Visa Application and Renewal for Thailand

In brief...this is what it's all about!

In order to continue with my amazing holiday in Thailand, I had to make a quick 2 day 2 night exit of "The Kingdom" to renew my visa...

If you enter Thailand" without applying for a "TR Visa" you will be allowed to remain in the country for 15 days only...this is what they call "Visa upon arrival"...but since my holiday spans the Malaysian off-season, I made as much allowance to prolong the holiday...

My entry into Thailand on 31 Oct 2010 was with a 2 month "TR Visa" applied for in Kota Bahru, Malaysia. This process took 2 days. At the immigration office, you have to fill a simple form, submit your passport + 2 passport photos on Day 1 (this process only takes 15 minutes). On day 2 you just stop by the office and collect your passport - YOU'RE DONE! At the time of my application, there was no fee for the visa, so it was free of charge for a 60 day entry...

Before your 60 day stay in Thailand expires, you may extend your stay by visiting any Thai Immigration Office (wherever you are) and fill in a form for a 30 day extension. You will have to pay THB2000 for this. The process only takes 30 minutes and you need to again fill a form, submit your passport + 2 passport sized photos + photocopy of your passport & arrival / departure card.

I made my exit from Thailand 4 days before the end of my 60+30 day stay...This exit needs to be made and you'd need to go through the process of re-application for the 60 day entry. I chose Penang, Malaysia as my place for renewal cos there was a travel agent who specializes in Visa Applications.


I flew from Phuket to Penang for RM2.00 only on Firefly (or you can try Airasia) and headed to Banana House upon checking in, I handed them my passport and booked myself into a very basic yet clean room. Shared bathroom has a hot shower & air con room is RM50 per night. Nothing fancy, but very convenient.

Following day, I get my passport back with my NEW 60 day "TR Visa" for Thailand! There is still no charge for the "TR Visa" application (25 Jan 2011) but Banana House does charge you a service charge of only RM30...but this helps you avoid commuting up and down to the Thai Immigration Office (once to drop off your passport and once to collect it), waiting in line, etc.

The date of application is NOT the start of your 60 day entry into Thailand. You are given 30 days to enter upon your application, and your 60 day entry starts the day you stamp your passport into Thailand.

Hope this helps...