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Why is it difficult to obtain a DTV visa extension in Koh Phangan?

Mar 16, 2026
a month ago
Maisie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Just a heads up for anyone thinking they can ‘easily’ get a DTV Visa extension or new 6 month stamp at an immigration office …. It’s not gonna happen 😅

Decided to go to our local immigration office which a Koh Phangan (granted this visa office already hates us farangs as there are many naughty people who overstay or work illegally on their ‘visas’ here) explained I was there for a new 6 month stamp, I came prepared with all of my original documents I had applied for my DTV with in the UK just incase they asked.

Was told ‘No we don’t do that you have to deport and come back’

I said politely but still standing my ground as I’d read others in this chat having a hard time with the extension too, that I can extend once in a 12 months period. She said okay I can do but it’s too long your visa will expire by then as too much paperwork for me, look: she proceeded to show me someone else’s DTV visa extension application which was about 100 pages 😅 she then proceeded to shoo me away as she said she was too busy, as I was walking away she said you go to border and deport I’m not doing extension …

So that’s what I had to do. Did the land border crossing today on foot front Pedang Besar got stamped out of Thailand and into Malaysia easy, had food stayed for about 1hr 30 then crossed the border back into Thailand. We did have to be processed by a more official Thai officer in a little side room where she asked for our DTV visa document and passport but it was all very smooth and got a fresh 6 month stamp!

I’ve seen other posters on here use agencies and/or having to pay 2000 baht at the border crossing to do same day crossing, we did it by ourselves got a grab from Hat Yai to the border and just walked it by ourselves we didn’t have to pay anything and returned the same day. Would recommend this border crossing, just make sure you have your DTV visa printed as they did get funny with someone else for not having it printed !!

We also did the digital arrival card for Malaysia and Thailand and weren’t asked for it once either side 😅

Overall a frustrating experience not being able to extend… however the ease of popping over into Malaysia and back the same day and getting the new stamp so easy made it okay 🤷🏻‍♀️
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user shared their frustrating experience attempting to extend their DTV visa at a local immigration office in Koh Phangan, Thailand, where they were advised that extensions were not possible and were instead told to exit the country. They successfully completed a border run to Malaysia, obtaining a fresh six-month visa stamp upon re-entry. The post sparked a discussion about immigration practices in popular tourist areas and alternatives to dealing with extensions, highlighting that many expats find it easier to leave the country for a short trip rather than navigate through complicated visa extension processes.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
Jordan ********
The whole point is basically to leave the country every 6 months . They make you state this when you apply now
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Luit *****************
@Jordan *******
You mean official info is now there is no extension possble?

That would need a change of law.
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RoadtoHappiness ****
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RoadtoHappiness ****
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Klaus ********
How much did the trip cost? I just did a border run by airplane. Samui Singapore - same day.
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WhiteRa********
If you have a Thai friend ask them to help you draft a letter of complaint to the head of immigration in Bangkok in both Thai and English.

State your medical situation and that having to travel every 6 months is a burden and that your local office isn’t complying with offical immigration policies for onshore extension of DTV.

Thailand does have laws and procedures to follow it’s just that the Immigration officers know most farang don’t have access or care factor to complain to offical channels.

It’s why learning the language if intending to stay long term is so crucial to ensure you get fairer treatment.
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Brandon ************
WhiteRabbit7966 The last report I read about someone who made a report against immigration had the local immigration officers show up and suggest they retract it.
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WhiteRa********
@Brandon ***********
I doubt there complaint was an offical letter to head immigration bureau or local member of parliament. Very unlikely junior immigration officers would risk losing their jobs over it by showing up outside shift to your house. Pubic service hierarchy in Thailand is everything any order from top down is taken very seriously.

But you need to have a Thai friend willing to help or be able to speak/write Thai yourself to access the Thai legal system.
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Brandon ************
WhiteRabbit7966 they used the official national immigration phone number to make the report.
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Brandon ************
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เบน ******
Just go Laos 50min flight stay a day or 2 go back . Just watch out for robberies at night
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Maisie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
The main point of my post was just to inform others who thought they could extend based on the information we had been told at application that it’s not easy !! And actually 10 x easier to just go do a border run.

