How to Extend Your Thailand Visa Exemption: Step-by-Step Process (2026)

You landed in Thailand, got your visa exemption stamp at the airport, and now you are running out of days. Maybe you spent too long in Chiang Mai learning to make khao soi from scratch, or the islands pulled you south and you lost track of the calendar entirely. It happens to everyone. The point is: your stamp is about to expire and you are not ready to leave.

You do not have to. Thailand lets you extend your visa exemption at any immigration office in the country. The process costs 1,900 THB, takes a single morning, and gives you 30 additional days. No embassy visit, no advanced application, no waiting weeks for approval. You walk in, fill out a form, pay cash, and walk out with more time.

This guide is the practical companion to our broader visa guides. No theory, no comparison tables, no "which visa should I get" debates. Just the exact steps to extend your visa exemption, what to bring, where to go, and how to avoid the mistakes that waste your morning.

Who Can Extend (and How Much Time You Get)

Not every entry type gets the same extension. Here is the breakdown:

Visa Exemption -- Air Entry

You received: 60-day stamp at the airport
Extension available: 30 additional days
Total stay: Up to 90 days
Cost: 1,900 THB

This is the most common scenario. If you flew into Thailand on a passport from one of the 93 visa-exempt countries, you got 60 days stamped into your passport. Extending gives you a maximum of 90 days on a single entry without ever visiting an embassy. Most backpackers reading this guide fall into this category.

Visa Exemption -- Land Entry

You received: 30-day stamp at a land border
Extension available: 30 additional days
Total stay: Up to 60 days
Cost: 1,900 THB

If you crossed into Thailand overland -- by bus from Malaysia, train from Laos, walking across a bridge from Myanmar -- you received a 30-day stamp. You can extend this by 30 days at any immigration office, giving you up to 60 days total from that land entry. The process and documents are identical to an air entry extension.

Visa on Arrival (VOA)

You received: 15-day stamp
Extension available: 7 additional days
Total stay: Up to 22 days
Cost: 1,900 THB

If your nationality requires a Visa on Arrival (not the visa exemption), you got 15 days. You can extend this by 7 days, but note that you pay the same 1,900 THB fee for just one extra week. The documents and process are the same.

Who Cannot Extend

If you entered on a transit visa, a diplomatic visa, or a courtesy visa, the standard extension process does not apply. Those follow separate procedures. This guide covers visa exemption holders and VOA holders only.

For a full comparison of all visa types including tourist visas and the DTV, see our Thailand visa guide for backpackers.

What to Bring: The Complete Checklist

Get everything on this list ready before you go to immigration. Showing up without one item means going home and coming back another day. I have watched it happen to people in line ahead of me more times than I can count.

Your Checklist (Screenshot This)

Passport (original) -- They take it during processing and return it with the new stamp
TM.6 departure card -- The small card stapled into your passport at entry (if you still have a paper one; digital TDAC users may not have this)
1 passport photo (4x6 cm) -- Thai standard size, slightly taller than US/UK format; get it taken in Thailand
1,900 THB in cash -- Exact change not required but no cards accepted, no exceptions
Completed TM.7 form -- The extension application form; available at immigration or download beforehand
Photocopy of passport bio page -- The page with your photo and details
Photocopy of entry stamp page -- The page with your most recent Thailand entry stamp
Photocopy of TM.6 departure card -- Both sides if it has printing on both

Sign every photocopy in blue ink. Every single page. This is Thai bureaucracy and it is non-negotiable. If you hand over unsigned photocopies, the officer will hand them back and point to the door.

Costs Breakdown

| Item | Cost | |------|------| | Extension fee | 1,900 THB (~$54 USD) | | Passport photo (if needed) | 50-200 THB (~$1.50-$6 USD) | | Photocopies (if needed) | 10-30 THB (~$0.30-$1 USD) | | Total | 1,960-2,130 THB (~$56-$61 USD) |

That is it. Under $61 for an extra month in Thailand. Compare that to a last-minute flight to Kuala Lumpur or Vientiane for a border run, and the extension is almost always the better deal.

Step-by-Step: What Happens at the Immigration Office

Here is exactly how your morning unfolds, from arrival to walking out with your new stamp. No surprises.

