Changing to multi entry visa

[Insideman]

Hi. I just arrived in Bangkok on a 30-day visa from the UK. I plan to stay here for about six months total. What are my best options given my situation? I was wondering if I could change my visa to a multi-entry one without having to leave the country first and apply at a thai embassy abroad? Any input is much appreciated.

[Mario2008]

You should apply for a double entry tourist visa in Laos, together with extensions that will give you almost 180 days.

Apply at the consulate, return to Thialand and get a stay of 60 days. Extend this stay with 30 days for 1,900 baht and leave the country before the visa itself expires. Same day return to Thailand for another stay of 60 days, which you can again extend with 30 days.

[ubonjoe]

You cannot apply for a visa here unless can qualify for some type of long term extension of stay.

You did not get a visa on entry you got 30 day visa exempt entry. You can extend that 30 days at a immigration office for a fee of 1900 baht.

[Suradit69]

Hi. I just arrived in Bangkok on a 30-day visa from the UK. I plan to stay here for about six months total. What are my best options given my situation? I was wondering if I could change my visa to a multi-entry one without having to leave the country first and apply at a thai embassy abroad? Any input is much appreciated.

You don't have a visa, you have been allowed to enter for 30 days on a visa exempt entry. You could extend that by another 30 days by going to an immigration office and applying for a 30 day extension of your permission to stay, but since you want to stay for 6 months, towards the end of your current 30 day stay you might as well go to Laos and get a double entry tourist visa at the Thai embassy or consulate.

With few exceptions, visas are only available at Thai embassies or consulates and those are located only outside of Thailand.

A double entry tourist visa will allow you to stay for 60 days. You can get an additional 30 day stay at an immigration office in Thailand. Towards the end of the 60 + 30 day stay you will need to exit Thailand, turn around and come back into Thailand before the visa expires. That will be your second entry on the tourist visa which will net you again 60 days plus the option of extending your permission to stay another 30 days at Immigrations.

You can apply for the 30 day extensions a week or so before your permission to stay on the 60 day entry expires. You will not lose any days if you go in a bit early since the extension is added onto your 60 day permission whenever it ends. Don't wait 'til the 60th day to apply for the extension.

[Insideman]

Thanks for helping me clear that up. It's the embassy in Vietiane I need correct? Any issues going there that are vaccination related, such as Malaria? I am staying in Phrang Nga so I wasn't recommended a lot of the vaccinations/treatments that are relevant in the north. My current onward flight is booked to Singapore for the 29th of Jan. Would applying for a double entry tourist visa there also be an option? The journey from Phrang Nga to Vietiane and from Phrang Nga to Singapore isn't that much different to me.

Thanks for the info so far guys, you've been very helpful.

[beechguy]

Thanks for helping me clear that up. It's the embassy in Vietiane I need correct? Any issues going there that are vaccination related, such as Malaria? I am staying in Phrang Nga so I wasn't recommended a lot of the vaccinations/treatments that are relevant in the north. My current onward flight is booked to Singapore for the 29th of Jan. Would applying for a double entry tourist visa there also be an option? The journey from Phrang Nga to Vietiane and from Phrang Nga to Singapore isn't that much different to me.

Thanks for the info so far guys, you've been very helpful.

In the Pinned Topics Section, there is a section on obtaining visas within the region, Singapore usually doesn't come across as very friendly.

You would have been much better off, asking these questions when you were still in your home country, where you could have applied for a double, or even triple entry Tourist Visa, by post at Hull or one of the other Honorary Consuls.

[Insideman]

Thanks for helping me clear that up. It's the embassy in Vietiane I need correct? Any issues going there that are vaccination related, such as Malaria? I am staying in Phrang Nga so I wasn't recommended a lot of the vaccinations/treatments that are relevant in the north. My current onward flight is booked to Singapore for the 29th of Jan. Would applying for a double entry tourist visa there also be an option? The journey from Phrang Nga to Vietiane and from Phrang Nga to Singapore isn't that much different to me.

Thanks for the info so far guys, you've been very helpful.

In the Pinned Topics Section, there is a section on obtaining visas within the region, Singapore usually doesn't come across as very friendly.

You would have been much better off, asking these questions when you were still in your home country, where you could have applied for a double, or even triple entry Tourist Visa, by post at Hull or one of the other Honorary Consuls.

I'm aware of this. I wasn't staying in the UK prior to the start of my journey. The country where I was staying (Portugal) doesn't issue visas to non-residents (which I realized too late) and mailing my passport to Hull or London wasn't an option at the time as I needed to make sure I had it for travel.

I can see the region pin post now. I'll check it out.