Thailand Visa Extension allows you to extend your stay in Thailand after your entrance stamp expires. The duration of your Thailand visa extension is determined by how you entered the country and the type of tourist visa you used.nd
If you wish to live in Thailand longer than the duration your visa has been issued for, you must get a Thailand Visa Extension (maybe you want to start a meditation retreat or, you’ve fallen in love, or just want to sit around and drink beer while watching the waves crash on the seashore and will plan to find a job in Thailand (you would need a Thai Work Visa and Thai Work Permit) unless you are in the few rare cases where you receive a multiple-year visa.
Visa Extensions in Thailand serve a similar purpose to residency permits in other countries in that they allow visitors to stay longer. Once you have lived on consecutive Visa Extensions for up to three years, you become eligible for Thailand Permanent Residency.
In This Post
Who Has to Get a Visa Extension for Thailand?
As the name suggests, everyone who wishes to stay in Thailand for longer than their visa is issued has to get a Thai Visa Extension. Depending on the types of Thailand Visa you have and the reason for your travel to Thailand, you can get:
- A short-term extension, often a 30-Day Thailand Visa Extension issued to Tourist Visa
- A long-term Thai visa Extension, which may be from 90 days to one year, depending on why you wish to reside in Thailand. Long-term extensions are issued to Non-Immigrant Visa holders.
After receiving a Thailand Non-Immigrant Visa from the Royal Thai Embassy or Royal Thai Consulate-General in your country, it will usually be issued for 90 days.
However, if you have a Non-Immigrant Visa, you may apply for a Visa Extension in Thailand for whatever reason you happen to be visiting there for. With the Visa Extension, you can legally live in Thailand for up to one year.
Before the current Visa Extension expires, you can re-apply to extend it for another year.
For instance:
- A Thailand Work Visa is a Non-Immigrant “B” Visa extension based on employment in Thailand.
- A Thailand Student Visa is a Non-Immigrant “ED” Visa extension based on education/pursuing higher studies in Thailand.
- A Thailand Marriage Visa is a Non Immigrant “O” Visa extension based on marriage to a Thai citizen.
Note: Many foreigners living in Thailand reported that Thailand is not allowing people to get an extension if they entered with a visa waiver. Although it is unclear if this is true for all nationalities. getting a Single Entry Thai Visa (SETV) or Multiple Entry Thai Visa (METV) would be better.
If you decide to go forward with it, you may get it for 1900 Thai Baht at the local immigration office. In actuality, you will be granted a stay extension. You don’t get a visa sticker on your passport or anything. All you receive is a stamp.
COVID-19 Thailand Visa Update:
- Stay for 45 Days instead of 30 days:
If you are a citizen of a visa-exempt country who visited Thailand on a visa waiver, you can stay 45 days instead of the standard 30 days on each visit.
This is in effect until 30 September 2021.
- Special 60-day Covid Extension of Thailand Visa:
Aside from the 30-day extension, you would also be able to get a special 60-day COVID extension. This is in effect until 26th November 2021.
We will update the article if this special extension continues beyond 26th November 2021. You can apply for the 60-day covid extension depending on where you stay. For instance, if you’re staying in Bangkok (and can prove it) you can apply for a covid extension at the Chaengwattana Immigration office.
If you are currently in Bangkok (and can prove it), you can apply for a covid extension at the Chaengwattana Immigration office. You can apply for the 60-day covid extension depending on where you stay.
You may get a 14-day Under Consideration stamp before returning to the same immigration office for the COVID extension. It may also be for a month in rare situations.
The date you’re expected to return would be printed on the under consideration stamp. You would need to pay the 1900 Baht. When you return on the date specified in the stamp with your passport and the blue/green payment receipt, they will put the covid extension stamp into your passport.
And sure, you can get more than one Thai visa extension for COVID.
And If you need it, you must request it from the immigration office to give it to you before your usual 30 days extension.
Some officials may advise you to apply for the ordinary 30 day Thai visa extension first and then apply for the special one, while some would be fine with doing it the other way.
When to Get a Thai Visa Extension?
Before your stay permit or visa expires, you must apply for a visa extension. We recommend planning to get your extension a week earlier. It is better to not wait until the last minute.
The days are added on your current stamp, not from the date you apply for an extension. So, you will not lose any days.
Where to Extend Thailand Tourist Visa
At least one immigration office is located in each province. The list of branches may be found on Thailand Immigration’s official website. The office and its outbuildings act as a one-stop shop for the process.
You need to visit in person to apply for the extension. The extension adds 30 days to your existing entry.
Immigration offices are open Monday-Friday and closed during local holidays.
Required Documents for Thailand Visa Extension
When applying for a Visa Extension in Thailand, you must provide evidence showing you are eligible for the extension. Regardless of the purpose for travel, the following papers must be submitted:
- Application Form for Extension of Temporary Stay in the Kingdom – Form TM7 (Must include the complete address of your hotel or apartment).
- Your passport is valid for at least another six months and has at least two blank visa pages. If your visa is valid for less than a year, your Thai Visa Extension will be valid for the same period.
- Photos of yourself that meets the following criteria:
- Dimensions: 3.5 cm x 4.5 cm
- White background
- Taken within the last six months
- You must have a neutral facial expression, staring straight ahead
- Your entire face must be fully visible
- Headgear is only allowed for religious purposes and even then, only if it does not cover the face.
- Photos of the relevant pages on your passport:
- The personal information page, showing your picture, name, expiry/issue date, and so forth.
- The page shows your Non-Immigrant Visa.
- Any pages showing previous Thailand Visa Extensions.