If I hadn’t read the posts on here after I had been to immigration to look up land borders I wouldn’t have know so much about how difficult the extension process is and I wanted to also share my experience ☺️
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Nikita **********
I see a lot of people getting confused and clearly quick to judge without knowing the facts.

You don’t have to do border run it clearly says that when you are applying for DTV, you can do a 1 stamp a year, without leaving the country, it literally says that everywhere when applying

So why would someone “just do a border run”

This is the whole point of this post to warn people that has been misguided and don’t get caught out

Also there are two kinds of DTV visa,

DTV- self employed ( where you have to provide all the documents again, to prove you are eligible

DTV- Soft power (when you purchased a course such as muai Thai or cooking etc)

This one should be simple, no extra paper work needed or forms filled, but it’s clearly not the case
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Tod *********
That renegade immigration office down there on the Island of Misfit Toyz (aka Koh Phangan) is a terrible office to deal with..

Plus it is not a "full service" office like the real main immigration office in Surat Thani town

Believe me the indifference shown people by the officers at that office have nothing to do with the half-wits on that island who overstay their stamps. 😛
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Johnny *************
Lazy
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GrayWal********
Oh people🤦‍♂️, just get out of the country every 6 months and return, why is it so difficult to understand that that is what they want? Just do it, take short flight to a neighboring country and come back. Is at simple as that🤷‍♂️
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Maisie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
GrayWallaby8130 because it says online and when doing the application process that you can extend ‘easily’ so that’s what I believed until I had my lived in experience of it not being easy!

I can’t fly for medical reasons which is why the DTV visa was appealing to me so I wouldn’t have to leave every 6 months as it’s more difficult for me to do so as I don’t fly so takes a few days and organising to go to a land border.

It’s just frustrating that it says one thing but then makes it so difficult to do so. But that’s Thailand and I get that I wasn’t frustrated or angry about not being able to extend I made it work and got to a land border just frustrating when it says one thing then contradicts it that’s all 🤷🏻‍♀️
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Maisie ********
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James ******
Extendable in theory, not in practice. It's kind of a hoax.
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RoadtoHappiness ****
I dream of clear rules, defined by law, that everyone would have to follow. They may be restrictive, but let them be clear and always enforced! Enough with the moody IO!
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RoadtoHappiness ****
This is Thailand, the land of absurd.
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SincereG********
The DTV was intended to be a longer tourist visa whereby foreigners do a few cultural activities like muay thai and cooking classes. what happened was foreigners got the DTV to move to Thailand and not show up for the required classes. the DTV is now the new border run mode of living in thailand for hippies and backpackers
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Maisie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
SincereGrape4256 yes I agree it’s just frustrating when they accept your application with the proof of a 1 year soft power course booking and a 1 year house rental agreement to then have to leave after 6 months 😅🫠
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SincereG********
@Maisie *******
your misrepresenting the visa. yes you have to leave but you forgot to mention you can come back for another 6 months. a 1 yr soft power booking and actually showing up for 1 yrs worth of classes? just leave for a week to a neighboring country and return . your 1 yr house agreement is bogus. is it a "lease" ? you didnt pay 6 months rent up front. people critical of thai immi laws but they are crawling on their knees to stay in thailand.
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SincereG********
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Wannikea *********
A little bit of comedy gold in that, it's never been recommended to doing a DTV extension in country. Usually the DTV extension is put under consideration and done at a main office. Always go early to your local office to get the latest requirements handout for an extension.
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Greg ********
Just fly somewhere man. It's a no brainer. Unreal
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Maisie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Greg *******
I can’t fly for medical reasons so …. 😬 that’s why the DTV was appealing to me. Now I know I can pre-plan a land border run
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Greg ********
@Maisie *******
can't fly for medical reasons??
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Christopher ***********
@Maisie *******
I trust it's only temporary? Being permanently unable to fly would be problematic.
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Christopher ***********
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Michael ********
stop complaining and just leave the country for 2 days every 6 months, it's not hard.
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Michael ********
Got it! Now you know 🙂 I see alot of these posts on my feed and I just dont get why people would go through the arduous task of dealing with immigration offices when they can just go on a nice weekend trip somewhere new
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Maisie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *******
it is more difficult when you have health issues and can’t fly 😬 it’s the main reason DTV was appealing to me so I wouldn’t have to leave as often as for me to leave and come back I have to go via a land border. Now I KNOW I can pre-plan better but it’s frustrating when it says online in all information that you can extend after 6 months that’s all 🤷🏻‍♀️
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Lindsey.Gr**********
@Maisie *******
if you have health issues stay home or use proper visa not DTV.
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Lindsey.Gr**********
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Davidsurapong *****
thanks for informative post!
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Mercy *********
At least she's honest 😅 555
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Moon **********
How much did you pay for your Grab from Hat Yai to Pedang Besar?
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Maisie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
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Hǝınz ***********
@Maisie *******
How did you get to Had Yai from Phangan?
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Hǝınz ***********
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Malcolm **********
Why would you even try the phangan immigration office, you know how they are towards us ahah.. Should’ve just gone Samui
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Maisie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Malcolm *********
we spoke to someone whilst we were at the KPG one and they said Samui also are turning people away 😬 we just popped into the KPG to try our luck we knew they’d say no tbh
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Maisie ********
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Rok ********
DTV was never designed for in-country extension .
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RoadtoHappiness ****
@Rok *******
it is, you can read on official page
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RoadtoHappiness ****
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Anonymous ******************
Oh dear. Just leave and come back. Simple
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RoadtoHappiness ****
Anonymous participant 144 not simple
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RoadtoHappiness ****
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Frazer ************
I live in Hat Yai so I usually do a day or 2 trip to Penang. You can also fly directly from Hat Yai to Singapore and KL, which I sometimes do if I don't feel like the 4 hour minivan to penang.

