Thailand Visa Q&A: Can I get a 30 day visa extension by land?
Dear editors,
I want to travel from Sihanouk, via Trat to Bangkok this week. So I will only be able to stay for 14 days.
Does anyone know if I can get a 30 day extension in an immigration office? Coming in by air is no problem, I know that.
Return flight to Belgium is January 26.
Regards,
Philip
Dear Philip,
Order of Immigration bureau No. 327/2557 – Subject: Criteria and Conditions for Consideration of an Alien's Application for a Temporary Stay in the Kingdom of Thailand regulates the extensions.
This includes 2.4 In the case of tourism purposes:
- Each permission shall be granted for no more than 30 days from the date on which the permitted period has expired.
- The alien: (1) Must have been granted a tourist visa (TOURIST) or exempted from applying or visa.
- Each permission shall be granted for no more than 30 days as announced by Ministry of Interior.
According to paragraph 2.4 of this “Order”, you must belong only to the group of travelers to whom the Visa Exemption applies. (or Tourist Visa but not applicable to you in this case). No difference is made between a Visa Exemption via an immigration post by land, where you, as a Belgian/Dutch citizen, only have 15 days, or an immigration post via an airport where it is 30 days.
As always, it is the Immigration Officer who has the final say, but if he/she follows these rules, you should have no problem getting a 30-day extension, even if you entered the country with a 15-day Visa Exemption.
Let us know how it turned out.
Regards.
RonnyLatPhrao
Disclaimer: The advice is based on existing regulations. The editors accept no responsibility if this is deviated from in practice.