My friend arrives shortly from the UK, on arriving at Thai immigration he will be given a 30 day visa. Question - can he extend the visa at thai immigration or another 30days (Chiang Mai) or will he have to exit the county ie Mai Sai?

thanks Nigel

He will arrive without visa, so will receive a permit to stay for 30 days under the visa-exemption-rule for tourists.

He can try to get an extention with the immigration - office, up to the officer but not more than additional 10 days.

If he leaves the country before the end of the 30 days and returns he will get another 30 days permission to stay.

He should obtain a tourist visa prior to travel as no visa is available for him in Thailand. What he would get at airport is a 30 day entry without visa but first he has to get to airport and airline may not allow him to board the aircraft without a visa or onward ticket within 30 days.

In answer to question - no he can not obtain a 30 day extension of stay with a 30 day arrival stamp. Ten days would be the normal max.

He should obtain a tourist visa prior to travel as no visa is available for him in Thailand.  What he would get at airport is a 30 day entry without visa but first he has to get to airport and airline may not allow him to board the aircraft without a visa or onward ticket within 30 days. 

In answer to question - no he can not obtain a 30 day extension of stay with a 30 day arrival stamp.  Ten days would be the normal max.

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Thanks for the quick reply. I do agree it would make sense to apply for a visa before he comes.

thanks again

Nigel