Hi guys,

I just moved to Chiang Mai and landed here about a week ago with a standard 30 day tourist visa (I didn't apply for any specific visa in advance). I am planning to stay here for at least a few months, so wondered what is the best way to get my visa extended?

I know there is probably already a clear answer on this forum already, but i've often found I get more off a response if I just create a fresh post.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

p.s I'm a U.K citizen

and p.s p.s:

I know you can get a 30 day extension from the Chiang Mai immigration office quite easily, but is it just a one time thing? Also I vaguely know another alternative is to border hop, but can anyone give me anymore specifics on the best way to go about it, and specifically from Chiang Mai? Also can the above ways of extension be used in conjuction together?

Thanks so much & I really appreciate your replies!

There are no 30 day tourist visas. You have a 30 day "visa exempt" entry". This entry can be extended for 30 days at an immigration office at a cost of 1900 Bht.

A longer stay will involve leaving Thailand to obtain a single or double entry tourist visa from a Thai Embassy/Consulate

You can get one 30 day extension of your current 30 day entry at immigration for a fee of 1900 baht.

The days of just doing border hops for another visa exempt entry are gone.

You best option is to go to Vientiane for a 2 entry tourist visa that would give you almost 6 months of total stay by getting a 30 day extension of the 60 day entries the visa allows.

You do not give information such as your age. If over 50 you might have an alternative for below.

Given the limited info you give, your best bet is to go to Laos and apply for a double entry visa in Vientiane (or Savanakhet).

a standard 30 day tourist visa (I didn't apply for any specific visa in advance). I am planning to stay here for at least a few months,

You don't have a tourist visa. You were allowed a 30 day entry without a visa.

As said above, you can get a 30 day extension of stay at an immigrations office and, if you only plan to stay here for a few months, then go get an actual tourist visa at a neighboring country, which would get you a 60 day stay extendable by another 30 days (or twice that amount of time if you get a two entry tourist visa, which would require an exit and re-entry towards the end of the first 60 + 30 day stay).

Thanks for the info guys. Really clarified al ot!

It looks like I will be making a trip to Vientiane fairly soon.

Can I ask, is it a pretty straightforward procedure at the Thai Consulate (In this case Vientiane's, but in general) to obtain a double entry visa? any practical tips for when I'm there?

Also, if I get the 30 day non-visa extension at the immigration office, will it effect me getting an actual tourist visa at all afterwards (double or otherwise) ? Or is not really a factor that determines getting the tourist visa or not?

Many thanks guys, really appreciate the comments.

P.S for the person who said that age can be a determining factor for all this, I'm 25!

Edited April 26, 201511 yr by SMW1989

You can get the 2 entry tourist visa in Vientiane without a problem. Just fill out the application form attach 2 photos to it and a copy of your passport photo page. Then pay the 2000 baht fee. Best to go on a Tuesday or Wednesday since it will be less busy those days.

Getting the 30 day extension of your visa exempt entry will have no effect on you getting the tourist visa.

One Off Topic post removed

Thanks for the info guys. Really clarified al ot!

It looks like I will be making a trip to Vientiane fairly soon.

Can I ask, is it a pretty straightforward procedure at the Thai Consulate (In this case Vientiane's, but in general) to obtain a double entry visa? any practical tips for when I'm there?

Also, if I get the 30 day non-visa extension at the immigration office, will it effect me getting an actual tourist visa at all afterwards (double or otherwise) ? Or is not really a factor that determines getting the tourist visa or not?

Many thanks guys, really appreciate the comments.

P.S for the person who said that age can be a determining factor for all this, I'm 25!

Practical tips?

Go early, don't let anyone on the outside offer you "help", bring a few passport photos.

Vientiane has fantastic food and Lao dark beer. Enjoy!

Also consider bussing up to Luang Prabang, spend a few nights then slow boat up to Chiang Kong and bus back to Chiang Mai.

I find I like to make a little holiday out of a visa run.

Edited April 27, 201511 yr by duanebigsby