- The page shows the latest entry stamp in Thailand.
- A copy of your Thailand departure card or TM.6
- Any other documentation connected to your travel plans, such as:
- For employment purposes:
- Copy of your work permit.
- Company documents, such as the registration certificate, list of shareholders. balance sheets along with the profit and loss statement, tax returns, and so on.
- Map showing the location of your workplace.
- For international students:
- The original Letter of Acceptance into the Thai educational institution
- Proof of the required financial requirements.
- If you have family relations to a Thai national:
- Proof of family relationships such as a Marriage or Birth Certificate.
- Map showing the location of the household (and maybe even pictures).
- Proof of the required financial means.
- Rental contract.
- The ID of the Thai national.
- You may also have to submit family pictures.
- If you wish to retire in Thailand:
- Proof of the required financial means/deposit in the Thai bank.
- Proof of monthly income.
- Proof of residence.
- For employment purposes:
- 1,900฿ fee for extension paid in cash.
All copies must be signed. There is usually a photocopy and a photo store on site or nearby for a modest price.
How to Apply for a Thai Visa Extension?
The process of extending your Thailand visa is simple but time-intensive. Expect to wait 1-2 hours at immigration. The fastest we’ve completed an extension was in 30 minutes.
- Step 1: Grab the TM.7 application form for a Thai visa extension. It’s a 2-page form. You can also download TM.7 form here.
- Step 2: Complete the form. Fill up your details, desired days, the reason for the extension, and Thailand’s address. Next, collect copies and a picture. Attach your photo to the designated area in the form and sign it.
- Step 3: present your passport and other required documentation to get a queue number.
When your number is called, go to the specified counter to get your picture taken.
Pay the 1900 THBs at that time- cash only.
After you’ve been taken away, you may expect to hear your name called 5-10 minutes later.
This is when your passport is handed back to you with an extra stamp permitting an additional 30 days of stay.
Once everything is done, you’ll get your passport returned along with a 30-day extension stamp.
Whether you need 3, 13, or all 30 days; the process and cost remain unchanged.
Can I Renew My Thailand Visa Extension?
Yes, you can. If you continue to meet the conditions for a Thai Visa Extension, the 30 days before the end of your existing contract may be used to request a new extension.
How Much Does a Visa Extension in Thailand Cost?
Regardless of how long you need to extend your stay in Thailand, you will be charged 1,900 Thai Baht each time.
What Should I Do Once I Get My Thailand Visa Extension?
After receiving a Thai Visa Extension, you must get a Re-Entry Permit, and then, 90 days after entering, you must report your address to the Immigration authorities.
Getting a Re-Entry Permit
You must get a Re-Entry Permit, to be allowed to leave and re-enter Thailand without your visa becoming void. If you do not get a Re-Entry Permit before you leave Thailand, you won’t be allowed back unless you get another visa at an Embassy or Consulate of Thailand abroad.
The Thailand Re-Entry Permit can be issued for a Single Entry Thai Visa (SETV) or Multiple Entry Thai Visa (METV).
Submitting the 90-Day Report
Anyone who lives in Thailand long-term has to submit a 90-Day Report to the Thai Immigration authorities. This means that you must record your current address to the Thailand Immigration Department every 90 days, even if it is the same as before.
You can see more here
SMART Visa holders have to report their stay annually, rather than every 90 days
Ten-Year Thailand Visa Extension (10 Years Thailand Visa)
Technically, there is no such thing as a ten-year Thai Visa Extension (10 year Thai Visa Extension). Instead of that, holders of a Thailand Retirement Visa O-X will receive a 5-year, multiple-entry visa the first time they apply. Then, before the visa expires, they may apply for another five-year extension, giving them a total of ten years in Thailand.
When Do I Become Eligible for Thailand Permanent Residency
You become eligible for Permanent Residency in Thailand when you have received at least three consecutive Thailand Visa Extensions. To be eligible, you must meet the following:
- You need to have a Non-Immigrant Visa Extension at the time you submit the Residence Permit application.
- Your Non-Immigrant Visa must fall into one of the following categories:
- You have at least 10 million Thai Baht invested in Thailand.
- You worked in Thailand.
- You lived in Thailand based on your relationship to a Thai citizen or a Thai Residence Permit holder (such as a spouse, parent, or child).
- You served in Thailand as an expert or academic.
- Any other category deemed acceptable by Immigration officials
- You complete a Thai language interview.
The Thai residence permit does not have an expiration date. After residing in Thailand for at least 5 years with a Residence Permit, you can apply for Thai Citizenship here.
Thailand Visa Extension FAQs:
Can a Thailand Tourist visa be extended?
Yes, If you hold a basic 14 or 30-day visa (arrived by land or air), you may only extend it for a maximum of 7 days. It’s 1900 baht ($60). If you require a longer extension, you’ll need to do a visa run to a nearby country.
How many times can you extend a Thai tourist visa?
After arriving in Thailand, a tourist visa may be extended once for an additional 30 days at the discretion of an immigration officer, with a total stay of no more than 90 days.
Can I extend my Thai visa at the airport?
No, a Thailand Visa On Arrival cannot be extended.
If you know you’ll be staying for more than 15 days, you should apply for a standard Thailand Tourist Visa via a Thai diplomatic office in your home country.
Can I extend my non O visa in Thailand?
Yes, Your stay in Thailand may be extended for up to a year on your Non Immigrant “O” visa, depending on the reason for your visit.
Where do I go in Bangkok to extend my visa?
At Immigration Division 1 room in The Thai Immigration office in Bangkok.
