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What is the “e-Extension”

The “e-Extension – Save time at Immigration” is a service system aimed at increasing the convenience for people requesting permission to extend their stay in the Kingdom of Thailand temporarily, through digital technology. The new system is in line with the government development guidelines to digitalize the management of state affairs. With the e-Extension, foreigners can submit an application for permission to extend their stay in the Kingdom and pay any related fees electronically and on their own. Then, they will need to visit the Immigration office to verify their identity and receive a stamp.

How to apply for the “e-Extension”

The Immigration Bureau partnered with VFS Global, the most important outsourcing specialist for governments worldwide, to provide the online channel for the E-Extension application.

To begin with, the applicant must register on the website providing all the necessary information and documents. The passport used for the application shall be the same one used to get the e-Extension visa and shall be valid after the date of application. The application can be created for an individual or a family (maximum of 5 members).

Then, the applicant shall book an appointment at the immigration office to get the e-Extension visa stamp on the passport and pay the fee through a secured payment gateway. Usually, the processing time of the e-Extension visa is between 1 and 7 days. However, a super urgent visa service is provided at additional cost to process the visa within the next day.

The last step, provided that the application will be approved and given an e-Extension code, is to print out and save a pdf file with the outcome and visit the immigration office to get the stamp. Once at the immigration, the new E-Extension area is clearly indicated to queue for the E-Extension counter. Presenting the necessary required documents and passport to the officer shall be enough to get the E-Extension visa stamp.

Eligible visa and documents required
To apply for an electronic extension, foreigners must have a stamp for a temporary stay after possessing certain types of visas. In particular, there are 12 categories of visas that are eligible to apply for the e-Extension:

1. Carry out duties for the government (Non-Immigrant and Official visa): Non-Immigrant and Official visas are required prior to the application for the extension visa, and a valid Work Permit
2. Tourism: A tourist visa is required before applying for the extension visa
3. Teacher, professor, or expert in government educational institution (Non-Immigrant and Official visa): Non-Immigrant and Official visas are required prior to the application for the extension visa, and a valid Work Permit and a Teaching license or equivalent
4. Study in a government educational institution (Non-Immigrant and Official visa): Non-Immigrant is required prior to the application for the extension visa, and a Letter of confirmation and request for a temporary stay issued by the educational institution
5. Teaching practice or conducting training or research in an educational institution or research institution (Non-Immigrant and Official visa): Non-Immigrant and Official visas are required prior to the application for the extension visa, and a Letter of confirmation and request for a temporary stay issued by Head of research or head of the educational institution.
6. Performing duties in the mass media (Non-Immigrant and Official visa): Non-Immigrant and Official visas are required prior to the application for the extension visa, and a valid Work Permit and a Letter of confirmation and request for a temporary stay issued by the Government Public Relations Department or MFA’s the department of information
7. Skilled laborer, medical expert, or practitioner of other professions (Non-Immigrant): Non-Immigrant is required prior to the application for the extension visa, and a Letter of confirmation and request for a temporary stay issued by the relevant organization or agency
8. Installation or repair of machines, aircrafts, or ocean vessels (Non-Immigrant): Non-Immigrant is required prior to the application for the extension visa, and a Letter of confirmation and request for a temporary stay issued by the relevant organization or agency
9. Family member of a Thai residence (Non-Immigrant): Non-Immigrant is required prior to the application for the extension visa, together with the documents proving the relationship, the residence certificate and alien registration certificate of the alien granted residence permit in Thailand, and proof of address notification
10. Used to have Thai nationality or whose parent is or was of Thai (Exemption visa type), (TR 60 days) and (Non-Immigrant): an Exemption visa (POR30, PORPOR30, PORPOR14), TR15, Non-30, Non-90, APEC, a TR 60 days visa, and a Non-Immigrant visa are required prior to the application for the extension visa, together with documents proving that the applicant previously held Thai nationality or whose parent holds or held Thai nationality and proof of address notification
11. Necessity case, Confirmation or request by the embassy (any reasons), Exemption visa, TR 60 days, Non-Immigrant and Official visa: an Exemption visa (POR30, PORPOR30, PORPOR14), TR15, Non-30, Non-90, APEC, a TR 60 days visa, and a Non-Immigrant and Official visa are required prior to the application for the extension visa, together with a Letter of confirmation and request for a temporary stay from the embassy and consulate in Thailand
12. Training case, Confirmation, or request by the embassy (Non-Immigrant): Non-Immigrant is required prior to the application for the extension visa, and a Letter of confirmation and request for a temporary stay from the embassy and consulate in Thailand together with a valid Work Permit

A Person in charge of conveyance or crew of conveyance having an Exemption visa (Transit) can also apply for an extension visa, provided that they have a Letter of confirmation and request for a temporary stay from the relevant government or private organization or agency.

Please, note that the indicated required documents do not cover the full set of documents that the immigration will require to extend the visa. Applicants may find the complete list of required documents for each type of visa on VFS Global’s website.