Reader question: What is cheaper a visa or visa extension?
Dear editors,
Am I wrong or… is the extension in the Netherlands for 30 days at the embassy still cheaper? We are going to Ban Phe for 7 weeks and should we still go to Pattaya for an extension?
Yours faithfully,
Willem
Dear Willem,
An Embassy only issues visas and no extensions. You can only get an extension of your stay at an Immigration office/checkpoint in Thailand, with the exception of Suvarnabhumi Airport: www.immigration.go.th/
Extensions may not be issued anywhere else, including at an embassy, consulate, police station, visa office or anywhere else. Granting an extension is also the sole discretion of an Immigration officer.
The cost of an extension is 1900 baht. The price of a Tourist visa is 30 euros or about 1260 baht. Now you just have to decide for yourself what is most important/best for you. If you only look at the "cheapest", then you must of course include all costs such as travel costs, etc.
It is important (in my personal opinion) that when you leave with a visa you can rest easy for 60 days. You no longer have to worry about your stay period. (or you have to be refused entry on arrival, but then you probably have a bigger problem). In Thailand it is always a question of whether this (or any) extension will be allowed.
I would like to draw your attention to the fact that a “visa exemption” is in principle still intended for a maximum stay of 30 days. In the past you could also extend this, but then it was limited to 7 days. So now 30 days. You can say an improvement. However, someone who already intends to stay in Thailand for more than 30 days uninterruptedly upon arrival should, in principle, be in possession of a visa upon arrival.
Will this be taken into account when granting an extension of 30 days, because after all, that person already knew upon arrival that he would stay longer than 30 days. Controlling this is simple. Simply ask for the ticket when applying for an extension.
Don't know. It's all new and I think we'll have to wait a bit until the end of the year and then see how it all works out in practice.
Just this. Some airlines require a visa for stays longer than 30 days, or proof that you are leaving Thailand within 30 days. If this was not the case, you could be refused on the flight. I wonder if they will change their rules. Personally I don't think so, because it is an extension, and as I wrote you could also extend your visa exemption in the past and that was not taken into account at the time.
Pleasant stay.
Regards,
RonnyLatPhrao
Disclaimer: The advice is based on existing regulations. The editors accept no responsibility if this is deviated from in practice.