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What should I know about applying for a DTV extension in Phuket, especially regarding the application fee and possible denial?

DTV ExtensionVisa ExtensionTM.7 FormThailand ImmigrationFamily VisaPhuket ImmigrationVisa Denial ExperiencesVisa Fees
Mar 25, 2025
a month ago
Thomas ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I'll be applying for the DTV extension tomorrow at Phuket. We're a big family, so it's cheaper and more practical for us to do this instead of leaving the country.

Question— I read on the application (which seems to be just a generic tourist visa extension application TM.7) that:

"WHETHER PERMISSION IS GRANTED OR NOT, APPLICATION FEE IS NON REFUNDABLE UNDER ALL CIRCUMSTANCES"

I've only ever applied for a visa exemption extension, which is relatively easy to get, so I've never been denied. Does anyone have experience getting denied the DTV extension and then LOSING their application fee?

If memory serves— the process is always info/document check desk to get a queue number, bring the application to the officer when number is called, pay at the end. I've been in Thailand since 2015, and I just can't see them saying "Sorry, denied. Now pay me" at the extension counter.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user is preparing to apply for a DTV extension in Phuket and is concerned about the non-refundable application fee, especially if the extension is denied. They have previously had success with visa exemption extensions. Commenters share their experiences, with warnings about the possible denial rates and the importance of having all required documentation. There are various suggestions for alternatives, such as border runs and flights to nearby countries, which may be easier and less risky compared to applying for an in-country extension.
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Craig **********
Hi
@Thomas *******
 is your 5 years up already is that why your doing a extension?
a month ago
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Thomas ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Craig *********
 you have to exit the country every 6 months or otherwise extend for another 6 months once per year.
a month ago
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Craig **********
@Thomas *******
 ahhh sorry I get you now , every 180 days , quick border run seems the go or quick flight to KL and back , flights so cheap at the minute.
a month ago
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Craig **********
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Thomas ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Here’s my update from today:

************************************************************
a month ago
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Biff *******
I think you’re confusing two different processes. Applying for a visa from an embassy or consulate, fees are non refundable, they are ‘processing fees’ not visa fees.

Applying for an extension in an immigration office, fees are paid when they give you the extension.
a month ago
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Luit *****************
@Biff ******
 For the extension of my visa exempt in the past, I had to pay when I handed in the forms for processing, I paid 2000 THB and after half an hour I got back my passport, receipt and change.

Maybe procedures are different at different offices? My experiences are from Hat Yai
a month ago
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Biff *******
@Luit ****************
 yes, payment in advance for a 30 day extension but, if they weren’t going to give you the extension they wouldn’t have taken your money.
a month ago
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Luit *****************
@Biff ******
 Do you mean they would give it back when they would decide negative? Money was taken before processing documents.
a month ago
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Luit *****************
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James ********
Please let us know what happened.. Thanks 👍 carefully read the helpful Advice from
@ ***************
g . He is a Volunteer inside the Thai Immigration office in Phuket.
a month ago
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Thomas ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
 met him at immigration last time! I’ll update after it’s all over.
a month ago
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James ********
@Thomas *******
 thank you 👍
a month ago
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James ********
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Michael ********
Do share an update in another post
a month ago
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Werner ************
Yes some people are being denied then leaving and returning
a month ago
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Tod *********
No matter what it says on the TM7 application for extension form as a general rule at ALL immigration offices

IF they accept your documentation, take your 1900baht & get a receipt you'll get the extension

They will just turn you away at the "document check" phase of the application for extension process.

report back on how it goes. So few people actually get the in country extensions, because of the hoops the offices require people to jump thru to get them..
a month ago
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Nikita *********
I applied and was denied. The explanation was that I wrote the wrong number on my birthday year. No refund. Fee does not apply to new application. Lesson learned.
a month ago
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Stuart *********
@Nikita ********
 You are confusing this post with your initial application for the visa. The OP is applying for an extension for the visa he already has.
a month ago
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Thomas ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nikita ********
 was this for the extension? I’m confused what you mean by “fee does not apply to new application”
a month ago
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Thomas ********
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Dany ********
Good luck tomorrow. Hope you have all the documents ready. Especially all the residency stuff thats asked for…
a month ago
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Stuart *********
It’s 1900 baht per person to apply for the extension - only payable if they’ll accept and grant it.

It’s approximately 3,500 baht per person to fly to KL and return the same day (or make a small holiday and come back a couple of days later).

You’ll have way more chance of doing the latter without an issue than trying for the extension.
a month ago
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Stuart *********
Good luck tomorrow. There’s probably around a 2% success rate for those applying for a DTV extension at Phuket. Probably similar elsewhere too.

