@David *******

True, but most offices will only give you another 2 years, if you don't hold a long-term visa or extension of stay. Thus, a DTV, non-B, non-O, LTR, retirement, smart visa or anything but a tourist visa will qualify for a 5 year visa.

Sometimes a tourist visa or METV qualifies too at certain offices anyway.

Yes. Sefton Hanley mentioned he was able to do it, and I'll be using my DTV to renew my 5-year license for another 5 years. One change is that they're now requiring medical certificates even for 5 year to 5 year renewals (previously, this was only necessary for the initial 2 year license) or going from 2 to 5 years. Now, it's required in all cases, even 5 to 5 years.

There are pop-up medical clinics located right next to DLT offices. Just go there. I think they just confirm you have a pulse and no sexually transmitted diseases and that you're not blind and they'll write you a note.

I'm also going to be renewing my Thai IDPs on the same day I get my domestic license renewed.

@Sum ****

Yes, but it's very low. I can't see why they would make a distinction between Thais and foreigners for interest rate payments though.

@Su **************

For Laos, 3 months is mandatory for all nationalities. They'll refuse your application if the funds have been in there even for one day less than 3 months.

Anonymous participant Your documents would have needed to be translated just to apply for the visa in the first place. They only accept documents in Thai or English.

@Gail **********

Not required.

Anonymous participant I thought it was 500K for everyone. Never seen anything to suggest 300K would be enough.

@Andriy ******

Well, that's considered 3 days. You apply in the morning of day 1 and receive your visa in the afternoon of day 3. Apply Monday morning, receive Wednesday afternoon. Savannakhet is now the same (previously, they were overnight processing).

@Dennis ***********

Nope, it's next business day for Taipei.

I'd assume you have retained copies of the documents you submitted including any translations? I have. Therefore, there would be no need to pay money to get these translations done again.

However, as long as borders remain open (don't assume they'll never do a repeat of the Covid nonsense again and close the borders, because that could certainly happen again at some point in the future) then I'll probably be traveling. 6 months is a long time to be spending in country without ever leaving...except if my wife gets pregnant again I am pretty sure I'll be traveling for work or pleasure at least once every 90 days on average, sometimes even more regularly than that.

Therefore, chances are, in-country extensions for me would only occur if the borders were shut again. Some rumors this could happen again in 2026 but no hard evidence (not to mention we can't just blindly believe rumors). Still, whatever happens, I like to be prepped and prepared. This means ensuring my status is up to date and my documents are ready in case such a scenario does unfold sometime within the next few years.