What should I know about my Thai visa situation and extension options as an Australian citizen?

Nov 11, 2024
3 days ago
George ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Well, now that I'm in Bangkok, I have an update regarding my 90 visa.

First of all, the many commentors pointing out that it was actually only a 60 visa, and I would find out once immigration stamped my passport, well they were correct.

Why did I think I had. 90 day visa? Well because I spoke with the Thai embasssy in Austrlia and was advised to apply for an e-visa and selcted 90 days as duration of stay and upload inbound and outbound flight details. Which I did.

Worst part is that it cost me AUD$300 to apply for a visa that I did not need because Australian citizens get 60 days visa exempt on arrival.

Thanks to all that commented.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The original poster learns that they were issued a 60-day visa instead of a 90-day visa after consulting the Thai embassy, despite initially believing they applied for a longer stay. They express regret over the AUD$300 fee for a visa they didn't need, as Australian citizens can enter Thailand visa-exempt for 60 days. The discussion among commenters highlights the options for extending stays, including applying for a 30-day extension and clarifying differences between single-entry and multi-entry tourist visas.
Greg ***********
keep in mind, correct wording will prevent confusion:

When you enter Thailand, you will NEVER be given any visa.

You will rather get stamped in with a STAY PERMIT.

It's that little flag-like red stamp that says "admitted until" and a date in blue ink which is the expiry date of the stay permit.

In the upper right corner the IO will either stamp or hand-write the "visaclass" you used for this entry.

You now are in Thailand on a stay permit, not on a visa
Arvind *******
Stop going to Thailand.

Gouging people.
Andrew *******
We did the same, lesson learnt
Mike ********
I made the same mistake from the US, although mine didn’t cost as much
Andreas *********
@George ***********
And, even after all these discussions in the group, you are still in the wrong!

You said you paid 300.- AUD visa fee

This would mean that you MOST OBVIOUSLY were issued a 6-months multi entry Tourist Visa. Check the photo below. It lists the visa fees of the Thai General Consulate Sidney

The visa validity is 6 months from the date it is issued. Each entry stamps you in for 60 days. You can extend every 60 days stay permit with 30 more days on Immigration for 1900.- THB.

If you exit and re-enter Thailand short of the expiry date of the visa, you will get stamped in for 60 days for a last time. By this you can get almost 8 months stay in Thailand out of this visa

So would you please have a look at the pdf. visa document you printed, and tell us how long the visa validity is? It is the date printed after the text “visa valid until”
George ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andreas ********
no disrespect intended.

I think the mistake has been acknowledged and I see no point in flogging a dead horse unless you are doing so for the benefit of others.
Andreas *********
@George ***********
so what category of Tourist Visa have you been issued? We still don't know, you have NEVER answered to this question, and i am not beating a dead horse. Do you have a single-entry TR visa, or do you have a multi-entry TR visa?
George ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andreas ********
that’s not how I see it. While I did not explicitly state that I am on a 60 day tourist visa I assumed that should’ve been obvious given I said I had paid for an e-visa for the same visa I would’ve received upon entry and saved the money.

On top of that, you even state what visa I am on.

What difference does multiple entry make to me asking for visa agent recommendations?
Andreas *********
@George ***********
with a multi entry visa, you could wait until the last 60 days within 8 months, before you apply for the "change of visa type". With a single entry visa, you application needs to be more speedier, as you can only apply as long as you still have a minimum of 15 workdays left on your 60-days stay permit
George ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andreas ********
thank you. Good advise
Marcin *******
@Andreas ********
and yet you still made small mistake. You can get virtually 9 months out of that visa.
Andreas *********
@Marcin ******
it most obviously is a METV, as he paid 300.- AUD visa fee. However it also could be a Single-Entry Tourist visa, in case his application to a Multi Entry Tourist visa was incomplete so they issued only a single entry and kept the visa fee. This happens!
Andreas *********
@Marcin ******
not really missing anything, because some Immigrations actually refuse the last 30-days extension and send you home with a "you got 7 days to leave the kingdom" stamp. Those "almost 9 months" are not guaranteed (because nobody flies to Thailand on the exact date their METV gets issued)
Brandon ************
@Andreas ********
no immigration office refuses 30 day tourist extensions on a tourist visa entry
Andy **********
Is it an METV?? I didn't think embassies/consulates had single entry tourist visas available anymore?? to countries that get 60 days visa exempt upon arriving in Thailand, what would be the point?? If it's a "multiple entry tourist visa" you get stamped in for 60 days, and can extend it once for 30 days, and then you need to leave Thailand and come back again, and do the same thing again, you can do that for its 6 months validity, do a border bounce just before it expires, and you can get between 8 and 9 months out of an METV.
Andreas *********
@Andy *********
it most obviously is a METV, as he paid 300.- AUD visa fee. However it also could be a Single-Entry Tourist visa, in case his application to a Multi Entry Tourist visa was incomplete so they issued only a single entry and kept the visa fee. This happens!
Ian *************
And a 30 day extension so 90 days
Phil ******
@George ***********
if you applied at the Thai Embassy in Australia you would have applied for a 60-day TR (Tourist) Visa.. The stamp in your passport states that you are permitted to stay until what date George?

