Thai immigration announce further extension of ‘COVID extensions’

[webfact]

 

The Thai Immigration Bureau has announced that foreigners who remain in Thailand due to the COVID-19 situation have until almost the end of January next year to extend their stay permission to remain in the country.

 

It was expected that the so-called ‘COVID extensions’ would no longer be available with Thailand and other countries starting to reopen their borders to tourists. 

 

But according to a new order, dated 23 November 2021, foreigners can apply for a COVID extension until 25 January 2022. 

 

As this is a 60 day extension, it essentially grants stay in the country until 26 March 2022.

 

The order will once again be welcomed by those people who remain in Thailand due to COVID-19 and need to or want to stay longer.

 

Anyone whose temporary extension was due to expire are advised to visit their local immigration office for a further extension. It will cost 1,900 baht.

 

Special thanks toThai Visa Centre for the information.

 

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[david555]

At least all is clear now with this announcement for some more months

[Iwik Detsiwt]

Talk about 11th hour....but a welcome decision for those that need this security blanket to remain in Thailand. The Covid-19 situation in Europe shows no sign of abating for the time being.

[Denim]

Makes sense. After the grand reopening of the country to tourists failure , perhaps it has finally dawned on them that hanging onto the foreigners they have in their hand is better than waiting for imaginary ones out in the bush.

[david555]

18 minutes ago, Iwik Detsiwt said:

Talk about 11th hour....but a welcome decision for those that need this security blanket to remain in Thailand. The Covid-19 situation in Europe shows no sign of abating for the time being.

. The Covid-19 situation in Europe shows no sign of abating for the time being.

 

 

And expect some to be imported here ....making so a new Thai covid strain wave ..

????

 

[KhunBENQ]

11 minutes ago, david555 said:

. The Covid-19 situation in Europe shows no sign of abating for the time being.

Yep. Much better to be in Thailand than in Germany or Austria e.g.

They are going crazy now. Plans like: vaccinated PLUS tested just to go for some non essential shopping. Curfew for non vaccinated.... mandatory vaccination (A) etc. etc. I can hardly stand to follow the news.

[RichardColeman]

53 minutes ago, webfact said:

But according to a new order, dated 23 November 2021, foreigners can apply for a COVID extension until 25 January 2022. 

 

As this is a 60 day extension, it essentially grants stay in the country until 26 March 2022.

my view, they are doing this as they know that real tourist wont be coming and they aim to keep what little they have here as long as possible, there is no reason why an amnesty now needs to be in place

[lanng khao]

Great news, didn't fancy going back to the cold, wet, miserable UK on the 8 th of January anyway..????

[khunphil]

(maybe) Stupid question ... but to get this extension, do we need to show any proof of any thing ? Or just pay and go ? (asking for an European friend)

[jackdd]

5 minutes ago, khunphil said:

(maybe) Stupid question ... but to get this extension, do we need to show any proof of any thing ? Or just pay and go ? (asking for an European friend)

You have to complete an affidavit (a paper which you get at immigration), regarding why you need this extension, just check the second checkbox which says something like that your embassy doesn't issue you a letter.

Some people in Bangkok have been asked to show a flight ticket out of Thailand.

[Ohyesuare]

8 minutes ago, khunphil said:

(maybe) Stupid question ... but to get this extension, do we need to show any proof of any thing ? Or just pay and go ? (asking for an European friend)

Previously you didn't but this time it seems they have added a stipulation that it is up to the immigration officer's discretion as they don't want people "abusing" it.

[pauleddy]

So what happens to people with the covid visa who want to stay after Jan 25? If they are not monks, teachers, retired or getting married?

 

Can they apply for a 6 month stay with an 0 visa?

 

As an aside, what happened to the Immig law 5 years ago to prevent the broke from living on beaches.You could stay 6 months but then had to leave for 6 months before a new application? Did Covid void all that?

 

Eddy

[Ohyesuare]

3 minutes ago, pauleddy said:

So what happens to people with the covid visa who want to stay after Jan 25? If they are not monks, teachers, retired or getting married?

 

Can they apply for a 6 month stay with an 0 visa?

 

As an aside, what happened to the Immig law 5 years ago to prevent the broke from living on beaches.You could stay 6 months but then had to leave for 6 months before a new application? Did Covid void all that?

 

Eddy

If the borders are open, they'll go back to doing border runs or visa runs I guess. Or Elite visa if they can afford it. COVID voided the 6 months thing ya.

