Thailand Immigration guide to Extention of Visa
- Applying for an extension for an alien who is a recipient of special business visa privileges.
- Applying for an extension for aliens who come for the purpose of investment or businesss according to the Immigration Law.
- Applying for an extension for aliens who support or are being supported by parents with thai nationality or have residence in Thailand.
- Applying for an extension for aliens who support or are being supported by a spouse with Thai nationality or who has residence in Thailand
- Applying for an extension for aliens who are senior citizens and wish to retire in Thailand
- Applying for an extension of a tourist visa
- Applying for an extension for aliens who receive a visa upon arrival while in transit, including those who are exceptions to normal visa procedure, i.e. airline personnel.
- Applying for an extension after officially receiving Thai nationality.
1. Applying for an extension for an alien who is a recipient of special business visa privileges.
Certain aliens who come into the country for the purpose of business or investment receive visa privileges upon the recommendation of the Board Of Investments.
The following laws were enacted for their protection and benefit.
- The Investment Promotion Act 1977.
- The Petroleum Enterprise Act 1971.
- The Industrial Act 1979.
- Initial place to contact:
- An alien who is interested in acquiring such visas must apply for non-immigrant visa "type B" at the Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad before he enteres the country.
- Duration of the first permit :
- As warranted by such a visa, an alien will be allowed to stay in the country for 90 days.
- Duration of extension :
- The Immigration office will grant an extension for an alien to stay according to the recommendation of the Investment Support Committee, the Petroleum Committee or the Industrialization of Thailand Committee.
- Place to contact :
- For the Central/Bangkok area :
- Section 1,
- Sub-division 2,
- Immigration Bureau,
- Soi Suan Plu,
- South Sarthorn Road,
- Sathorn District,
- Bangkok 10120,
- Tel 2875148 or 2873101 ext 2252-3.
- For provincial areas :
- Contact any Immigration check point throughout the country.
2. Applying for an extension for aliens who come for the purpose of investment or businesss according to the Immigration Law.
This kind of extension is divided into 2 categories, according to the type of visa, as follows :
A. Investment of business visa, not more than 90 days.
B. Investment of business visa, longer than 90 days.
- Initial place to contact :
- A. Not more than 90 days :
- An alien must apply for a non-immigrant visa "code B" at a Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad before he enteres the country.
- B. Longer than 90 dyas :
- An alien must apply for a non-immigrant visa "code B-A". The company which an alien will invest in or do business with can also apply for this at
- Section #, Sub-division 1,
- Immigration Division 1, Room 303, 3rd Floor, Old Building, Immigration Office, Soi Suan Plu, South Sathorn Road, Bangkok 10120,
- Tel 2874948 or 2873101-10 Ext 2237.
An alien may submit a visa application at the Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad who will pass this on via the Foreign Ministry to the Immigration Bureau.
- Duration of the first permit :
- A. Not more than 90 days :
- As warranted by the visa granted, the alien will receive a visa for a maximum period of 90 days.
- B. Longer than 90 days.
- If the visa is approved by the Immigration Bureau, the applicant will receive a non-immigrant visa "code B-A: which will entitle the alien to stay in the Kingdom for a period of one year from the day of entry.
- Duration of extension :
- A. When an alien enters the Kingdom with a 90 days visa and would like to apply for an extension to continue his investment or business, he/she may apply for an extension of not more than one year at a time.
- B. When an alien enters the Kingdom with a non-immigrant visa "code B-A" which gives permisiion of a stay for one year upon entry, he/she may reapply for an extension the next year. The immigration Office will grant a one year extension.
- Requirements :
- When an alien applies for a non-immigrant visa "code B" to stay in the country 90 days or less, and would like to apply for an extension or an alien applies for a non-immigrant visa "code B-A", to stay over 90 days, he/she will need to submit the following.
- Application Form T.M 7 (for extension of alien who enters the Kingdom for not more than 90 days).
- A copy of the passport or substitute document.
- One 4x6 cm photo.
- 500 baht fee is required for an extension of 9 days or less.
- A recommendation letter from the company showing the positions of the applicant as well as the position of all foreigners working in the company and for what reasons these aliens must be employed.
- Work permit or the receipt showing the alien has applied for such a permit from the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare.
- The alien's personal tax details including : balance, profit and loss, entity income tax, VAT records for the past year.
- Certificate of entity registration, company registration certificate of limited company or commercial registration or VAT registration and list of partnerships.
- Export companies must submit documents of export transactions, i.e, bank or company transactions.
- The officials reserve the right to require more documentation for further investigation to verify the company's viability.
3. Applying for an extension for aliens who support or are being supported by parents with thai nationality or have residence in Thailand.
- Initial place to contact :
- An alien must apply for non-immigrant visa "code-O" at a Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad before he/she enters the country.
- Duration of the first permit :
- As warranted by this visa, the applicant will receive permission to stay for 90 days.
- Duration of extension :
- The Immigration Office will grant the applicant a maximum extension of one year at a time.
- Requirement :
- Application Form T.M. 7.
