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What can you extend and by how much?
Both a tourist visa (SETV — Single Entry Tourist Visa) and a visa-on-arrival stamp can be extended at Phuket Immigration once, for 30 additional days, for a fee of ฿1,900. The extension is applied inside your passport as a stamp and runs from the original expiry date — not from the date you apply.
| Entry Type | Initial Stay | Extension Available | Total Stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Visa Exemption (most nationalities, air entry) | 60 days (2024 change) | 30 days (฿1,900) | 90 days |
| Visa Exemption (land border entry) | 30 days | 30 days (฿1,900) | 60 days |
| Single Entry Tourist Visa (SETV) | 60 days | 30 days (฿1,900) | 90 days |
| Visa on Arrival (VoA) | 15 days | 30 days (฿1,900) | 45 days |
| Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) | 60 days per entry | 30 days per entry (฿1,900) | 90 days per visit |
Documents you need for a tourist extension
This is one of the simpler immigration processes, but showing up with the wrong documents wastes your whole morning. Bring originals and copies of everything:
- Passport (original) — must have at least 60 days validity remaining after the extension
- Copies of your passport: photo/bio page, current visa or entry stamp, arrival/departure card (TM6) — the one stapled into your passport on entry
- TM.7 application form — available at the immigration office or downloadable from immigration.go.th. Fill it in before you go. Bring a pen.
- 1 passport photo — 4cm × 6cm, taken within the last 6 months, white or light background, no glasses
- ฿1,900 cash — paid at the cashier inside the office. Most people say cash only but some report card being accepted — bring cash to be safe.
- Proof of accommodation — a hotel booking printout or rental contract. Not always requested, but carry it.
- Onward flight ticket — occasionally requested, especially for people who look like they're settling in. Carry a printout or screenshot of a booking confirmation.
Step-by-step: extending your tourist visa in Phuket
Arrive before 9:00am
Phuket Immigration on Phuket Road opens at 8:30am. For tourist extensions in peak season (November–April), queue numbers can run out by 10am. Arrive early — you can wait outside before it opens.
Get a queue number
At the information desk near the entrance, tell them you want a visa extension (or 'tor visa', pointing to the extension counter). They'll give you a number. Don't sit down until you have it.
Fill in the TM.7 form
Fill in your TM.7 form while you wait. You need: passport number, nationality, current address in Phuket, reason for extension (usually just tick "tourism"), and your signature. Immigration staff can help if you're unsure about any field.
Submit documents at the extension counter
When your number is called, submit your passport, TM.7, copies, photo and any supporting documents (accommodation proof, flight ticket). The officer checks everything and may ask a few questions about your stay.
Pay the ฿1,900 fee
The officer will direct you to the cashier (or give you a payment slip). Pay ฿1,900. Keep your receipt — you may need it when collecting your passport.
Wait for processing
Your passport is held while the extension stamp is prepared. Processing usually takes 1–3 hours. You can leave the building and return — note your passport receipt number and the collection time.
Collect your passport
Return at the collection time (usually afternoon, around 1:00–3:30pm). Check the new stamp carefully — confirm the date is correct before leaving the window. The extension date is written in day/month/year Thai format.
How many extensions can you get? The honest answer.
Officially, there's no stated limit to how many times you can enter Thailand on tourist visas and get extensions. In practice, Thai immigration has been tightening up on repeat tourists since around 2022–2023, and the scrutiny has continued into 2026.
If you enter Thailand on tourist visas multiple times per year, extension approvals and entry stamps may come with questions. Officers can and do deny entry or extension to people who appear to be living in Thailand on tourist visas. This is especially common if you:
- Have had 4+ tourist entries in the past 12 months
- Are entering from the same land border repeatedly (Mae Sot, Hat Yai, Sadao)
- Cannot demonstrate genuine tourist intent or onward travel
- Have overstayed before
If you're staying in Phuket long-term, a tourist visa strategy has real limits. Consider a DTV (Digital Nomad) visa, LTR visa, Thailand Elite, or Non-OA as a more stable long-term solution. See our complete visa guide for the full breakdown.
What happens if you overstay?
Overstaying your visa in Thailand is a criminal offence, not just an administrative inconvenience. The consequences are real and have long-lasting effects on your ability to return:
| Overstay Duration | Fine | Re-entry Ban |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day – 89 days | ฿500/day (max ฿20,000) | No ban (first offence) |
| 90 days – 1 year | ฿20,000 maximum | 1-year ban |
| 1 year – 3 years | ฿20,000 maximum | 5-year ban |
| Over 3 years | ฿20,000 maximum | 10-year ban |
| Arrested for overstay | ฿20,000 + detention | 5+ year ban, possible blacklist |
Overstay fines are paid at the airport departure immigration desk. If your fine exceeds the maximum ฿20,000, you still pay the cap — but the re-entry bans are automatic and enforced. This is not worth the risk.
If you want to stay in Phuket long-term
Tourist extensions work well for stays of up to 3 months. For genuine expat life in Phuket, you need a proper long-stay visa. Your main options in 2026 are:
- DTV (Destination Thailand Visa) — for remote workers and freelancers. 5-year visa, 180-day stays. Requires proof of ฿500,000 savings or ฿60,000/month income. Good for under-50s who work online. DTV guide →
- Non-OA (Retirement Visa) — for those aged 50+. Annual extension, ฿800,000 in Thai bank or income method, mandatory health insurance. Renewable indefinitely. Non-OA guide →
- LTR Visa — Long-Term Resident visa for high earners, remote workers and wealthy retirees. 10-year visa, fewer restrictions. LTR guide →
- Thailand Elite (PMTV) — purchased membership, 5–20 year stays. From ฿900,000. Good if you don't meet income/age requirements for other visa types. Elite guide →