As everyone advises no such beast as a 90 day Tourist Visa Visa.
Kim *********
@Phil *****
you say no 90 days visa. A non o visa gives you permission to stay 90 days.
Phil ******
@Kim ********
amended as you are right. Send the OP info on how to apply as he maybe interested
Kim *********
@Phil *****
well now we have 60 days visa exempt + 30 days there's no point really for a non o if it's just for a time limited visit I think
Thomas *******
@Kim ********
I got the e-visa for my limited trip in hopes it helps me open a bank account. Whole bunch of no's on the visa exempt trips in the past. It would be nice to have a bank account ahead of time so I could transfer money when the rates are more favorable.
Kim *********
@Thomas ******
ahh yes - it might in addition to that help with a proof of residence from immi (some offices charge 500 baht - others less). If problems with the banks I would use an agent for getting a bank account.
Phil ******
@Kim ********
depends on whether you wish to go ahead with Extension. DTV is also easy to get too
Kim *********
@Phil *****
that's why I say if it's just for a time limited visit which it is in this case 😊
George ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Phil *****
except i gave my exit date as 90 days after arrival with matching flight date.
Phil ******
@George ***********
no thats the visa valid till date. The actual stamp bangkok immi put in your passport. Post the picture
Ian *************
@Phil *****
but you forgot visa extention = 90 days
Phil ******
@Ian ************
hey post the link with shows a 90 day Visa.
Lynnette *******
@Phil *****
he's talking about entering with NO visa. Then extending.
Ian *************
@Phil *****
you really are that stupid 🤣🤣🤣😁
Lynnette *******
@Ian ************
that's not a visa. It's 60 days entry with no visa and costs ZERO. Then extend for 1900 tb.

People can still apply for a tourist visa if they want. Problem occurs when they ask embassies/consulates "what visa can I get".
Phil ******
@Lynnette ******
The OP applied for a TR in Australia and then realised he could getstamped in 60-day Visa Exempt.
George ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Phil *****
not quite. I knew I could get 60 days free but was misinformed by Thai embassy that I could get 90 days by applying for e-visa beforehand.

Lesson learnt.
Thomas *******
@George ***********
depending on your plans for the future, with the e-visa you might be able to open a bank account, if you don't already have one.
Phil ******
@George ***********
yes the exit date is an indication when applying for a TR Visa. Yep stamped in 60-day Visa Exempt plus 30-day extension is the way to go and then border bounce and do it all over again.
Lynnette *******
@Phil *****
yes, I know. I was replying to Ian.
Phil ******
Ian *************
@Lynnette ******
i know 😁 I done 3 extensions already 🤣🤣🤣
Phil ******
@Ian ************
No I didn't. That's a separate application as you know to am immigration office WITHIN Thailand so they are 2 completely separateapplications..

Here's the Generic information sheet.

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


Good luck
Andrew ***********
You could have just got 60 day visa exempt on arrival and then extended for 30 days at immigration for 1900 as you have said. So embassy is correct you can stay for 90 if you extend that visa for 30 days. I think you may have applied for a multi entry going by the price. Seems like there was some confusion along the way.
George ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andrew **********
yes. That’s what I wrote regarding 60 day
David ********
@George ***********
you should have asked here before you applied would have made more sense 🤔 anyway no one died you know now good luck on your visit
Damo ***********
That is 60 days visa exempt PLUS a guaranteed 30 day extension for 1,900 thb if you choose.
Xjwhudkwhry ********
@Damo **********
nothing is guaranteed
Boran *****
Damo ***********
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