Step 1: Arrive Early (7:30-8:00 AM)

Immigration offices open at 8:30 AM. Show up between 7:30 and 8:00. The queue starts forming before the doors open, and arriving at 10:00 instead of 8:00 can easily add two hours of extra waiting. This is not an exaggeration. At Bangkok Chaeng Wattana, the difference between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM is the difference between being done before lunch and spending your entire day there.

Step 2: Take a Queue Number

Walk in and look for the queue number machine near the entrance. Take a number for "extension of stay" or "visa extension." At smaller offices there might just be a line -- join it. Some offices have a separate window for different nationalities or visa types. If you are unsure, ask the security guard at the door. They deal with confused foreigners all day and will point you in the right direction.

Step 3: Submit Your Documents

When your number is called, go to the counter and hand over everything: your passport, completed TM.7 form, signed photocopies, passport photo, and the 1,900 THB. The officer will flip through your documents, check your passport against their system, possibly glue your photo to the form, and then tell you to wait.

If something is missing, they will tell you what you need. Do not panic. There are photocopy shops and photo booths right outside every immigration office in the country -- these businesses exist specifically because people forget things. Step out, get what you need, and come back. You usually keep your queue number.

Step 4: Wait

This is the boring part. You sit in a waiting area with your queue number. The officer is processing your application, running your passport through their system, and working through the stack of applications ahead of yours.

How long you wait depends entirely on which office you are at:

Small island office (Koh Samui, Koh Phangan off-season): 30-45 minutes
Mid-size city office (Chiang Mai, Phuket): 1-2 hours
Bangkok Chaeng Wattana: 2-4 hours

Bring a book, a charged phone, downloaded podcasts, or whatever keeps you sane in a plastic chair. The WiFi at immigration offices ranges from nonexistent to technically present but unusable.

Step 5: Photo and Biometrics

At some point you will be called up briefly for a quick photo (taken at the counter) and sometimes fingerprints. This takes about 60 seconds. Not all offices do this -- some skip it if your passport photo is clear enough.

Step 6: Pay 1,900 THB

You will be directed to the payment counter. Hand over 1,900 THB in cash. Receive a receipt. Keep this receipt with your travel documents.

Step 7: Collect Your Passport and Check the Stamp

Your passport comes back with a new stamp showing your extended departure date. Check it immediately at the counter before you walk away:

Is the new date correct? (30 days from your original expiry, not from today)
Is the stamp legible?
Does anything look wrong?

If there is an error, tell the officer right now while you are standing at the counter. Fixing a stamp mistake days or weeks later is a completely different problem.

That is the entire process. Walk out, enjoy your extra month.

The TM.7 Form: What Each Field Means

The TM.7 is a single-page, double-sided form. You can pick one up at any immigration office or print it from the Thai Immigration Bureau website beforehand. Filling it out in advance saves you 10-15 minutes of scrambling at a counter with a chained pen that barely works.

For our complete field-by-field walkthrough with screenshots and examples, see the dedicated TM.7 form guide. Here is the quick version:

The Fields That Trip People Up

Date format: Thailand uses DD/MM/YYYY. If your birthday is March 15, 1998, write 15/03/1998 -- not 03/15/1998. This is the single most common mistake on the form.

"Date of Arrival": The date you entered Thailand on your current entry. Check the stamp in your passport and copy it exactly. Do not guess.

"Permitted to Stay Until": Your current expiry date, stamped in your passport as "ADMITTED UNTIL." Copy that date.

"Present Address in Thailand": Write the full address of where you are currently staying -- hotel or hostel name, street, district, province, postal code. "Chiang Mai" is not enough. If you do not know the address, check Google Maps for your accommodation or ask at reception for a business card.

"Period of Extension Requested": Write "30 days." That is your only option for a visa exemption extension. Do not write 60 or 90.

Signature: Sign the form. Then sign every photocopy. Then double-check that you signed the form. Unsigned documents get sent back and you lose your place in line.

Immigration Offices by City

Where you do your extension matters. The difference between a good office and a bad one can be three hours of your life.

Bangkok: Chaeng Wattana Government Complex

The main immigration bureau for all of Thailand. Also the busiest, slowest, and most frustrating option. If you can do your extension literally anywhere else in the country, do it there instead.

