Answered6 years ago
Will tourists currently in Thailand be able to apply for the new 9-month visa or must they leave the country?
Do people think that tourists already in Thailand will be able to get this 9 month visa or will we have to leave the country and apply in the country we go to. It would be good if we could apply for this visa here in Thailand. What are the chances?
Answer summary
The consensus from comments suggests that the new 9-month visa (STV) is likely only available to tourists applying from outside Thailand, not those currently in the country. Several commenters express disappointment and skepticism, noting that the government has not confirmed any provisions for tourists already in Thailand. The discussions also highlight the potential economic implications for Thailand's tourism sector and the complications arising from ongoing quarantine requirements.
34 repliesnewest first
Click comment and we will ask for your email, then OTP, then name.
David ********
If one of the conditions of the visa is the two week quarantine, it would make absolutely no sense to include foreigners already in Thailand. Maybe for business it would. 555
Simon *********
Just got back tor mor...need whole bunch of paperwork to get tourist visa extention...new rules for new arrivals only
Todd *********
@Si***
you are a new arrival on a tourist visa?Simon *********
@Todd ********
no march tourist..flights kerp getting cancelled so ausdid embassy provided letter ti support visa extension..but we asked them ablut 90 day rukes..they said only new arrivals doing 14 day quaratine Todd *********
@Si***
understood. Good Aus issuing letters. I tried with Canada but gave up. Doing monthly will be painful especially as they mark it ‘under consideration’ and you have to return every 2 weeks. Crazy times. I threw in the towel and went for agent retirement visa. Frustrating there is no option for the thousands coming off amnesty from tourist visa 
Carsten *********
Just talked to thai woman on the government hotline, she said going back home for a couple of months till things changed and more information came out was my best option and that the new 9 month visa at its present form with government selected hotel stays was only for "the rich". So after coming here for 30 years I guess it's time for me to go too. Best of luck to you all :)
Gary ********
Reading between the lines I would say no because of quarantine restrictions in the visa requirements but you know thailand where there’s a will there’s a way 🤫🤫🤫£££££
Guillaume ******************
I think no
Dominic ****
Thailand will need as many tourists as it can get for its approaching high season, and 1200 per month is a drop in the ocean. Presumably this is the limit of the quarantine facilities available. If it already has thousands of tourists putting money in the pockets of hotels and restaurants, economically it makes no sense to kick them out this month but politically the government may think of has to look strict by not allowing these tourists to remain for over a year i.e as long as those with a non imm, as would be the case if they can buy a STV..
Ivan ************
High season is not happening this year. They have already written it out of any recent projections, the most recent projections for 2020 are basically whoever got in here in the first three months of the year and that's it.
High season 2021, maybe.
High season 2021, maybe.
Tod *********
They already came out and stated that this 9 month STV is NOT available for people inside thailand. It's only for people outside.
Andrew *******
It’s Thailand entry visa
Todd *********
Definitely disappointing that was not the subject of debate this week. Why not consider the situation of the few hundred thousand foreigners here now with no clear resolution for them
Ivan ************
Immigration in mid-July estimated the figure for people on amnesty as 300,000-400,000. No doubt some of them have left by now, but I suspect many of them haven't, I suspect MOST people still here mid-July probably weren't desperate to get home.
Thomas ********************
Wouldn't anything addressing that have to be announced on Sep 24-25?
Btw, where do you get "a few hundred thousand"?
Btw, where do you get "a few hundred thousand"?
Bim *******
@Todd ********
you would think they would wouldn't you. Todd *********
@Bim ******
you truly would. Actually incredible they didn’t... 
Kool *******
No one will know exactly until it is published in the Royal Gazette. Before that it is just guessing.
Dave ***********
Highly unlikely. I would have thought though that nearly all tourists have left.
Todd *********
@Da**
come drive around Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan. The numbers are down... but holy there are still a ton of young westerners here
Mike ********
@Todd ********
Bank of "mum & dad"Dave ***********
@Todd ********
will be interesting to see what happens come the 26th and end of amnesty period. 