Overall I'd much prefer to do this anyway than sit in an immigration office for half a day dealing with frustrated overworked paper pushers. Plus I can enjoy the amazing Indian and Malay food in Malaysia.
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Luit *****************
@Frazer ***********
Half a day in immigration office?

It never took me over half an hour at Hat Yai immigration office.
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Frazer ************
@Luit ****************
attempting to extend a DTV visa within the country would definitely take more than half a day and success isn't guaranteed. This is the DTV group, by the way.
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Luit *****************
@Frazer ***********
Did I say it was different group?
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Luit *****************
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Maisie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Frazer ***********
we are staying in Hat Yai for the night, we like it! We would’ve never come here if we hadn’t had to do the border run so grateful for that! We definitely will have to go back and explore Malaysia properly
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Frazer ************
@Maisie *******
its being my home for the last 14 years, its a hidden Gem. I'm kind of glad it isn't overrun with western tourists though so don't tell anyone about it haha
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Maisie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Frazer ***********
wow that’s amazing! Haha I will tell everyone how awful it is here 😉
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Maisie ********
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Elías ********
"Deport and come back" > Exit and come back. Sometimes wording matters, and in this case, a correct wording is crucial.
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Cliff *********
@Elías *******
maybe she was saying "depart"….
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Maisie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Elías *******
yes sorry, I’m just repeating what the lady at immigration said to me but you are totally correct by deport she meant exit and come back with a new stamp on arrival ☺️
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Maisie ********
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Anonymous ******************
Another proof that IOs act the way they want. Some will, and some will not. When people tell others that IOs can’t perform checks or control borders because of some non-existent rules (“there is nothing written that I need to…, so I’m not required to…”), that’s kind of funny. IOs don’t even always follow what’s officially confirmed, such as for extensions.
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RoadtoHappiness ****
Anonymous participant 887 it's not funny, it's pathetic
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Anonymous ******************
@RoadtoHappiness ***
Well yes you're right.
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Anonymous ******************
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Todd *********
This is a very well known problem with DTV. It’s ’maybe’ possible in some immigration offices, but definitely not all.