- A copy of passport or substitute document.
- One 4 x 6 cm. photo.
- 500 baht fee.
- Proof of parenthood, proof of relation.
- Evidence to identify that the supporter or the one being supported has Thai nationality or is residing in Thailand.
- If an alien is a supporter, he/she needs to submit financial evidence, proof of employment, a work permit and tax records.
4. Applying for an extension for aliens who support or are being supported by a spouse with Thai nationality or who has residence in Thailand.
- Initial place to contact :
- An alien must apply for a non-immigrant visa "code O" at Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad before entering the Kingdom.
- Duration of first permit:
- As warranted by this visa, permission is given for a period of 90 days.
- Duration of extension.
- The Immigration Office will grant him a maximum extension of one year at a time.
- Requirement :
- Application Form T.M. 7.
- A copy of passport or substitute document.
- One 4 x 6 cm photo.
- Marriage certificate.
- 500 baht fee.
- Birth certificate (if any)
- Evidence to identify that the supporter or the one being supported has a Thai nationality or has residence in Thailand.
- If an alien is the supporter, he must submit financial evidence, proof of employment, work permit and tax receipts.
5. Applying for an extension for aliens who are senior citizens and wish to retire in Thailand.
- Initial place to contact :
- The alien must apply for a non-immigrant visa at a Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad before entering the Kingdom.
- Duration of first permit.
- As warranted by this visa, permission will be given for a period of 90 days.
- Duration of extension.
- The Immigration Office will grant him/her a maximum one year extension at a time.
- Requirement :
- Application Form T.M. 7.
- A copy of a passport or substitute document.
- One 4 x 6 cm photo.
- 500 baht fee.
- Proof of financial status or pension.
If the applicant is 60 years old or older, the alien must have a definite income of not less than 200,000 baht per year or not less than 20,000 baht per month.
For an applicant who is 55-59 years old, definite proof of income of 500,000 baht per year or an income of not less than 50,000 baht per month must be presented.
If the alien is ill, or has weak health and is sensitive to colder climates or has resided in Thailand for a long period, and is 55-59 years of age, special consideration will be granted. He/She must have a definite income, or a bank account with at least 200,000 baht or have an income of not less than 20,000 baht per month. The applicant must also submit medical certificates and proof that he/she lived in Thailand for a long time.
Note :
For more information regarding points 2-5, please contact :
- For the Central/Bangkok area :
- For Asians :
- Contact section 2, Sub-division 2, Immigration Division 1, Room 200, 2nd Floor, Old Building, Immigration Bureau, Soi Suan Plu, South Sathorn Road, Sathorn District, Bangkok 10120.
- Tel : 2873905 or 2873101-10 Ext 2256-8.
- For non-asians :
- Contact section 3, Sub-division 2, Immigration Division 1, Room 201, 2nd Floor, Old Building, Immigration Bureau, Soi Suan Plu, Sathorn Road, Sathorn District, Bangkok 10120.
- Tel 2873905 or 2873101 ext 2259-61.
6. Applying for an extension of a tourist visa
- Initial place to contact :
- An alien must apply for tourist visa at a Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad before entering the Kingdom.
- Duration of first permit :
- Upon entering the country, as warranted by a tourist visa, permission will be granted for 60 days.
- Duration of extension :
- Normally, if the applicant wants to continue touring the country, an extension may be granted for not more than 30 days unless there are extenuating circumstances that would entitle the alien to a one year extension.
7. Applying for an extension for aliens who receive a visa upon arrival while in transit, including those who are exceptions to normal visa procedure, i.e. airline personnel.
The above mentioned aliens do not normally receive visa extension except in special cases such as illness which prevents them from travelling, etc. Such persons in this category wishing to submit an application may do so at
Section 5 (other types of extension), Sub-Division 2, Immigration Division 1, Room 205-6, 2nd Floor Old Building, Immigration Bureau, Soi Suan Plu, South Sathorn Road, Sathorn District, Bangkok 10120.
Tel 2873127 or 2873101-10 Ext 2264-5.
The documents required are the same as in section 6, Application of Extension for Tourist Visa.
8. Applying for an extension after officially receiving Thai nationality.
An alien who was originally a Thai national and wishes to reside in the Kingdom in order to visit relatives or to return to their original home may apply for extension of stay in the Kingdom for the above reason, whether they have a visa or have been granted exemption from a visa.
- Period of extension of stay :
- The Immigration Bureau will permit aliens who were originally Thai nationals to remain in the Kingdom for not more than one year at a time.
- Place to contact :
- For the Central region :
- Contact section 2 (extensions for Asians nationals), section 3 (extensions for non-Asian natinals), section 4 (extensions for tourist visas) or section 5 (application for other types of extensions) Depending on the type of visa held by the applicant, Sub-Division 2, Immigration Division 1, Soi Suan Plu, Toongmahamek, Sathorn District, Bangkok 10120.
- For Provincial areas :
- Contact the Local Immigration Office.
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This page last updated on 10th May 1997.