[jackdd]

13 minutes ago, Ohyesuare said:

Previously you didn't but this time it seems they have added a stipulation that it is up to the immigration officer's discretion as they don't want people "abusing" it.

They didn't add anything, these are just random IOs who try to make their own rules, because they don't like foreigners or something like that.

 

7 minutes ago, pauleddy said:

So what happens to people with the covid visa who want to stay after Jan 25?

Wait until end of January, it might be extended again.

 

7 minutes ago, pauleddy said:

As an aside, what happened to the Immig law 5 years ago to prevent the broke from living on beaches.You could stay 6 months but then had to leave for 6 months before a new application? Did Covid void all that?

Something like that never existed in Thailand. The only official limitation is "maximum 2 visa exempts at land borders per calendar year".

[lanng khao]

20 minutes ago, khunphil said:

(maybe) Stupid question ... but to get this extension, do we need to show any proof of any thing ? Or just pay and go ? (asking for an European friend)

If he's married make sure he takes his wife with him and proof of where he's staying,lease etc..

[Ohyesuare]

7 minutes ago, jackdd said:

They didn't add anything, these are just random IOs who try to make their own rules, because they don't like foreigners or something like that.

Actually an extra clause was added this time that says: "Officials must be stricter in order to make sure foreigners are not abusing the system."

[ubonjoe]

17 minutes ago, pauleddy said:

As an aside, what happened to the Immig law 5 years ago to prevent the broke from living on beaches.You could stay 6 months but then had to leave for 6 months before a new application? Did Covid void all that?

You are thinking of the 90 days on visa exempt entries within 6 months rule that was dropped in 2008.

[JoseThailand]

14 minutes ago, Ohyesuare said:

Actually an extra clause was added this time that says: "Officials must be stricter in order to make sure foreigners are not abusing the system."

Maybe they must be stricter to the newly arrived, because they obviously can fly in and out.

[Rimmer]

A misleading troll post has been removed

[khunphil]

1 hour ago, Ohyesuare said:

Previously you didn't but this time it seems they have added a stipulation that it is up to the immigration officer's discretion as they don't want people "abusing" it.

So if you enter Thailand with a "visa exemption", (as a toursit) , you can't use this extension ...? You need a visa, of any kind...

[jackdd]

41 minutes ago, Ohyesuare said:

Actually an extra clause was added this time that says: "Officials must be stricter in order to make sure foreigners are not abusing the system."

Yes indeed, you are right, they added something in this regard.

 

Does anybody still have the last police order which extended it to 26th November? I would like to compare the wording that they use.

[Drees]

Last week I went to Roi-Et immigration, they told me that this was the last time that I could get a Covid extension. I asked them if they were sure. And they said: "100% sure!"

[ubonjoe]

23 minutes ago, khunphil said:

So if you enter Thailand with a "visa exemption", (as a toursit) , you can't use this extension ...? You need a visa, of any kind...

No it does not mean you cannot get one for a visa exempt entry.

[hotchilli]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

But according to a new order, dated 23 November 2021, foreigners can apply for a COVID extension until 25 January 2022. 

I guess they want to keep tourists here as long as possible.

[Jamusmcscramus]

So if you arrive visa exempt and then extend that for 30 days could you then apply for a 60 day Covid visa extension at the end of the second 30 day tourist visa? 

[lanng khao]

40 minutes ago, jackdd said:

Yes indeed, you are right, they added something in this regard.

 

Does anybody still have the last police order which extended it to 26th November? I would like to compare the wording that they use.

Jackdd,,  you were confused at what I said, I'm just going on my experience, because I entered the country on a non o due to being married, they wouldn't give me a covid extension unless she was there to provide details..that's in korat, might be different elsewhere.

[SmokeandIce]

3 hours ago, david555 said:

At least all is clear now with this announcement for some more months

Not totally clear, it was reported that Covid extensions are at the discretion of the Thai Immigration officer and not guaranteed.  

[ubonjoe]

7 minutes ago, Jamusmcscramus said:

So if you arrive visa exempt and then extend that for 30 days could you then apply for a 60 day Covid visa extension at the end of the second 30 day tourist visa? 

You could apply for a 60 day covid 19 extension of stay (it is not a visa).

[jackdd]

5 minutes ago, SmokeandIce said:

Not totally clear, it was reported that Covid extensions are at the discretion of the Thai Immigration officer and not guaranteed.  

Same as any other extension.

[DefaultName]

Perhaps a silly question, but why are they doing this?  It's now possible to fly to most countries, which kills the original reason for it.