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How should I plan my return flight if I want to extend my stay in Thailand beyond 60 days?

Jan 27, 2025
a month ago
Jay *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Looking for some advice, please.

Am a UK citizen planning a 3 month (90 day) stay in Thailand.

I understand I should benefit from 60 day visa exempt stay on arrival and may then be allowed to extend for a further 30 days.

If so and in which case, when should I attend at the Immigration (or whatever) office for my bolt-on 30 days because, assuming the extension is granted, does the additional 30 day period commence on the day it is approved or is it counted from the last day of my 60 day visa exempt period?

For example, if I arrived on April 1st, what would be the last day in June beyond which I would be classed as having overstayed if I attended at the office, say, 3 days before my 60 day period was up?

The Time and Date website calculates that 90 days from 1st April would be 29th June (including both the 1st April and 29th June in its calculation).

Effectively, if intending to arrive on 1stApril, should I book a return flight for 29th June when booking my flights or would that mean I would have to apply for an extension on the very final day of my initial 60 day exemption?

What I don't want to happen is book my return date and find it causes an overstay I have to either pay a fine for (as well as receive a blot on my passport) or pay for an expensive flight adjustment.

Hope that’s clear enough but would welcome any questions so as to help clarify.

Many thanks.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A UK citizen planning a 90-day stay in Thailand seeks advice on extending their 60-day visa exempt stay. They need clarity on when to apply for a 30-day extension and how the dates are calculated. It's noted that the extension starts from the date of the remaining visa period, and users advise booking return flights to avoid overstays and ensuring the TM30 form is submitted upon arrival. Suggestions for a border run to reset the visa are also provided.
Nongnuch ********
go look for the type of change you want to do
*******************************************
Dan ********
Can you tell me where to apply for a long term visa - one longer than the 30 day tourist visa?
Graham ******
@Dan *******
you start at the Thai Embassy website that serves where you are located and see what you are able to apply for
Dan ********
@Graham *****
thank you very much Kieth & Graham
Keith ********
@Dan *******
It is 60 days now
Paul **********
Make sure TM30 is submitted within 24hours of landing. That will smooth the 30 extra through.
Jay *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul *********
Good advice. Thank you.
Nick *******
Just book your flights to not run over 90 days, overstay record is not good if you are a regular visitor.

As far as 60 + 30 see above answers unless you do a border run after the initial 60 days to activate another 60 days.
Naj *************
You could simply spent a day in between in a neighboring country and reset the 60 day visa free back to zero…
Jay *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Naj ************
Thanks for the suggestion, but I did similar last year by going to Cambodia. Not an experience I'm in a hurry to repeat, to be honest.
Graham ******
Don't forget that the day you arrive is day 1 so a 60 day entry gives you 59 nights stay and your airline may require you to have proof of onward travel within 60 days of arrival, check with them
Jay *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Graham *****
59 nights. That simplifies it for me. Perfect. Thanks.
Garrett ***********
The 30 day extention is added to the end of your current permission to stay date, it doesn't matter when you apply for it. Phuket let's you apply 45 days before your expiration.
Jay *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Garrett **********
Thank you. That's really good to know and sets my mind at rest, for planning my forthcoming visit.
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