How to Extend Your Visa in Thailand — Step-by-Step Guide

THE THREE MAIN EXTENSION SCENARIOS SCENARIO 1: TOURIST VISA EXEMPTION — 30-DAY EXTENSION If you entered Thailand on a visa exemption (30 days for most Western passport holders), you can apply for a single 30-day extension at any Immigration office. This extends your permission to stay from 30 to 60 days total — you cannot extend again after this. Process: - Attend any Immigration Bureau office or Airport Immigration (at some airports) - Bring: passport, completed TM7 form (available at Immigration), 1 passport photo, 1,900 THB fee - Processing: same-day. Officer stamps a new 30-day permission date in your passport - You cannot extend a visa exemption extension again — once it expires, you must depart and re-enter Alternative: attend an Immigration office in a tourist area (Chaeng Watthana, Phuket Chalong, Promenada Chiang Mai, Jomtien Pattaya) or a local satellite office. Some tourist areas have dedicated extension windows with shorter queues. SCENARIO 2: TOURIST VISA (TR) — 30-DAY EXTENSION If you entered on a TR tourist visa (usually 60-day initial stamp obtained from a Thai consulate abroad), you can extend by 30 days in Thailand using the same TM7 + 1,900 THB process. Total stay: 60 days initial + 30 days extension = 90 days. SCENARIO 3: NON-OA ANNUAL EXTENSION For Non-OA retirement visa holders, the extension is an annual process at your local Immigration office, typically 30–60 days before your current permission expires. Documents required: - TM7 application form - Passport (original) + copies of all pages with stamps - TM30 receipt (house/address registration) — must be current - Bank passbook (original) showing 800,000 THB balance continuously for the past 3 months - Bank letter confirming balance (obtained on the day of application) - 1 passport-sized photo - 1,900 THB fee - Health insurance policy meeting the 40,000/40,000 THB minimum (some offices are strict, some less so — bring it regardless) Processing time: typically 1–3 hours at the office. The officer reviews your bank evidence and stamps a new 1-year permission date. WHEN TO APPLY: within 30–45 days before your current permission expires. Do not leave it to the last week — if documents are rejected, you need time to correct and reapply before expiry. SCENARIO 4: NON-O (MARRIAGE / PARENT) — ANNUAL EXTENSION Same process as Non-OA but with the marriage or parent documents replacing the financial documents from the Non-OA: - Marriage certificate + Thai spouse''s documents (for marriage-based Non-O) - Child''s birth certificate + Thai child''s documents (for parent-based Non-O) - Bank balance: 400,000 THB (not 800,000) or 40,000 THB/month income - Photos of the couple/family at the marital home SCENARIO 5: DTV — NO "EXTENSION" AS SUCH The DTV (Destination Thailand Visa) works differently. Each entry gives you 180 days of stay. When that 180 days is approaching expiry, you can either: (a) Depart Thailand and re-enter — this triggers a new 180-day permission from the new entry date (b) Apply for a 180-day in-country extension at Immigration (this is available once per entry) — brings you to 360 days without departing In-country DTV extension: TM7 form + 1,900 THB + current TM30. Simple process, same-day at most offices. The DTV visa itself is valid for 5 years from issue — so multiple cycles of 180-day entries are possible on the same visa document. GENERAL TIPS FOR ALL EXTENSION APPLICATIONS ARRIVE EARLY Immigration offices open at 8:30 AM. Arriving at 8:00 AM to queue before opening is common at busy offices (Chaeng Watthana, Phuket). Afternoon arrivals at busy offices may not be processed before closing (4:30 PM). BRING COPIES OF EVERYTHING Officers require copies of passport pages, not just originals. Bring a full set of copies: photo page, visa/stamp pages, departure card (TM6 if applicable). Copy facilities are often available outside busy Immigration offices — bring your own to save time. TM30 MUST BE CURRENT The single most common cause of extension rejection or delay is a TM30 that is not on file or is outdated. If you returned from any international trip, your TM30 must be re-filed before your extension appointment. RE-ENTRY PERMIT BEFORE TRAVEL If you are on an annual extension (Non-OA or Non-O) and you leave Thailand without a re-entry permit, your extension is cancelled. Purchase a re-entry permit (single: 1,000 THB, multiple: 3,800 THB) before any international travel. Available at the Immigration office or at the airport departure hall on the day of travel (though airport purchase is more rushed). HOW VISA CENTRE HELPS We prepare the complete document set for Non-OA and Non-O annual extensions, confirm TM30 status before appointments, accompany clients to Immigration offices, and handle bank letter collection on extension day. General guidance only. Extension procedures are established under Thailand''s Immigration Act and may vary by office. Not legal advice. No outcome guaranteed. Independent visa assistance agency; not affiliated with any government body.