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Comparing Thai immigration routes

Extending, changing visa category in-country, or leaving to re-apply abroad carry very different timelines and risks.

Extension of stay at an immigration office

You are still within your permitted stay and meet the criteria

Certifying authority
Immigration Bureau
Indicative timeline
Variable — some offices decide same-day, others place the case under consideration
Pitfalls / common rejections
Filing on the last permitted day leaves no room to fix documents if more are requested

Change of visa category in-country

Your purpose of stay changed, e.g. tourism to employment or family

Certifying authority
Immigration Bureau, under the published criteria
Indicative timeline
Variable — allow time for additional document requests
Pitfalls / common rejections
Too few days remaining under the criteria forces a fresh application from abroad

Apply for a new visa at a Thai embassy or consulate abroad

The category cannot be changed in-country, or the profile suits an overseas filing better

Certifying authority
Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate-General abroad
Indicative timeline
Variable by post
Pitfalls / common rejections
Each post sets its own document list and residency conditions — verify before travelling

Note: Timelines above are practical estimates from live casework and can change with each authority's policy; confirm with the receiving authority before booking travel. If you would rather not test routes by trial and error, our advisers can assess which route fits your case.

See the document checklist for this service

Let our advisers map the route

Send document photos and your destination country. We assess which route fits and can run the full process, with regular status updates.

Let our advisers map the route