CCSA approves extension of Special Tourist Visa scheme until next October

[Jonathan Fairfield]

File photo

 

The Special Tourist Visa scheme that allows tourists to stay up to 270 days in Thailand will be extended from 1st October this year until the end of September next year, reported Manager.

 

Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin said that 5,609 STV tourists had already spent 1.243 billion baht in Thailand. 

 

Most had stayed 90 days. Some 90% had renewed for a second spell of 90 days and 60% of the original number had extended for a third spell of ninety days. 

 

Whether those would be able to continue renewing indefinitely or whether the year extension referred to new applicants was not made clear in the Manager story.

 

Taweesin spoke of the people who had visited Thailand on yachts saying that 50 more vessels are booked to come to Thailand. 

 

Earlier 271 people on yachts had reportedly spent 291 million baht. 

 

Taweesin said that Monday's CCSA meeting chaired by PM Prayuth Chan-ocha also called on the DES Ministry to simplify online visa applications and procedures to attract more tourists. 

 

The doctor thanked the public for their efforts in the pandemic. 

 

 

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[alyx]

It is about to become cheaper than any other visa program 

[Greenwich Boy]

Hopefully this will apply to existing visas. The agent I use has always been hopeful that I will get my second extension after 30 Sept. Guess I will find out in a couple of weeks. Fingers crossed. At least have the Covid extension to fall back on

[ThailandRyan]

1 hour ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Earlier 271 people on yachts had reportedly spent 291 million baht. 

SO the rich yacht owners are spending 1 million baht and upwards, good to see the rich travelers on the seas have not fallen prey to pirates who would seize the bounty and then ransom them off or kill them after taking whatthey wanted.

[aussiexpat]

52 minutes ago, alyx said:

It is about to become cheaper than any other visa program 

How do you figure? The STV has similiar requirements as an O-A visa, namely 400k/40k health insurance, medical check, police check and A$25,000 in bank for last 6 months

 

The O-A fee is also cheaper than STV as it's A$300 for 12 months while STV is about A$280 for 9 months (A$120 fee + 2 extensions @ 1900 baht each)

 

O-A can the get extended for another 12 months, while STV is 9 months max.

[Haha 2]

If a foreigner,

now stay in Thailand by STV visa , and has extended twice for 270 days ,

can he stay in Thailand longer ?

 

Any third and fourth extensions for 1 more year ? Thanks bro

[Rimmer]

flame removed

[at15]

what do you think @ubonjoe stv holders already here can keep extending ?

Edited September 28, 2021 by at15

[Dialemco]

Thai Embassy in London stopped issuing STV Visa long ago.

[Bernietravelling]

4 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Dr Taweesin Visanuyothin said that 5,609 STV tourists had already spent 1.243 billion baht in Thailand. 

Well, that’s ~ 200,000 THB per capita, less than 6,000 €

 

Nothing, you could call a success, if considering in what time period this money was spent.

- Pre-Covid, some tourists spent that in 2 weeks !

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, Jonathan Fairfield said:

Earlier 271 people on yachts had reportedly spent 291 million baht. 

Leally?

[ChomDo]

I was hoping to see this news since the STV is actually a great solution for anyone wanting to spend the whole winter in TH. Just worried about the ridiculous requirements they had up to now. I hope they will reduce those at the same time. I mean the cash load that you have to show in your home country (many of us don't keep money there) and the 75 day hotel booking is a problem.

 

Any info yet on the requirements?

[jacko45k]

4 hours ago, Haha 2 said:

If a foreigner,

now stay in Thailand by STV visa , and has extended twice for 270 days ,

can he stay in Thailand longer ?

 

Any third and fourth extensions for 1 more year ? Thanks bro

From memory I do not believe that is possible.... the fall back...ask an agent!

[Haha 2]

30 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

From memory I do not believe that is possible.... the fall back...ask an agent!

The agent replied : " Oh , um ...... ah ...... wait ..... " ????

[Nicknoodle]

It would be interesting to know exactly how the Thai government knows what each visitor is spending. I often think they have a game of darts to determine the numbers! I think they still have a few dart boards lying around after they were confiscated, as being illegal in bars! 555.

[CartagenaWarlock]

6 hours ago, aussiexpat said:

How do you figure? The STV has similiar requirements as an O-A visa, namely 400k/40k health insurance, medical check, police check and A$25,000 in bank for last 6 months

 

The O-A fee is also cheaper than STV as it's A$300 for 12 months while STV is about A$280 for 9 months (A$120 fee + 2 extensions @ 1900 baht each)

 

O-A can the get extended for another 12 months, while STV is 9 months max.