The main stumbling block seems to be having the 500k in a bank for at least one month prior to applying for the extension.

If you have all your ducks in a row then you could get the extension granted for you and your family.

You’ll only pay if they’ll grant it. The chances are that they won’t - but there has been some who have managed.
a month ago
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James ********
@Stuart ********
 thanks for your helpful replies ✅
a month ago
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Alex *******
@Stu***
 hey mate what's the issue with the extension? I've seen a list of the requirements and it looks easy, almost the same as the original application.

I don't understand how the 500k thing is some big problem for people. It's only 500k, I would think most people that travel would have at least 500k in a bank to get by. Or is the issue they want the money in a Thai bank, is it something silly like that?

Does immigration dislike the DTV and are just denying people the extension for no real reason?
a month ago
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Thomas ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
 I think I actually spoke with you at Immigration last time! Thanks for the info. I’ve got a bank statement from the month leading up to this one (Jan-Feb) and a printout of the current month (statement not released yet) — both 500k+. Nervous I’m missing something else, though.
a month ago
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Thomas ********
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Wannikea *********
You usually pay the fee at immigration once the paperwork is approved. Probably an officer will go through it and tell you if you're missing anything on the checklist long before it's scrutinized again, stamped approved and you pay the fee. YMMV
a month ago
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Excelle********
If you’re close to the expiration date and they deny you then you will be paying an agency for border run or fly out to reset. Some have had success but if you a family of 4 you need to pay 7600 baht for extension. If approved you must leave on next renewal
a month ago
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Bruno ***********
border run to satun is 2500 THB per person, probably negociable if you have a big family. Short vacation in Krabi or Trang is also an option. Border run will be almost same price as the extension and wayyyy more easy. Phuket immigration is one of the most difficult to deal with in Thailand.
a month ago
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John **********
If they accept your application you need to pay regardless of success or not. I'd say that the person who all the others are based on should apply first, if they are refused an extension none of the others will get one either as they want to verify that the conditions the DTV was issued under are still met.
a month ago
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Jonas *************
Well I don't know about DTV extensions but for retirement and on one year extension they will check your paperwork and if something is missing or wrong they'll tell you and you take the papers back and you go fix it and you come back only when they take your papers and it's complete enough for them to do the job that's when we take the payment. In my experience.

However for Visa applications embassies seems to be a different policy.
a month ago
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John **********
@Jonas ************
 Yes generally you pay at the end, but paying is not contingent on success. The only way you won't pay is they refuse to accept your paperwork
a month ago
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John **********
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Thomas ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 I'm not sure I'm getting your meaning.

Typically you pay at the end, after all the documents have been processed, passports stamped, etc.

Whereas "accepting application" means "success", I understand you have to pay. I'm asking if I still have to pay if my application is denied (specifically for the extension).

A more practical question is — do I pay upfront, do I attach the money to the application, etc.?

If so, I can see them potentially keeping it. If not, I struggle to see them asking for payment *after* they just denied me.
a month ago
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John **********
@Thomas *******
 neither. You offer up your application and you don't pay at that point, but if they accept your application and for whatever reason reject it you still have to pay the fee. Your not paying for success, you are paying for the process, the outcome of the process is immaterial
a month ago
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Luit *****************
@John *********
 I only have experience with extension of visa exempt in Hat Yai, but there I needed to pay in cash at the officer when handing in the documents, so before decision.
a month ago
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Thomas ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 Right, I understand what the application says in bold font — I'm really just trying to see if that's anyone's actual lived experience. A few people in CM said they didn't have to pay when they were denied.
a month ago
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John **********
@Thomas *******
 that's usually only if they are denied up front, if the immigration officer refuses to accept the application for whatever reason. Yes it's peoples lived experience.
a month ago
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John *******
@Thomas *******
 - the few applicants I have see were giving 15 day extensions, so that Immigration could then review the documents and supply decision. So there is a chance you pay, get a short extension while they decide and then learn the results in 2 weeks
a month ago
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Thomas ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John ******
 Which office? Was that in Phuket?
a month ago
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John *******
@Thomas *******
 I believe one of them was Bangkok.
a month ago
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John *******
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Rory *********
You will need to reprove all the documentation again . Easier to border run
a month ago
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Excelle********
@Rory ********
 agree
a month ago
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Thomas ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Rory ********
 All my documents are ready. I kept them in order from the original application process, and updated as needed.
a month ago
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Thomas ********
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Greg ********
There have been a couple of posts recently about extension being denied in Chiang Mai but I do not think they mentioned the fee if I remember correctly. The two of them were quite recent ie last few days
a month ago
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Greg ********
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