How to Extend a Thailand Visa Exempt Stamp in Bangkok
A Real Experience and Step-by-Step Guide
We entered the Kingdom of Thailand on a visa-exempt stamp, which allows citizens from eligible countries to enter Thailand without applying for a visa in advance.
As of this writing, tourists from 64 countries are eligible for visa-exempt entry, including the United States. I hold a US passport, and the USA is one of the included countries. Always confirm your own eligibility before traveling, as rules can change.
When entering Thailand under the visa-exempt program, you are typically granted up to 30 days if arriving by international airport or through a land border checkpoint from a neighboring country.
Because we planned to stay longer than the initial period, we needed to extend our stay legally inside Thailand.
Can You Extend a Thailand Visa Exempt Stamp
Yes. If you entered Thailand on a visa-exempt stamp, you are allowed one in-country extension without leaving and reentering Thailand.
This extension adds 30 additional days to your stay.
You do not need to do a border run to extend once. You simply apply at the appropriate immigration office.
Our experience extending the visa was straightforward and painless, and below is exactly how it worked for my son and me.
Documents and Requirements at Entry and Extension
In our case, we were not asked for:
• proof of onward or return travel
• proof of funds
This applied both when entering Thailand and when extending our visa-exempt stamp.
However, immigration officers have discretion, and you should always be prepared in case you are asked for:
• proof of onward travel
• sufficient funds
Requirements can vary depending on the officer.
Where to Extend a Visa Exempt Stamp in Bangkok
If you entered Thailand on a visa-exempt stamp and did not apply for a visa in advance, you must go to the immigration office that handles visa-exempt extensions.
In Bangkok, that office is located at IT Square Laksi.
IT Square Laksi Immigration Office
Address
หมู่ที่ 4 333/103 Kamphaeng Phet 6 Rd
Talat Bang Khen, Lak Si
Bangkok 10210
Thailand
Office Hours
Monday to Friday
8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Closed from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm for lunch
Closed on weekends and Thai public holidays
The immigration office is located on the third floor.
What to Bring to Extend Your Visa Exempt Stamp
When I went to extend our visa, I brought the following:
• passport
• 1,900 THB application fee per person
• TM.6 arrival card
• Thai phone number
• Thai address
The TM.6 card is the arrival card you receive when entering Thailand. It is collected by immigration and returned to you, and it must be kept safe during your stay. You will need it for extensions and other immigration matters.
Copies and Photos
Directly beside the immigration office are several copy and photo shops that specialize in immigration paperwork. They know exactly what is required.
I simply told them I needed copies and photos to extend a visa, and they handled everything.
Cost
• Four passport-size photos cost 100 THB
• Copies cost 2 THB per page
Documents Required for the Extension
You will need:
• Original passport
• Copies of passport identification page
• Copies of all Thai visa and entry stamp pages
• One passport-size photo (4 x 6 cm)
• TM.6 arrival card and a copy
• TM.7 visa extension application form (available on site)
• 1,900 THB extension fee paid in cash only
Step-by-Step Immigration Process
Step 1: Initial Document Check
Once you have all your documents, you join the first queue. An officer briefly checks that your paperwork is complete and correctly filled out.
If everything is in order, you are given a number and sent to the next step.
Step 2: Full Document Review
When your number is called, an officer thoroughly reviews your paperwork. If anything is missing or needs clarification, they will help you correct it.
After this review, you are given a yellow number. Keep this number. You will need it until your passport is returned.
Step 3: Immigration Officer Interview
When your yellow number is called, you enter the office and sit in front of an immigration officer.
In our case, we were not asked any questions. The officer:
• collected the extension fee
• took our photo
• asked us to wait outside
Step 4: Passport Collection
After a short wait, our yellow number was called again, and we picked up our passports with the new 30-day extension stamp added.
How Long the Process Took
The entire process took about 1.5 hours.
We arrived shortly before the office reopened after lunch. Even though it looked crowded, the process was efficient and well organized.
If your documents are in order, the extension process is very manageable.
Important Things to Know Before You Go
• Do not wait until your visa has expired
• Overstaying results in a 500 THB per day fine
• Overstays can lead to denial of extension or deportation
• Extensions add time to the end of your current stamp
• You do not lose days by extending early
We applied for our extension about 10 days before our original stamp expired.
You must also provide:
• a valid Thai phone number
• a Thai address where you are staying
After Immigration
After finishing at immigration, we went downstairs to the large local food court and had lunch alongside locals. The food was excellent, affordable, and a nice way to decompress after the process.
Final Thoughts on Extending a Thailand Visa Exempt Stamp
This was our first experience dealing with Thai immigration for a visa extension, and it was far easier than expected.
The process was organized, staff were helpful, and everything moved efficiently.
As long as you prepare your documents and arrive with time to spare, extending a Thailand visa-exempt stamp in Bangkok can be very straightforward.
Disclaimer
I am not a Thai lawyer or immigration officer. I am sharing my personal experience extending a visa-exempt stamp in Thailand. Immigration rules and enforcement can change, and individual experiences may vary. Always verify current requirements with official Thai immigration sources.