For O-A, there is an age restrictions. Everyday cannot get O-A unless more than 50 years old. But everybody can get STV.

[connda]

Yeah baby - recycle what you got.

[kevin612]

Can STV convert to Thai language visa after 6 months without leaving Thailand? Thanks 

[Searat7]

I think with STV you would have to stay in Thailand for the length of your visit whereas you could travel to other countries with the O-A if the borders open up to neighboring countries.  Please correct me if this is wrong.

[ThaiVisaCentre]

7 hours ago, at15 said:

what do you think @ubonjoe stv holders already here can keep extending ?

For STV as long as you have not surpassed the 9 months.

[ThaiVisaCentre]

51 minutes ago, kevin612 said:

Can STV convert to Thai language visa after 6 months without leaving Thailand? Thanks 

At the moment no.

There are very strict requirements around STV visa.

You must leave the country after 9 months, but it may be possible to reenter Thailand on another STV visa.

 

8 hours ago, Haha 2 said:

If a foreigner,

now stay in Thailand by STV visa , and has extended twice for 270 days ,

can he stay in Thailand longer ?

 

Any third and fourth extensions for 1 more year ? Thanks bro

You must leave the country after 9 months, but it may be possible to reenter Thailand on another STV visa.

Edited September 28, 2021 by ThaiVisaCentre

[Caldera]

I've got to wonder why they didn't make that - sensible - decision about a month ago. Who knows how many potential snowbirds have booked elsewhere in the meantime, while the Thai authorities couldn't make up their minds.

[sallecc]

18 hours ago, ThaiVisaCentre said:

At the moment no.

There are very strict requirements around STV visa.

You must leave the country after 9 months, but it may be possible to reenter Thailand on another STV visa.

 

You must leave the country after 9 months, but it may be possible to reenter Thailand on another STV visa.

Others said it's possible to get Covid (60 days) extension on top of 3rd (final) STV extension, meaning that one can continue with Covid extensions once their STV 270 days is up, yes?

[jacko45k]

23 hours ago, sallecc said:

Others said it's possible to get Covid (60 days) extension on top of 3rd (final) STV extension, meaning that one can continue with Covid extensions once their STV 270 days is up, yes?

My recollection was after the 2 extensions of 90 days, NO further extensions were possible for the STV.  Nor could the Permit of Stay be converted to a different category. I have not been reading up as much as I used to on this, but I would come up with the dreaded phrase 'ask an agent!' They have been achieving new and wonderful things lately.

[sallecc]

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

My recollection was after the 2 extensions of 90 days, NO further extensions were possible for the STV.  Nor could the Permit of Stay be converted to a different category. I have not been reading up as much as I used to on this, but I would come up with the dreaded phrase 'ask an agent!' They have been achieving new and wonderful things lately.

Wow that's a bummer for my gf's STV then... In another thread they were sure that STV could be topped with Covid extensions... We will go to immigration next week to ask directly... Her 2nd (last) STV extension expires Nov., she hoped to get 1 Covid extension to stay over Christmas and New Year, if not then she will just leave.

[jacko45k]

14 hours ago, sallecc said:

Wow that's a bummer for my gf's STV then... In another thread they were sure that STV could be topped with Covid extensions..

Please check for yourself, as I said I have not kept on top of this subject as it seems to change week to week and has got complicated. A question in this forum might help as Ubonjoe there is very knowledgeable. 

[bristolgeoff]

My friend in cnx have being there since the start,Don,t know if he stay to next year,but getting the visa every few mths was easy as long as you pay the 2000 baht.Everyone has to wait and see when the gates open and the hotel stay stops

 

[sallecc]

Hi guys I just want to let you know that my gf successfully applied for Covid extension on top of her STV visa, so this mystery has been resolved now ???? Standard Covid extension procedure, same as for any other visa.

[ChomDo]

On 10/8/2021 at 2:38 AM, sallecc said:

Hi guys I just want to let you know that my gf successfully applied for Covid extension on top of her STV visa, so this mystery has been resolved now ???? Standard Covid extension procedure, same as for any other visa.

Sounds good. I guess same for normal 60+30 day TR visa then. Do you know what papers were asked? 

[sallecc]

11 hours ago, ChomDo said:

Sounds good. I guess same for normal 60+30 day TR visa then. Do you know what papers were asked? 

Hi, please keep in mind that was almost 2 months ago... Standard Covid extension procedure (in Phuket I/O), only TM7, Affidavit and TM30, nothing else... No idea what they need now, I heard of reports asking for return flight ticket, and refusing Covid extension for Volunteer visa, etc... I'll know more when I visit Phuket I/O in couple of weeks time ????