Expect: 3-5 hours total, even arriving early
Arrive by: 7:00 AM (not a typo)
Location: Government Complex, Building B, Chaeng Wattana Road, Laksi
Getting there: Taxi or Grab (no convenient BTS/MRT nearby)
Photos and copies: IT Mall across the road has everything you need, plus food courts and coffee

If you are spending time in Bangkok and your extension date is flexible, consider doing it in your next destination instead. Extending in Chiang Mai or on the islands saves you a genuinely miserable morning.

Chiang Mai: Promenada Mall

The best immigration experience in Thailand. The office is inside a modern, air-conditioned shopping mall. You submit your documents, wander the mall, grab a coffee, browse the shops, and come back when your number is called. It barely feels like bureaucracy.

Expect: 1-2 hours
Location: Promenada Resort Mall, 192-193 Chiang Mai-Hangdong Road
Getting there: Songthaew or Grab from the old city (15-20 minutes)
Photos and copies: Multiple shops inside the mall near the immigration office

Phuket: Phuket Town

Standard government office experience. Moderate queues, nothing remarkable, gets the job done.

Expect: 1-3 hours
Location: Phuket Immigration Office, Phuket Road, Phuket Town
Getting there: Songthaew from the beaches or Grab
Photos and copies: Shops right outside the office entrance

Koh Samui: Nathon

Small island office, relatively fast. Being on an island limits the crowd.

Expect: 1-2 hours
Location: Koh Samui Immigration, Nathon
Getting there: Songthaew to Nathon from anywhere on the island
Photos and copies: A few shops along the main road in Nathon

Koh Phangan: Thong Sala

Usually fast, but beware: the week before and after Full Moon Party, this office fills with hundreds of backpackers who suddenly realize their visa is about to expire. Go mid-cycle when the island is quieter.

Expect: 45 minutes to 3 hours (depends heavily on timing)
Location: Koh Phangan Immigration, Thong Sala
Photos and copies: Available near the office and at the main pier area

Pattaya: Jomtien

Handles a large volume of expats and tourists. Not the worst, not the best. A standard immigration morning.

Expect: 2-3 hours
Location: Soi 5, Jomtien area
Getting there: Baht bus or Grab from central Pattaya
Photos and copies: Shops near the office

Krabi: Krabi Town

Smaller office that serves the Krabi, Railay, and Ao Nang crowd. Less busy than Phuket.

Expect: 1-2 hours
Location: Krabi Immigration Office, Krabi Town
Getting there: Songthaew or Grab from Ao Nang (about 20 minutes)
Photos and copies: Available nearby

The Rule: Smaller Office = Faster Extension

If you have any flexibility in your travel plans, time your extension for a smaller, quieter office. Provincial immigration offices in places like Sukhothai, Nan, Trang, or Ranong will process you in under an hour. Bangkok Chaeng Wattana will eat your entire day. Plan your route accordingly and save yourself the headache.

Photos and Photocopies: Where to Get Them

You will need one passport photo (4x6 cm) and photocopies of your passport pages. Here is how to sort this out without stress.

Passport Photos

Thai passport photos are 4 cm wide by 6 cm tall -- slightly different from US (2x2 inches) or UK (35x45 mm) standard sizes. Get a fresh set taken in Thailand rather than trying to use photos from home that might be the wrong dimensions.

Where to get them:

Photo shops near immigration offices: Every single immigration office in Thailand has at least one photo shop within a two-minute walk. These businesses exist because of immigration. They know the exact size and format. Cost: 100-200 THB for 6 prints.
Photo booths in shopping malls: Look for the automatic photo booths in malls and department stores. Usually 50-100 THB for 4 prints.
Some 7-Elevens: A few 7-Eleven locations in tourist areas have photo printing services. Not all of them, but worth asking.

Photocopies

You need copies of your passport bio page, your Thailand entry stamp page, and your TM.6 departure card (if you have a paper one).

Where to get them:

Near the immigration office: Shops right outside every office. Usually 2-5 THB per page. They know exactly which pages you need -- just hand them your passport.
7-Eleven: Most 7-Elevens have a copy machine. 2 THB per page. Open your passport to the right pages and copy them yourself.
Your hotel or hostel: Many accommodations will make copies for you if you ask. Some charge a small fee, some do it free.

Remember to sign every photocopy in blue ink before submitting.