Regular border bounces though from the islands, to Malaysia. Several agencies run them
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Maisie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Todd ********
it was really easy to just pop across to Malaysia ! Deport and come back in with a fresh stamp !
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Todd *********
@Maisie *******
yes, it’s very easy. But a long day trip. So we usually just arrange a trip around expiry time
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Todd *********
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Brandon ************
If you want any chance at an extension, you need to go to the main office at Surat Thani. Both the KP and Samui offices are known for not following any of the normal rules.

You must have at least 14 days left in order to apply for the extension. If you try to apply with less than that, you'll be turned away outright. But I wouldn't go to immigration with any less than 30 days left as you'll likely need to leave and return at least 3 times to get new paperwork that they'll require. By the time you actually get everything they want, you'll have burned through some days already.

Also the point of the arrival cards is that you're not asked for them, they're associated with your passport number. The border patrol agents see if you've done it automatically on their computer. If you haven't done it, then you'll be asked to leave the line and do it.
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Jonha ************
@Brandon ***********
Goodness me, I salute your patience. Flying out seems like an easier option.
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Maisie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
that makes total sense haha it’s been a long day 😅 of course it’s on the system duh!

Yeah there was no chance getting an extension in KPG just thought I’d try my luck !
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Maisie ********
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Luit *****************
Good to hear they now accept same day return, 2 years ago on visa exempt they would not let me in, they said same day return we don't do here.
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RoadtoHappiness ****
@Luit ****************
I always did same hour back before, never problem
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Ivan ************
@Luit ****************
I think the rules are different if you have a multi-entry visa vs a visa exempt, I had the same experience years ago at Sadao but also on a visa exempt.
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Luit *****************
@Ivan ***********
Official rules are not different, there is no such thing in Thai law that makes same day returns different from return after more days, but IO always can decide about entry, and does not have to follow official rules, but can implement local rules...
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Christopher ***********
@Luit ****************
Exceptions can always be made to both national and local rules. Exceptions apply when you offer a relatively small amount of money. Thai people understand this. My wife has never failed to turn a 'no can do' into an 'OK'.
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Luit *****************
@Christopher **********
I know, with money everything is possible, but that is not how it should work.
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Ivan ************
@Luit ****************
there's also nothing in Thai law about limiting tourist entries either, but they do it. In Thai law you could visa run on visa exempt entries back to back for a decade, there is nothing *in the law* that says you can't do that.

It's why they come up with another excuse, if you actually look at the technical reason for denial for any of these visa runners it's never "in Thailand too much" or "over 2 visa exempts this year" because they are not one of the legal reasons to deny entry. They usually use "(2) Having no appropriate means of living on entering the Kingdom" or "(3) Entering the Kingdom to earn livelihood as a labourer or to be hired to do physical work and not skilled, or technical work, or to do other works in violation of alien working laws", there are 12 legal reasons for denial in Section 12 of the Immigration Act and they need to pick one and put the number in the official denial. And they do this, but it is never "visa run" or "too many entries" because that is not an enumerated legal reason to deny entry.

It's policy, and they have a lot of freedom in setting policy as they like. They don't actually push a law through parliament when they have these periodic crackdowns either, they just change the policy.

Laos also has a no same day return policy for visa exempt now, but doesn't apply to visas. It used be particular to Malaysia, and then Cambodia, but it has spread. And that policy does seem to be coming down from high, to crack down on "visa runners".
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Luit *****************
@Ivan ***********
Indeed law is not forbidding back to back visa exempt, only the interpretation of short touristic or bussiness visit could be a reason, but a lot of other reasons are much more concrete.
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RoadtoHappiness ****
@Ivan ***********
exactly, I did many border bounces with exemption without problems. From late 2025 they changed their attitude.
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RoadtoHappiness ****
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Maisie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Luit ****************
I did read your post when researching in this group before going to the border 😬 what a nightmare !!
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Maisie ********
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Wayne *******
Such a shame that those that are supposed to be there to help you, dont

"You will have to go to another country because I cant be arsed" is basically what she said!

