Visa info for Thailand 2020
As of Jan 2020 this information was correct- but it changes all the time- always double check!
There are two basic options, either get a Visa on entry or get a tourist visa before you get here. It really depends on how long you want to stay and what your travel plans are.
Most countries can get a free automatic 30 day visa on entry. This can be extended for another 30 days at Krabi immigration for 2000 Baht.
Tips for Visa on entry
When you arrive and fill out that arrival form MAKE SURE you put down a hotel you will be staying. It does not matter if you are actually staying there or not, or if you have a booking- but just that you have something to put on the form. Drama can result if you try to be clever about it...
The other thing to bare in mind is your exit date from the country, if you have a return ticket which returns after 30 days, then chances are the airline is gonna kick up a stink and not let you on. This can be maddening and no amount of persuasion of any kind will move them (I have tried everything)- In the end you will need to book some crappy one way ticket on their airline at an earlier date you will never use- no matter that you intend to leave over land, or extend- they can be very painful. The actual Thai immigration really do not seem bothered about this.
Best strategy in these circumstances is to book a bus over the border and show this at the airport check in- even this does not always work- the only safe way to do this if you are travelling on a one way ticket or a return longer then 30 days is to get the Thai 60 day visa from a Thai embassy- once you have this the airlines pretty much have to let you on....
Extensions 2020
So you just can't resist spending another month to finish off those projects while marinating in a relaxing haze of margaritas and sunsets....
At the moment it seems you can extend both the 30 day on entry and the 60 day tourist visa by 30 days at Krabi immigration for 2000 Baht. This is a really easy process. These days all you have to do is turn up with your passport a few days BEFORE your expiry date.
If you have photo copies and extra pics, then apparently you can get it for 1900 Baht. Last time I turned up with these they just scanned my passport and charged me 2000- and lets face it- you would have to be mad to make a scene and argue the 100 Baht....
The whole process takes about 10 minutes and is kinda pleasant- at least compared to the old border run....
Border Runs
Once you can no longer extend, it's time for a border run. These days your best bet is to fly in fly out- probably to Singapore or KL. If you fly, you get 30 days. However this is at their discretion- so if you fly in and out on the same say with a passport full of the same, there is a good chance they may say no... if you do have such a passport- then you are gonna be better informed then me....
The traditional land/ bus run to Suratthani is an option. They changed it so that you only get 15 days if you do this- with no extension- but the latest I heard they were giving 30 days again and you could extend. However you can only do this 2 times per calandar year. Info is so patchy that you are really only going to know if and when you try.
Over stays
This is never a good option- it's 500 baht a day which is bloody expensive- on top of that you get an overstay stamp- so that next time you are trying to get an extension or Visa on arrival there is a greater chance of you getting knocked back.
You have to be out on the date it says on the passport stamp- some say you get a days grace- and I have talked to the immigration guys and they do actually have the discretion to give you one day lea way- however in practice, and I have tried this more then once- they never let me get a way with even a few hours over- then again perhaps I lack the required charm and good looks....
New info
Everything is always changing and you can trust no published sources- including this page! You can look for "official" information- but it is a train crash- every embassy/ consulate has their own mini website which is hopelessly out of date and unique to them. The Thai government sites are not much better... Then there are sites that look like official sites but are there to rip you off.... agh! Be very careful doing anything online...
Interesting news I did hear is that very soon electronic extensions are going to be a thing...
Some mostly useless links:
- http://www.thaiembassy.org/main/- agh a smorgasbord of disparate sites...
- http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/4908/15398-Issuance-of-Visa.html
- https://www.immigration.go.th/content/service - Good luck!
- https://www.worldtravelguide.net/guides/asia/thailand/passport-visa/ This site seemed pretty good-