When to Go: Timing Your Extension

Apply 7-14 Days Before Your Stamp Expires

This is the sweet spot. Applying early gives you a buffer if something goes wrong -- the office is closed for a public holiday, you forgot a document, the system is down. Your extension starts from your original expiry date regardless of when you apply, so going early does not cost you any days.

Example: Your stamp says "Admitted until April 15." You apply on April 5. Your new stamp will say "Admitted until May 15" -- 30 days from your original expiry, not from the day you visited immigration.

Do Not Wait Until the Last Day

I see this constantly. Someone walks into immigration at 9:00 AM on the day their visa expires, discovers they forgot their passport photo, and now they are overstaying by the time they get back with a photo. Or the office is closed because it is a Thai public holiday they did not know about. Or the system is down for maintenance.

Any of these scenarios means you are technically overstaying your visa, which comes with fines of 500 THB per day and, for longer overstays, potential re-entry bans. None of this is worth the risk when you could have gone a week earlier.

Check for Thai Public Holidays

Immigration offices are closed on all Thai public holidays, and Thailand has a lot of them. Google "Thailand public holidays 2026" before you plan your visit. Offices operate Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, with a lunch break from approximately 12:00 to 1:00 PM. Do not show up at noon expecting to submit documents.

What If You Get Denied?

Extension denials for first-time applicants are extremely rare. If your documents are in order, your passport is valid, and you are applying within the correct timeframe, you will be approved. This is a routine bureaucratic procedure, not a judgment call.

That said, denials can happen in certain situations:

Red Flags That Can Lead to Denial

Too many entries: If your passport is full of Thai stamps showing a pattern of back-to-back entries over months or years, immigration may suspect you are living in Thailand on tourist entries rather than genuinely traveling. This mainly affects long-term expats, not backpackers on their first or second trip.
Suspicion of working: If immigration has reason to believe you are working in Thailand (social media posts advertising Thai-based services, business cards found in your passport, a tip from someone), they can deny the extension and may investigate further.
Criminal history in Thailand: Previous overstays, arrests, or blacklist entries will complicate your extension.
Passport issues: Fewer than 6 months validity remaining, damaged passport, or mismatched information.

What Happens If You Are Denied

The officer will tell you your extension is denied and that you must leave Thailand by your original expiry date. You are not deported on the spot -- you still have until your current stamp expires to arrange departure.

If this happens, your options are:

Leave Thailand before your stamp expires
Fly out and re-enter by air for a fresh 60-day stamp (if immigration is willing to admit you on return)
Apply for a proper visa at a Thai embassy in a neighboring country

Denial is genuinely uncommon for regular backpackers. If you are on your first or second trip to Thailand and your documents are correct, do not worry about it.

After the Extension: Your New Timeline

Once you walk out of immigration with your new stamp, here is where you stand:

Air Entry Extension

Original entry: 60 days
Extension: +30 days
Total: 90 days from your original entry date
What is stamped: Your new departure date (30 days after your original expiry)

Land Entry Extension

Original entry: 30 days
Extension: +30 days
Total: 60 days from your original entry date
What is stamped: Your new departure date (30 days after your original expiry)

VOA Extension

Original entry: 15 days
Extension: +7 days
Total: 22 days from your original entry date

You Cannot Extend Again

One extension per entry. That is it. There is no second extension, no "emergency 7 more days," no special circumstance process for tourists. When your extended stay is about to expire, your options are:

Leave Thailand. Fly to Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, or anywhere else. Many backpackers use this as a chance to explore a neighboring country.
Fly out and back in. A cheap flight to Kuala Lumpur or Vientiane and back gives you a fresh 60-day air entry stamp. Budget airlines make this feasible for 2,000-4,000 THB round trip.
Get a tourist visa. Apply at a Thai embassy in a neighboring country for a 60-day tourist visa (extendable to 90) before re-entering.
Consider the DTV. If you are working remotely, the Destination Thailand Visa offers 180 days per entry, extendable to 360. It is the best option for long-term stays.

For the full breakdown of what comes next, see our complete visa guide for backpackers.

Extension vs Border Run: Which Makes More Sense?

Both options give you more time in Thailand. But they are not equivalent, and choosing the wrong one costs you money, time, or both.