Another 'she'!

I was pondering over the DTV and Non-O so I chose Vietnam
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Frank-Steven ***********
Thanks for sharing. I get the frustration. It is hard to grasp for most of us coming from more strict rule of law corners of the world to witness immigration offices and other bureaucracies just doing their own thing. Having said that, I think leaving any country for a short trip / vacation once a year should be perfectly doable and natural. You’d likely do vacations if still back in the home country. Lots to explore in this part of the world - or a good opportunity to say hi back home once a year.
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RoadtoHappiness ****
@Frank-Steven **********
not always is possible to go abroad
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Maisie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Frank-Steven **********
of course we definitely will do that going forward had we known we could’ve planned it better and did a proper little holiday but as I don’t fly for medical reasons I just thought f-it I’ll just pop across the border this time but next time will definitely make a holiday out of it!
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Maisie ********
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Michael *********
It is possible to extend, there are many areas mainly in issan where io are more accommodating, unfortunately areas over populated with tourists are always going to have these io’s that simply can’t be arsed.. also the completed tdac is on file when you arrive back hence no need to be asked to produce.
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Maisie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael ********
ahhh that makes sense about the tdac I did think that may be the case! Yes unfortunately we live in KPG where the IOs are not so accommodating due to the many MANY visa extensions they process from a lot of not so nice expats who don’t speak very nicely to them so I do get why they aren’t so nice there !!
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Maisie ********
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Marcin ************
Why you were taken on a side on the border? 1 hour out of country was to be questioned or what was the reason exactly?
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Maisie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Marcin ***********
I went to the normal passport desk and when they saw my stamp said DTV I was told to ‘go into the room and talk to the lady’ so I assume the more senior officer processes the DTV visas 🤷🏻‍♀️ she was fine just asked for passport, DTV Visa, biometrics that was it. She wasn’t friendly to say but didn’t ask any extra questions and stamped us an extra 6 months within a few minutes.
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Maisie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Also to mention she processed us in and out. When we left Thailand she asked where are you going we said Malaysia and coming back to Thailand and she was satisfied with that
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Maisie ********
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Kris *****
I didnt even know this was an option. I always just leave every 6 months to visit somewhere. Its nice to travel anyways.
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RoadtoHappiness ****
@Kris ****
it's not nice if you have pregnant girlfriend.
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Jonha ************
@Kris ****
Same here. A quick trip to Vietnam or Malaysia is always interesting.
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Tommy ********
It’s exactly what they expect. The officials don’t want DTV holders to think or practice living in Thailand, they expect you to travel because that’s what a digital nomad is.

This is one reason why people are getting a hard time at the border on DTV’s, because it’s still a tourist visa
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Tommy ********
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Dany ********
i did my extension over a year ago and yeah it wasnt that easy. had to go 3 times to the office and they didnt really want to do it because of the paperwork they had to do for it.. so they always came up with new requirements but eventually it was successful 😅😅
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RoadtoHappiness ****
@Dany *******
do you remember the process
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Dany ********
@RoadtoHappiness ***
sure… go there with your passport and provide all documents again with a fresh date / signature / whatever. financial proof. work or soft power proof. residency proof (same as retirement visa holders: housebook + rental contract, houseowner ID, pictures of the house, drawn map where the house is), passport pictures. 1900 baht
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Dany ********
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Esmael ********
Just make a small vacation every 6 months. We went to laos for a couple of nights and had a fun time in Vientiene. Probably check out Vietnam next time too.
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RoadtoHappiness ****
@Esmael *******
short not small. And it's not really good solution now. Check what is going on at airport.
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Jonha ************
@Esmael *******
How was Laos?
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RoadtoHappiness ****
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RoadtoHappiness ****
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Maisie ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Esmael *******
we are definitely going to do this going forward now we know that it’s easier to leave and come back rather than extend !
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Maisie ********
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