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An overstay fine is ฿500/day up to a maximum ฿20,000. But longer overstays (90+ days) result in a ban from re-entering Thailand — 1 year for 90-day overstay, up to 10 years for extended overstay. Always track your permission-to-stay date (stamped in your passport), not your visa expiry date — they are different.
The Phuket Immigration Office processes hundreds of extension applications daily and the staff are generally professional and organised. That said, the process rewards preparation — arriving with an incomplete document set means a wasted trip and a return visit. This guide covers every extension type I've seen expats navigate over six years in Phuket.
Phuket Immigration Office
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Address | 351 Phuket Road (Chalong, near Chalong Circle) |
| Opening hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30am–4:30pm (closed 12–1pm) |
| Best arrival time | 7:30–8:00am (before opening) or 1:00–1:30pm (after lunch) |
| Parking | Large car park on site |
| English service | Yes — dedicated counters for foreigners |
| Queue numbers | Taken at entrance — arrive before 8:30am for lower numbers |
| Processing time | Same day in most cases (morning applications) |
Tips from experience: Bring photocopies of everything — Phuket Immigration has a photocopy service on site (฿3–5/page) but having copies ready saves time. Dress modestly (long trousers/skirt, covered shoulders) — officers occasionally turn away visitors in shorts and vests. Leave scooter helmets in the car.
Non-OA Retirement Visa Extension
The Non-OA retirement visa is initially issued overseas (at a Thai Embassy) for 1 year. In Thailand, you extend it annually in 1-year increments at Phuket Immigration. You can apply up to 45 days before your permission-to-stay date expires.
Documents required for Non-OA extension
- Original passport + copy of photo page and current visa stamp + entry stamp
- Completed TM.7 form (available at Immigration or download in advance)
- 1 passport-sized photo (4x6cm, white background)
- Proof of funds: Thai bank letter (dated within 7 days) + passbook + bank statement showing ฿800,000 balance maintained for 3+ months, OR ฿65,000/month income letter from embassy (combined method also accepted — ask your visa agent about the combined method)
- OIA-approved health insurance certificate showing valid coverage (minimum ฿40,000 outpatient / ฿400,000 inpatient) — mandatory since 2019
- Proof of Thai address: copy of rental contract or TM.30 receipt from landlord
- Extension fee: ฿1,900 (cash only)
Prepare documents 2 weeks before expiry
Gather insurance certificate, get bank letter from KBank (Yaowarat Rd) or Bangkok Bank (Phang Nga Rd) — bank letters require your passbook and take 30–60 minutes.
Download & complete TM.7 form
Available at phuketimmigration.go.th or from the Forms desk at Immigration. Fill in English (black ink, block capitals).
Arrive at Immigration before 8:30am
Take a queue number at the entrance. The Non-OA retirement extension counter is typically counter 3 or 4 at Phuket Immigration.
Document check
Officer reviews your documents. If anything is missing or incomplete, you'll be told to return. If complete, you wait for your name/number to be called.
Pay ฿1,900 fee
Cash only. Have exact or close change — they do make change but it's courteous not to need it.
Receive new stamp
Your passport is stamped with a new 1-year permission to stay. Check the date carefully before leaving.
Non-B Work Visa Extension
Non-B visas require a linked work permit. Extension is done annually and must be coordinated with your employer or accountant.
Documents for Non-B extension
- Passport + copies, TM.7 form, ฿1,900 fee, passport photo
- Original work permit (held by employer — they must provide it for the visit)
- Letter from employer confirming continued employment
- Company documents: certificate of incorporation, list of shareholders, recent financial statements, corporate tax certificate
- Proof of 4:1 Thai-to-foreign employee ratio (your employer's HR records)
- Salary slip and proof that company is paying salary tax (withholding tax receipts)
- Proof of Thai address (TM.30)
Work permit and visa must be renewed simultaneously. The work permit renewal is handled at the Labour Department (Phuket Labour Department, Wichit Songkram Road, Wichit). It's common practice to use a company accountant or visa agent to manage both the Labour Department and Immigration visits — particularly for small business owners.
Tourist Visa / Visa Exemption Extension
If you entered Thailand on a visa exemption stamp (60 days for most nationalities since 2024), you can apply for one 30-day extension at Phuket Immigration. This is the simplest and most commonly requested extension.
Documents for tourist/visa exemption extension
- Passport + copy of photo page + entry stamp + departure card (TM.6)
- Completed TM.7 form
- 1 passport photo (4x6cm)
- Proof of accommodation (hotel booking, rental contract, or landlord TM.30 form)
- Onward travel evidence (return flight booking) — increasingly required; have it ready
- Extension fee: ฿1,900 (cash)
This gives you up to 90 days total from your original entry date. After this, you must leave Thailand and re-enter (or switch to a proper long-stay visa). Note: multiple back-to-back visa exemption entries followed by immediate extensions are increasingly scrutinised. If you've been running on tourist entries for 6+ months, immigration may ask pointed questions about your plans.
DTV (Digital Nomad Visa) — Extension Notes
The Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), introduced 2024, allows 5-year multiple entry with 180 days per entry. It doesn't require annual immigration office visits for extension — the 180-day stay is confirmed at each entry. For DTV holders:
- No annual immigration extension required (unlike Non-OA/Non-B)
- 90-day reporting still applies if you stay longer than 90 days without leaving
- If you stay close to 180 days, you must exit Thailand to reset the entry counter
- The DTV itself is renewed every 5 years at a Thai Embassy/Consulate overseas
TM.30 — Residence Reporting
TM.30 is a form your landlord (or hotel) must file with Immigration each time you stay at an address. This is separate from your visa extension — it's residential address reporting. For expats in long-term rentals, TM.30 is typically filed by your landlord when you sign the rental contract.
If your landlord hasn't filed TM.30, you may face a ฿800–1,600 fine at your extension appointment. Ask your landlord to confirm TM.30 is up to date before your Immigration visit. Most established rental agents in Phuket handle TM.30 as a standard service.
Overstay — Consequences & How to Resolve
| Overstay Duration | Fine | Ban on Re-entry |
|---|---|---|
| 1–90 days | ฿500/day (max ฿20,000) | No ban (first offence, paid at departure) |
| 90 days – 1 year | ฿20,000 + potential arrest | 1 year ban |
| 1–3 years | ฿20,000 + arrest + deportation | 3 year ban |
| 3–5 years | As above | 5 year ban |
| 5+ years | As above | 10 year ban |
If you've overstayed by a few days, the practical solution is to pay the fine and leave at the airport. Short overstays (1–7 days) are common and handled at the departure gate with no drama beyond paying the fine. Don't try to hide an overstay — immigration systems are comprehensive.
Visa Agents for Extension Help
Many expats — particularly first-time Non-OA extenders and Non-B holders — use a visa agent to manage their extension. A good Phuket visa agent will: collect your documents, visit Immigration on your behalf (for some visa types), handle the paperwork, and ensure nothing is missed.
Visa agent fees for Non-OA extension: ฿3,000–5,000 including the ฿1,900 government fee. Non-B extension: ฿5,000–8,000 due to the Labour Department coordination involved. Worth it for first-time extenders or those uncomfortable navigating immigration bureaucracy.
Use a recommended visa agent — ask in the Phuket Expats Facebook group or use our Service Directory for vetted visa agent recommendations.