When the Extension Wins

You are mid-trip and do not want to leave. The extension costs 1,900 THB and a single morning. A border run costs transport, border fees, possibly accommodation, and at least a full day of travel.
You entered by air. Your 60-day air stamp extends to 90 days. A border run by land only gives you 30 days (non-extendable) and counts toward your 2-per-year land entry limit.
It is your first extension. Zero hassle, nearly zero risk of denial.
You do not want to deal with border logistics. No bus schedules, no ferry timetables, no Laos visa on arrival, no Myanmar day pass fees.

When the Border Run Wins

You want to visit a neighboring country anyway. If Langkawi, Vientiane, or Luang Prabang is on your list, combining a border run with genuine travel makes sense. See our border run guide for every crossing compared.
You have already used your one extension. After extending once, you cannot extend again. If you want to stay in Thailand longer, you need to leave and re-enter.
You want a fresh 60-day stamp. Flying out and back in gives you 60 days (plus another 30-day extension if needed) -- potentially 90 more days versus the 30 from an extension.
You are near a cheap crossing. If you are in Hat Yai, Padang Besar is under 300 THB round trip and takes a few hours. If you are in Chiang Rai, Mae Sai is similarly quick and cheap.

The Math

| Option | Cost | Time | Days Gained | |--------|------|------|-------------| | Extension at immigration | 1,900 THB (~$54) | Half a day | 30 days | | Border run (Padang Besar) | 300-500 THB (~$9-$14) + transport to Hat Yai | Full day minimum | 30 days (land) | | Border run (Mae Sai) | 600-700 THB (~$17-$20) from Chiang Rai | Half a day | 30 days (land) | | Fly out and back (budget airline) | 2,000-4,000 THB (~$57-$114) | Full day | 60 days (air) |

For most backpackers mid-trip, the extension is the path of least resistance. For travelers who have already extended once or who want maximum time, a border run or cheap flight is the better play.

Common Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

I have done this process enough times and watched enough people ahead of me in line get sent away that I can list the mistakes in my sleep.

Forgetting to sign the photocopies. Every photocopy needs your signature in blue ink. Every single one. The officer will send you back if even one is unsigned.

Wrong date format. Thailand uses DD/MM/YYYY. Americans especially get tripped up by writing the month first. Check every date field on your TM.7 form twice.

No passport photo. You need one 4x6 cm photo. Not a photo on your phone. Not a photocopy of your passport photo page. An actual printed passport photo. Get one taken at a photo shop before you go.

Showing up during lunch. Immigration offices typically close their submission windows from 12:00 to 1:00 PM. Arriving at noon means sitting around for an hour before anyone will look at your documents.

Waiting until the last day. If anything goes wrong on your final day, you are overstaying. Apply 7-14 days early. Your extension starts from your original expiry date regardless.

Bringing only a credit card. The 1,900 THB fee is cash only. No cards, no mobile payment, no exceptions. Hit an ATM before you go.

Leaving the address field vague. "Bangkok" or "Koh Phangan" is not an address. Write the full name and address of your accommodation. If you do not know it, look it up before you leave your hostel.

Quick Reference Card

Save this to your phone for the morning of your extension:

Bring:

Passport
TM.6 card (stapled in passport)
1 passport photo (4x6 cm)
1,900 THB cash
Completed TM.7 form
Photocopies: bio page + entry stamp + TM.6 (all signed in blue ink)
A pen (blue or black)

Process:

Arrive by 8:00 AM
Take queue number
Submit documents when called
Wait 1-3 hours
Pay 1,900 THB cash
Collect passport, check stamp date
Done

Extension start date: From your original expiry date (not the day you apply)

One extension per entry. No second extensions. Plan your next move before the new date expires.

Related Guides

TM.7 Form Guide -- Detailed field-by-field walkthrough of every line on the extension form, with common mistakes and pro tips
Thailand Visa Exemption Rules 2026 -- Full breakdown of the 93 eligible countries, air vs land entry differences, and the 2-per-year land entry cap
Thailand Visa Guide for Backpackers -- Visa exemption vs tourist visa vs DTV: which one you actually need based on your trip length and plans
Thailand Border Run Guide -- Every open land crossing compared with costs, transport options, and difficulty ratings
Visa Checker Tool -- Enter your nationality and get instant results on your visa options for Thailand