Hi

I was talking to some Canadian friends a few days ago. They visit Thailand every year for a couple of months or so, arriving on a visa exempt and then go to immigration and extend it by 30 days. They went to Hua Hin immigration and were told they can't do it anymore and would have to leave the country by the end of their 30 days. I think (I'm not 100% sure) they also tried at Chiang Wattana and were told the same thing. Does anyone know anything about this? Were they just asking for the wrong thing (unlikely as they have been doing this for a few years) or is this something new.

So your friends visit Thailand visa exempt and obtain a 30 day extension = 60 + 30 days and do that once per year?

That should be perfectly OK.

They will need a TM30.

They can obtain ONE 30 day extension to the 60 stamp issued at entry.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1349961-visa-extension/

VE entries permitted a stay of 60 days.

30 day extensions are permitted if entering by air or sea, but not by land borders.

I very much doubt your Canadian friends would first travel from Canada to Lao or Malaysia, then enter via a land border.
If they only stay one to two months, they wouldn't require a 30 day extension.

Somebody is telling you porkies.

Yes they do it once a year - Canadian snowbirds. They don't overstay or go for multiple visa exempts/extensions. Just your typical retirees escaping Canadian winter. They are in Vietnam right now but will be back soon so I will ask more questions when they get back. I only had time for a very brief conversation with them as they were heading back to their hotel so may not have got the complete story. It sounded a bit weird to me but I thought I would check if there has been any recent policy changes. Thanks for your confirmation that there hasn't been.

3 minutes ago, Searunner said:

It sounded a bit weird to me but I thought I would check if there has been any recent policy changes.

Some offices are not issuing 30 day extension if entry was via land border.

That is not your friends situation assuming they entered Thailand via air.

They should be able to obtain a 30 day extension.

Don't know why HH refused.

5 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Some offices are not issuing 30 day extension if entry was via land border.

That is not your friends situation assuming they entered Thailand via air.

They should be able to obtain a 30 day extension.

Don't know why HH refused.

Yes they did enter by air and that was exactly what I was thinking. I need to get more details.

11 minutes ago, Searunner said:

Yes they did enter by air and that was exactly what I was thinking. I need to get more details.

You might be interested in this thread. November last year

In particular post early in thread by ThaiVisaCentre.

Thanks Dr Jack!

7 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

You might be interested in this thread. November last year

In particular post early in thread by ThaiVisaCentre…

Thank you for posting the link to that very important post. It has reminded me to add it to the topic Laws, regulations, Police Orders, etc with the line

Visa-exempt entry screening – Immigration Memorandum 14 NOV 2025

(currently #8 in the list)