New Penang Visa Rules

[Sojourner1]

About 6 months ago I thought you could go to Penang and receive a 60 day visa, to be extended 30 days while in Thailand. Is this still the case?

How many times can you do this back to back? I have looked throught he forums and asked around, but there is different info flying around.

I entered on a 1 month tourist visa and wanted to study Thai and get an Ed visa, but after learning about all the hoops to jump through it looks like that will cost a fortune. I will still take the Thai classes, but won't pay for 200 classes in advance plus the cost of flying to Singapore for 3 days to get the visa.

[mallyrd]

There will be many people more familiar with this topic than I who will tell you whats what.

Penang is well known for it's differing position in respect of Visa's. What you cant't get at Penang you can probably get in KL.

You say you have entered Thailand on a 30 day tourist visa? Do you actually mean that you entered on a 30 day visa exempt permission to stay? If so then I reckon this makes a whole lot of difference to your situation. I hope the experts will quickly pick up on this.

[muratremix]

I also would like to learn if it is possible to get 6 / 12 month non-o tourist visa just like penang offered before they changed their policies, near Thailand of course.

[Hans Brix]

6 - 12 month o tourist visas? you lost me. when could anyone ever get a 1 year o tourist visa? wait now I'm really baffled. what is a 12 month o tourist visa. I aint never heard of it

[Sojourner1]

There will be many people more familiar with this topic than I who will tell you whats what.

Penang is well known for it's differing position in respect of Visa's. What you cant't get at Penang you can probably get in KL.

You say you have entered Thailand on a 30 day tourist visa? Do you actually mean that you entered on a 30 day visa exempt permission to stay? If so then I reckon this makes a whole lot of difference to your situation. I hope the experts will quickly pick up on this.

Yes, that would be the exempt 30 day visa.

I did the run last year to Penang and got a 60 day visa...and extended it another 30 days. Did this last year through entering on the 30 day exempt visa. Just wondering if this is still possible and how many times back to back this can be done.

I have heard new rules restrcting visa runs to 5 back to back. Of course, this is just hearsay.

[PoorSucker]

Penang has a policy to not issue tourist visas if the applicant had extended their last visa within Thailand.

So basically you have to go to Penang every 60 days for a new visa.

If you extend it with 30 days at immigrations they will refuse you.

[Hans Brix]

Penang has a policy to not issue tourist visas if the applicant had extended their last visa within Thailand.

So basically you have to go to Penang every 60 days for a new visa.

If you extend it with 30 days at immigrations they will refuse you.

I went to Penang last year after I got a 30 day extension on my 60 day tourist visa. I guess I got lucky and got another 60 day visa. my agent told me before I attempted this that it would likely be refused. After that scare I started doing run there for 60 dayers with no extensions. So I went there every 60 days for another year because I refuse to make Laos runs due to the inconvenience and nightmare involved with that fiasco of an ordeal. my preference was the every 60 day flights to Penang but that practice gets expensive but because I have the cash to do it, I do it to avoid the vientiance chaos

[Sojourner1]

Ok...lots of good info. I checked around and asked the visa run workers.

Seems that you can go to Penang for the 60 day visa back to back IF you do not get the 30 day extension. IF you get the 30 day extension, they will deny you a back to back visa. To avoid this, and if you get the 30 day extension inside Thailand, you have to mix in another run somewhere else, say Burma for a 15 day visa, and then go back to Penang for the 60 day visa and can extend for another 30 days.

[Phatcharanan]

I went to Penang last year after I got a 30 day extension on my 60 day tourist visa. I started doing run there for 60 dayers with no extensions. So I went there every 60 days for another year because I refuse to make Laos runs

I suspect that another couple of 'tourist visa runs' will be the least of your worries if you have been doing them for over a year.

[lewis1]

Penang has a policy to not issue tourist visas if the applicant had extended their last visa within Thailand.

So basically you have to go to Penang every 60 days for a new visa.

If you extend it with 30 days at immigrations they will refuse you.

how about if visa has taken from another country? not from Malaysia.... can i take a risk and go to Penang. (easiest for me) i have single entry tourist visa from Finland and it has extended here in Hua Hin

[thaiphoon]

Penang has a policy to not issue tourist visas if the applicant had extended their last visa within Thailand.

So basically you have to go to Penang every 60 days for a new visa.