Andrew *********
@Jason *******
marriage visa?
Jason ********
OP@Todd ********
I’ve still got 2 more years to go before I can get retirement visa and don’t really want to get married just to get a visa - not my style. Todd *********
@Jason *******
i went with retirement visa thru an agent which was great really. But yes- I follow your math on this. Leaving is likely more costly long term than staying!Jason ********
OP@Todd ********
Yeah I have my approval letter and just have to part with the funds to get the elite visa! If there was a cheaper way of staying here I would do it but I do think there’s gonna be. Plus doing the maths, what with the flight home, quarantine hotel and high level med insurance there’s not much in it money wise anyway.Todd *********
@Da**
agreed. But I somewhat expect very little change (but prepared to be wrong lol). I think the people whom couldn’t find the way have gone home by now (mostly), the peeps who could afford to arrange with agents have done so. And the peeps who could write the big check for Thai Visa Elite have also done so. So let’s see 🤷♂️
Darren *******
Seems like only those outside of Thailand can apply for it
Jason ********
OP@Darren ******
And then it will be a lottery if you are one of the 1,200 that get the visa. And also the quarantine hotel 47,000 and medical insurance to cover Covid.Darren *******
@Jason *******
sounds like it's only for top 10 countries dealing with covid or free from covid for minimum of 28 days, so may not even be eligible to apply anyway. *******************************************************************
**********
*****
*****
*****
3505
Davey *******
Doesn't look likely.
Activity
20 joined20
people
Related
25Are there limits on the number of times I can visit Thailand in a year under the new visa rules?
1.6k13157mo
Do I need to enter Thailand within a certain time frame after my DTV visa is approved?
2.3k16148mo
Can I apply for a Digital Nomad Visa (DTV) while in Thailand on a tourist visa?
2.4k21209mo
Can I stay in Thailand for 6 months without a visa by applying for extensions and doing an exit?
1.5k10111y
Will I face immigration issues upon my return to Thailand with a flagged status?
5.9k301051y
How can I make an appointment at the Thai Embassy in Laos for my visa application?
9.4k94611y
Can I extend my stay in Thailand beyond my visa exemption without visiting immigration?
2.3k18192y
Can I switch from a Tourist Visa to a Non-O Dependent Visa while in Thailand?
810412y
Can I apply for a Thai Digital Nomad Visa from outside Thailand using a bank statement for proof of address?
4.5k37342y
Are 60-day tourist visas still beneficial for entering Thailand compared to visa-exempt stamps?
2k10222y
Can I extend my stay in Thailand using the new visa rules if I am already in the country?
6.1k42842y
When is the best time to apply for a tourist visa extension in Koh Phangan, Thailand?
2.4k1493y
Is it possible to stay in Thailand as a tourist for a year?
7.9k561073y
Can I extend my tourist visa in Thailand before having the 800,000 baht required for a Non-O visa?
1.5k11113y
Can I apply for a 60-day tourist visa for Thailand while traveling in another country?
2k1773y
Can parents extend their stay in Thailand after flying out for a couple of weeks?
1.6k1533y
Will I have a problem with my airline about my return ticket after a 60-day tourist visa in Thailand?
4.7k39393y
What is the process for obtaining a TR visa at the Thai Consulate in Penang?
3.7k7894y
Can I apply for a 60 Days Tourist Visa (TR) in a third country when I'm a US passport holder in Thailand?
1.6k1284y
Can I extend my STV for another 3 months despite the program ending in September 2022?
1.9k14144y
When does the 6-month period for a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) in Thailand begin?
1.8k1584y
Can I extend my visa in Pattaya for 7 days after a 30-day extension?
888487y
Will I face issues entering Thailand for 53 days without a visa if I plan to travel outside the country first?
4.1k36288y
Can I apply for a Thai tourist visa or other types of visas in Laos?
3.2k23298y
What are the best visa options for a year-long stay in Thailand for a couple, one over 50 and the other under?
2.1k1999y
Resources
Need help with your Thai visa?
#1 visa agent · 4,000+ reviews · 100,000+ expats served