A friend of mine was about to apply for a non immigrant Visa at his home country Netherlands. At the Thai embassy he has been informed that he can enter Thailand as a tourist and later convert into non immigrant visa. Does that sound right to you? As to my knowledge there is no way to convert the type of Visa inside Thailand.

If he meets the qualifications for extension of stay (retirement/family or such) he can convert to a single entry non immigrant 90 day visa stay that he can then extend. Cost is 2,000 baht for conversion (must be done with more than 21 days remaining on permitted to stay stamp) and 1,900 baht for extension of stay.

If he was trying to obtain a non immigrant visa for visiting friends or some such reason as that he will most likely not be able to obtain inside Thailand or anywhere in the immediate area.

Lopburi3, thanks very much for the info. This they haven't told my friend, now, he's about to obtain the proper visa (based on retirement) either from the Laos embassy or get a tourist visa and convert as you've mentioned. He does qualify for retirement as he had this kind of visa before but he's a little sloppy with deadlines

If he meets the qualifications for extension of stay (retirement/family or such) he can convert to a single entry non immigrant 90 day visa stay that he can then extend. Cost is 2,000 baht for conversion (must be done with more than 21 days remaining on permitted to stay stamp) and 1,900 baht for extension of stay.

If he was trying to obtain a non immigrant visa for visiting friends or some such reason as that he will most likely not be able to obtain inside Thailand or anywhere in the immediate area.

Is this possible with a 30 days stamp (not based on a visa) ?

Do you have to then wait for nearly 3 months for the 90 day to end or can you get a 1 year extension straight away (based on retirement) ?

Yes it can be done on a 30 day entry (same 21 days remaining required). Same cost but different form. Although they were allowing immediate application for extension last year believe they have returned to the normal last 30 days of the 90 day allowed entry.