basically need to start your research all over again

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Jason ********

you okay man? No reason to be this annoyed at someone for making such a simple mistake.

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Sean *********

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

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Sean *********

I think you might have a problem with the Thai insurance companies for your Thai Pass not sure they do it for that length of stay. I read that the immigration people are only letting in insuranced from a select few thai insurance companies

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Todd *********

basically a question you should have asked yourself before typing… beat it 😂

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Todd *********

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Norm **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

why is that?

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Todd *********

@Norm *********

for starters it’s an STV, special tourist visa. Not SVT. Your comment gets a lot worse off after that error

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Norm **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Are you making fun of my dyslexia? That's just wrong man

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Todd *********

@Norm *********

no i'm making fun of your whole post. Which doesn't make much sense

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Norm **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Others have understood, and given very useful and constructive information. Which part doesn't make sense to you Todd? Maybe I can dumb it down for you.

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Todd *********

@Norm *********

no you dumbed it down very successfully right off the bat. Carry on. It seems unlikely to be the last time

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Todd *********

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Yuri ***********

Just book cheep return ticket to Cambodia or Vietnam... before 60 days over...just for show in Airlines. And normal ticket back to home after 90 days.

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Norm **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Yuri **********

I thought of that also. But, I was hoping not to have to "game the system" in that way.

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Norm **********

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Steve *******

SETV or STV? For the SETV you need a return or onward travel within 60 days.

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Norm **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I meant STV.

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Norm **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

According to the official Thai government website, the STV is only granted for 60 days, with the possibility of a 30 day extension.

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Stuart *********

@Norm *********

You are confusing a Special Tourist Visa (STV), with a normal tourist visa (TR). TR gives you 60 days on arrival and is extendable once for 30 days. STV gives you 90 days on arrival and is extendable twice, each for 90 days. The STV has special conditions attached such as fully paid insurance and accommodation.

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Norm **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

Have you been to the official Thai government website lately

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Stuart *********

@Norm *********

The website does indeed say STV. It’s wrong.

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Norm **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

When you click on that "STV", on the website, it takes you to directly to tourist visa. Makes me think they are now the same thing, as in, same rules apply. 60 days, 30 day extension. Which brings me back to my original question. Book the return flight for 60 days, pay the fees for changing flight dates, after I get an extension? Or, just go ahead and book a 90 day return flight, and hope my entry is not denied?

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Stuart *********

@Norm *********

you don’t need a return flight, just a flight out of Thailand. The hang up is not usually with immigration, as they know you can get an extension, but whether your airline will let you board without one.

As an example a ticket from Phuket to Singapore will suffice. Approx £25/$30.

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Norm **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

@Yuri **********

, said the same thing about buying a cheap "throw away ticket", in response to this question. Someone else confirmed it's the airline that may not allow me to board without showing onward or return travel within the 60 days. I guess I'll be buying a ticket I won't be using.

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Norm **********

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Steve *******

@Norm *********

return or onward travel within 90 days. The STV gives you 90 days on entry with the option to apply for 2 further 90 day extentions

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Steve *******

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

I don't know what an SVT is.

There is Special Tourist Visa (STV) and Single Entry Tourist Visa (TR)

If you are talking about the regular tourist visa, then your airline will most likely require you to show onward travel within the days of your visa before they let you board the plane.

I've never heard of anyone denied a 30 day extension to a tourist visa as long as they have all the paperwork in order (including a TM30)

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Norm **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Yes, I meant STV. So, you're advising book a 60 day return flight and change it after arrival. It can be pretty expensive to change flight dates like that. 🙁

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Russell *******

@Norm *********

I booked mine to include the extension time . I had a TR 60 day visa with a 30 day extension so I booked flight out 87 days from the date I entered 🙏😎

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Norm **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Russell ******

Thanks Russell, I'll do that too. I'll leave enough time at the airport to book a cheap "throw away" ticket in case the airline refuses to issue the boarding pass. Sounds like it's not an issue with Thai immigration, from the consensus here.

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Russell *******

@Norm *********

I had to have a ticket out to get my tourist visa , but that was Mexico city. I purchased one BKK to Penang. 38 us dollars .

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Russell *******

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

@Norm *********

I still think you're talking about the wrong thing. An STV is for 90 days and it requires a lot of paperwork. Medical clearance, $100,000 insurance, proof of paid hotel for your entire stay.

Tourist visa TR is only 60 days that can be extended for 30 more.

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Norm **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

No, I'm not wrong about that.

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

@Norm *********

yes that’s the TR but you keep saying STV which is very, very different.

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Norm **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

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

Actually, when you're on their govt website and click on STV option it takes you directly to the tourist visa. Which makes me think they are now the same thing. Or, that STV no longer exists. The rules change constantly. This is current, as in today.

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Norm **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

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

Have you been to the official Thai government website lately?

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Norm **********

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Prieto ****

@Norm *********

I actually got a 60 day TR but a flight return on 90 days, I guess the people that issues the visa in the embassy would have said something if this wasn't allowed, no?

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Norm **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I would think so. But, much of what I've read about Thailand Visas doesn't make much sense. Also, I'm not sure how your "TR" might differ from my STV.

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Prieto ****

@Norm *********

they don't differ in this kind of things, yours is just a longer one with more requirements

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Prieto ****

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