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How To Extend A Visa In Thailand

Tourists, expats, students, and retirees are just a few of the many types of foreign nationals that flock to Thailand each year. If you’re one of them, and your visa expires before you leave Thailand, you’ll need to apply to extend your visa.

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Are you an expat looking to extend your visa in Thailand? Are you also looking to stay covered while residing in the land of smiles? This article from Pacific Prime will go over the many kinds of visa extensions and the paperwork required for each.

Who Needs to Get a Visa Extension in Thailand?

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With the exception of those with permanent residence status in Thailand, all those on temporary visas will need to extend their visa if they wish to remain in Thailand beyond their visa expiry date. Whether you get a short- or long-term extension depends on the type of Thailand visa you hold.

Disclaimer: Please note that the information mentioned in this article is for general, informational purposes only and doesn’t constitute legal advice. If you are in any doubt, please contact the Thai immigration authorities directly.

Short-term extensions of 30 days are typically issued to tourist visa holders, while long-term extensions of 90 days to one year are reserved for non-immigrant visa holders. The latter includes several categories of visitors, such as:

  • Non-immigrant “B” visas for foreigners employed in Thailand.
  • Non-immigrant “ED” visas for foreigners pursuing education in Thailand.
  • Non-immigrant “O” visas for foreign retirees or foreigners married to Thai citizens.

Note: If it’s your first time entering Thailand on a non-immigrant visa, you’ll be issued a 90-day entry visa by the Thai embassy or consulate in your country.

You’ll then have to apply for a 1-year extension at the Thai immigration authorities once you’ve entered the country. Before your visa extension expires, you can also reapply to extend it for another year.

Why Is It Important to Get a Visa Extension?

If you’re not a citizen of Thailand, you’ll need a visa or visa exemption in order to enter the country for a set period of time. Staying longer than this period, without extending your visa, is known as overstaying. This is a violation of Thai immigration laws and can lead to serious consequences.

The fine for overstaying is 500 THB per day (capped at 20,000 THB), and overstaying for more than 90 days can result in a ban from re-entering Thailand. And, of course, there’s always a risk of being caught and detained by the immigration authorities until deportation can be arranged.

Since you can get a visa extension from within the country, there’s no reason why anyone should overstay their visa. The alternative is to go back to your home country to apply for a new Thai visa. If you’re a US citizen, check out our article on applying for a Thai visa from the US.

What Documents Are Needed for A Visa Extension?

You’ll need to visit the Thai immigration Bureau in the city where you’re staying, present certain documents, and pay THB 1,900 to extend your visa. These offices can be found in major cities like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket, and the documents you need will differ based on your visa category.

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Tourist Visa Extension

If you have a tourist visa that’s about to expire, you can apply for a tourist visa extension in person using the following documents:

  • Application form
  • Copy of your passport
  • Photo (size 4 cm x 6 cm) – must not be older than 6 months

Note: You may need to submit additional documents if you’re receiving medical treatment, taking care of a patient, visiting a Thai spouse or children, visiting relatives, or if you have a letter of request for temporary stay issued by your embassy or consulate.

Don’t want to extend your visa? Thailand has both a tourist visa exemption and visa on arrival scheme for citizens of certain countries. If you hold a passport from one of these countries and want to carry on traveling in Thailand, another option is to leave the country and then re-enter.

Non-Immigrant “B” Visa Extension (Employment)

Are you employed in Thailand and need a non-immigrant “B” visa extension? Be prepared to provide an application form, a copy of your passport and work permit, amongst other documents listed below, in person.

  • Application form
  • Copy of your passport with the last arrival stamp, re-entry permit stamp, departure card, and most recent visa extension
  • Copy of your work permit
  • Photo (size 4 cm x 6 cm) – must not be older than 6 months
  • Proof of the need for your employer to hire a foreigner – for example, evidence that no suitable Thai candidate has applied for the position
  • Certificate of employment from your employer showing the number of all foreigners employed by the company, including their monthly and annual salary
  • Proof of your employer’s corporate registration – for example, certificate of incorporation of company or partnership certified by the Registrar with validity for 6 months
  • Copy of your employer’s shareholder list certified by the Registrar with validity for 6 months
  • Copy of your employer’s most recent balance sheet, income statement, and corporate income tax return and receipt. This must be certified by the Revenue Department or the Department of Business Development.
  • Copy of your employer’s 3 latest monthly withholding tax returns and receipts, showing the employee’s name (including yours)
  • Copy of your employer’s 3 latest monthly value-added tax returns and receipts
  • Copy of your latest personal income tax return and receipt
  • Copy of your 3 latest monthly social security contributions return filed with the Social Security Office
  • Map of your place of work
  • Photographs showing the location of the business
    • Exterior photographs showing the address and the sign of company name
    • Interior photographs showing you while you’re working

