How to Extend Your Thailand Tourist Visa (TR) in Bangkok
Visa work is one of the labours of love of the long term travel community, and can definitely be a tad tiresome. However, other than the potentially long waiting times, extending your 60 day Thailand Tourist Visa (TR) for another 30 days is a relatively easy process. Getting the extension means that you can either spend another month travelling around Thailand, or give yourself another month to look for a more permanent way to stay (in this case, you’d need to look into immigrant visas, class B types).
If you haven’t yet applied for your TR, or don’t know where to start, read our post on applying for your Thai Tourist Visa here, first.
We’ve written this post specifically for getting the extension in Bangkok, because that’s where we got ours done, but there are 7 different Immigration divisions around the country if you’re not looking to spend a lot of time in the capital.
What’s in this post
Where to go
How to get there
What to bring
What to expect
Our experience
Where to Go
In Bangkok, you’ll need to head to The Government Complex in Lak Si, north of the city, and look out for Building B at Gate 2. Address: 120 หมู่ที่ 3 ถนน แจ้งวัฒนะ Thung Song Hong, Lak Si, Bangkok 10210
Once in the building, you’re looking for the Immigration Division 1 on the ground floor. The complex is pretty massive so it can be easy to get disorientated, especially because there are Tourism offices in the same building.
Their hours are 8.30am- 12pm, 1-4.30pm, and they stop handing out applications at 3.30pm. Our advice is to come early, there will be long queues, and have the expectation that you’ll be spending at least half the day there.
How to Get There
The SRT is by far one of the most inexpensive ways to travel north from the centre of Bangkok, with most one-way trips costing as little as 20thb.
The easiest and more inexpensive way to get there is to get on the SRT line at Hua Lamphong (also the name of the MRT stop, so make sure you head to the railway station instead) and take the train North to Lak Ski on the Red Line North of the city centre.
The tokens for the red line are really inexpensive, with the Bangkok- LakSi one way being less than 30 thb per person.
Then, take either a tuk tuk, taxi, local bus, or walk to the Government Complex, about 2.5km west of the station. If you do opt for either the local bus or walking, look out for the small local tuk tuk at the edges of the complex grounds when you arrive that will pick you up and bring you around the grounds free of charge.
Know before you go….
Make sure you dress respectfully! In Thailand, this means wearing long trousers/ pants that cover your knees (no shorts or mini skirts), a shirt that covers your shoulders and chest and does not show your midriff, and close-toed shoes. If you don’t adhere to this, you may be refused to be seen and processed, even if you’ve waited for hours.
What to Bring
Passport
T6 Departure Card (given to you before you landed in Thailand, and stamped at the airport)
Hardcopy Scan of your Passport biodata page
Hardcopy Scan of your stamped passport page of TR visa stamp
Hardcopy Scan of your T6 departure card
Hardcopy of your TR Visa paperwork
Single Passport photo (take this at a post office ahead of time and bring with you)
A book/ headphones/ music/ anything you need to pass the time - you could be waiting for hours.
1,900 thb for the visa extension in cash, they do not accept cards. If you forget this detail, they do have cash machines in the lower basement level.
Some cash for lunch/ snacks, they have a decent food court in the lowest level of the building which has a few cafes, a small food hall that is reasonably priced, and a couple of restaurants.
Don’t have access to a printer before you go?
There is a small printing and scanning centre in the basement level of the complex that can scan your passport or T6 document, and print out any documents for a very small fee (my scans cost 5thb per page). However- be aware that if you are wanting to print something, the complex doesn’t have public wifi, so make sure you have some kind of data within your phone plan if you’re going for this option.
What to Expect
Before you get in the Government Complex Building, if you’re reading this and planning to extend in/around early-mid 2022, know that there are a few COVID procedures to get into the building. If you haven’t taken a test within the 3 days prior, they’ll take a rapid flow on site, free of charge.
Once you’ve found the Immigration Division 1 section in Building B, follow these steps:
1) Pick up your application form at the information counter.
Approach the information counter in Division 1 and say that you want the visa extension paperwork, and they’ll give you the TM.7 form. You’ll then take the form back out to the main area within the centre where they have standing booths to help you complete the application.
2) Fill in the application form and prepare required documents.
The application will be the TM.7 ‘Application for Extension of Stay in the Kingdom’, and throughout will refer to Thailand as the Kingdom and you as the Alien. You’ll have to fill in all of your details, including where you’re staying, how you got into Thailand and when, and other personal details which will include passport information. You’ll also have to acknowledge the penalties for overstaying your visa, which include the likes of deportation and being banned from the country.
3) Hand in the application to obtain a ticket at the Queue counter.
After you fill out your paperwork, you’ll go to a counter within the division where they will process your passport, give you a queue receipt slip, and be directed to a nominated waiting area.
You’ll have to wait there until your number is called, there is an LED display screen which shows which number they’re on, and they call the numbers over a loudspeaker as well. Manage the expectation that it can take hours, so bring out your music/ book and settle in. Although it can be tempting to go for a walk and stretch your legs, just know that if you do miss your number when it’s called, you’ll have to start the process over again.
4) When your queue number is called, submit your application.
When your queue number is called, a staff member will ask for all of your documents; the passport, the T6, the scanned pages of T6, passport biodata page, the passport stamped page, tourist visa, and photo (which we had glued to the application pages). You’ll pay your 1,900 baht in cash, sign all of the documents, and then be asked to wait for it to be processed.
5) Wait for your passport to be returned
Head back out to the waiting area, and it shouldn’t be any longer than 20 more minutes for your number to be called (again), your passport will be given back to you with a new stamp featuring your new allowed leave date, and a receipt of your payment.
Then, you’re free to go!
Our Experience
We arrived around 11am, but since we didn’t know that we needed a negative covid test for entry (we came in March of 2022) , the process was a bit longer than we expected to get into the building. After filling out a personal details card (address, if we’ve been to other provinces/ districts, etc.), we waited to get the rapid flow done. Although it took a few extra steps, we didn’t have to have to pay for this to be done, which was great.
After we had found the Immigration Division and filled out the paperwork, it was just after 12 and they had closed for lunch, so we headed downstairs to grab some food. We ended up coming back up around 12.30 and were glad we did as a queue was already fast forming outside the offices. Even with getting in the queue early, we were number 108 (no doubt following the people they had processed in the morning) and when we went in, we waited from number 43, which took a couple of hours. Since we had brought books and and music it was fine, but remember that the centre doesn’t have public wifi, so if you don’t have data, definitely bring something else to help pass the time.
I had unfortunately worn shorts to the complex as it was a very hot day (30+ degrees), and was told I needed to change into trousers to be able to be seen. Luckily, there are a few shops in the basement centre of the complex, so I was able to pop down and buy some.
Looking for some inspiration on where to spend your extra time in Thailand? Try Khao Sok for a good mix of adventure and outdoors.
Despite the waiting and the paperwork, we were pleasantly surprised by how easy and straightforward the whole process was, and thankfully, Thailand is one of those places that doesn’t question why you want to stay in the country for leisure purposes, which is refreshing.
As always, send us a message on socials or on our email hello@thelongtermtravellers.com if you have any questions.
Good Luck!
Sam + Steve
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