If you extend it with 30 days at immigrations they will refuse you.

how about if visa has taken from another country? not from Malaysia.... can i take a risk and go to Penang. (easiest for me) i have single entry tourist visa from Finland and it has extended here in Hua Hin

Am not aware of any policy change at Penang, and is I understand as PoorSucker says. Any extension of stay on tourist visa will deny you a new tourist visa at Penang (but KL would issue).

[afarang]

Penang has a policy to not issue tourist visas if the applicant had extended their last visa within Thailand.

So basically you have to go to Penang every 60 days for a new visa.

If you extend it with 30 days at immigrations they will refuse you.

I went to Penang last year after I got a 30 day extension on my 60 day tourist visa. I guess I got lucky and got another 60 day visa. my agent told me before I attempted this that it would likely be refused. After that scare I started doing run there for 60 dayers with no extensions. So I went there every 60 days for another year because I refuse to make Laos runs due to the inconvenience and nightmare involved with that fiasco of an ordeal. my preference was the every 60 day flights to Penang but that practice gets expensive but because I have the cash to do it, I do it to avoid the vientiance chaos

What is Sawannakhet like these days, I, too gave up going to Vientianne, many years ago. Choosing , instead ,S,KT. I found them very good.But it is 6 years since i last went

[thaiphoon]

What is Sawannakhet like these days, I, too gave up going to Vientianne, many years ago. Choosing , instead ,S,KT. I found them very good.But it is 6 years since i last went

Single entry tourist visa. Most folks go to Vientianne because of the availability of double entry tourist visa which, with extensions, gives nearly 6 months stay.

[lewis1]

Hi it's me again! just arrived from Penang. I got new tourist visa with single entry, althought my previous was extended twice...30days+7 days...but, i had to pay 250 malaysian ringgit. i went to Banana guesthouse on Chulia street and boy there said, if you pay that it's OK otherwise no. so i didn't take a risk and go to consulate by my own. it was easy and fast service at guesthouse,next afternoon i had visa in my passport and meanwhile i had nice time to relax in town...

[mjochim]

What documentation did you have to show to obtain the 60-day Tourist Visa?

I'm going to need to get one at the end of this month (been on a Non-Imm O for three-and-a-half years with one-year extensions but am now unemployed and separated from my wife). Have heard you need to show an airline ticket back home; just trying to get legal "cover" until I sign a new contract for the school year beginning in May...

I have a few more questions as well; I'll start a new thread with those...

[H2oDunc]

2 Photo's and a copy of your passport was all I showed the last time I got one. The guy I use to get them has a good contact in the consulate and he isn't expensive. PM me for his details if you need them.

[Somtamnication]

Any updates on Penang for Non 0 multiple?

[grisbil3n]

So you cannot go to Penang for the ED visa anymore?

[khman]

Hi,

I already have 3 "2 months tourist visa", and I am on the 30 day extension on the third.

I want to go to Penang.

Do you have updates about this rumor "they dont give new tourist visa if you extended already your present one" ?

Is it better to pay someone (hotel..) to go to embassy/consulate instead going myself?

Do they provide double entry?

What are the fees !

Thanks for the feedback.

PS : I am in Koh Samui

[Mario2008]

In your case it seems to be better to go to cambodia and apply in Phnom Phen for a double entry. Chances are you will be denied in Penang now you have extended.

[khman]

Thanks for the reply Mario...

You mean ambassy/consulate in Phnom Phen looks more "friendly" and seems to less look into my passport history?

Is it the place I have highest chances of getting visa?

Single entry would also be Ok, if there are other places...

Also, if in Penang I give passport to hotel, or someone in the business, maybe he can get it (maybe he pays someone, I guess)

Thanks again.

[Atmos]

I was there in March this year

I was able to get a Tourist Visa as I had not extended my previous TV - but i had extended the one before that . . . anyway, worked for me.

There was not an option for a double-entry TV.

I used an agent, to allow more sightseeing time around George Town.

At that time TVs were still free; I've since had another one - Phnom Penh and the fee was US $35

Royal Thai Consulate General Penang website

[PoorSucker]

Kuala Lumpur will give you a single entry and so will Kota Bahru.

For Kota Bahru visa run from Samui, contact Herbert.

Office opposite immigrations in Nathon.

For Flight to KL (Subang) from Samui, take Firefly.

http://www.fireflyz.com.my/