Non-Immigrant “ED” Visa Extension (Education)

Foreign students wishing to extend their non-immigrant “ED” visa will need documents such as an application form, a copy of passport, evidence confirming enrollment in an approved educational institute, etc. The full list is provided below.

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  • Application form
  • Copy of your passport
  • Copy of evidence showing that the education institution you’re studying at has been permitted to operate by a relevant government agency
  • Letter from the educational institution you’re studying in that confirms your enrollment* and requests for your temporary stay
  • Letter from a government agency at the departmental level or by the Provincial Governor in charge of that particular institution that requests your temporary stay (This is not needed for those studying in an international school or pursuing higher education)

*Detailed information about your years of education, level of study, and educational achievement needs to be mentioned in the letter.

Non-Immigrant “O” Visa Extension (Retirees)

Last but not least, foreign retirees who want to call Thailand home must get a non-immigrant “O” visa extension. To do so, they will need documents such as an application form, a copy of passport, evidence of income, and other documents as listed below.

  • Application form
  • Copy of your passport
  • Evidence of income of at least THB 65,000 per month, such as retirement pension, interests, or dividends AND/OR fund deposit certificate of at least THB 800,000* issued by a commercial bank in Thailand and a copy of bank account
  • Health insurance policy issued by an insurer approved by the Office of Insurance Commission (OIC) (This is only needed for those who have been issued a non-immigrant O-A visa)

*The deposit can be withdrawn after three months, but the remaining balance must be at least THB 400,000.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How long is it possible to remain in Thailand without a visa?

For tourists who hold a passport issued by a specified list of countries, Thailand has a tourist visa exemption scheme that allows visitors to stay up to 30 days without a visa.

How much does a visa extension cost in Thailand?

The application for a visa extension in Thailand costs THB 1,900 baht. Applicants must bring the required amount and all necessary documents to their nearest Thai immigration authority.

Is it possible to exit and re-enter Thailand?

Those who hold a non-immigrant visa will need to apply for a re-entry permit before leaving Thailand.

Does Suvarnabhumi Airport issue re-entry permits?

Suvarnabhumi airport (as well as Don Muaeng airport) has a Thai immigration office that can issue you a re-entry permit before you fly.

Conclusion:

Although it may sound tedious at first, applying for a Thai visa extension is doable. You’ll need to know the visa category you hold, meet the criteria for extension, gather the required documents, and head to the immigration authorities to apply. And viola! Your visa will be extended.

As an experienced international health insurance broker with more than 20 years of experience, Pacific Prime has helped both expats and local citizens find health insurance plans that match both their budget range and unique healthcare needs.

Whether you’re an expat in Thailand or a local Thai citizen yourself, our team of specialists will be more than happy to help you with impartial advice at no additional cost. If you have any questions, please get in touch with us or get a free quote here.

Content Writer at Pacific Prime
Wish Sutthatothon (Nickname: Guy) is currently a content writer at Pacific Prime Thailand, an insurance broker that connects individuals and businesses with insurance providers worldwide. He creates and edits blog articles, guides, reports, webpages, and other types of digital content.

He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Arts, Media & Communication major (concentration: Creative Content) from Mahidol University International College (MUIC). During the compulsory major elective period in the summer of 2021 and voluntarily during the summer of 2022, he also interned as a video and photo editor at Mbrella Films.

He has experience working as an English Content Writer at a real estate buying/renting/selling platform in Thonglor. There, he crafted company blog posts on a multitude of topics. Topics include market trends, legal issues and disputes in property businesses, financial guides, expat guides, home insurance, home decoration and maintenance, and weekly real estate news quick-recaps. Occasionally, as part of the blog-writing process, he would also translate existing Thai blogs to English.

In his free time, Guy enjoys doing scriptwriting and storytelling for comic strips, watching movies, and listening to music (particularly film scores).
Wish Sutthatothon
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