Visa Run From Phuket: Border Run, Extension or DTV

From Phuket, a border run restarts the exemption of up to 30 days, but land entries are capped at twice per calendar year. An extension at Phuket Immigration adds no more than 30 days once for THB 1,900. DTV stays run up to 180 days per entry.

By Vincent Nguyen and team

Exempt stays are for tourism only. Pick the DTV if you work remotely or join a course such as Muay Thai or cooking.

Visa run: what the rules allow

A visa-exempt entry gives up to 30 days for tourism. The stamp in your passport shows the last permitted day.

Entry through a land-border checkpoint is allowed no more than twice per calendar year. The limit does not apply to nationals of Malaysia, Brunei, Indonesia and Singapore. Visiting more than twice per year? Thai embassy guidance strongly advises an appropriate visa.

The cap is written for entries through land-border checkpoints. Whether a flight into Thailand counts toward that cap is a question for your embassy or Phuket Immigration, and the answer comes before you pay anyone for a flight-based run.

Leaving Thailand without a re-entry permit cancels the permitted stay. A re-entry permit costs THB 1,000 for a single entry and THB 3,800 for multiple entries. See the re-entry permit guide.

On the way back in, have these ready:

• Proof of accommodation.
• Proof of onward travel scheduled within 30 days of arrival.
• Cash of THB 20,000 per person or THB 40,000 per family.
• A completed TDAC, filed for every entry. See the TDAC guide.

Officers may ask for extra documents or hold an interview. If your stay lapses before you leave, the fine is THB 500 per day, capped at THB 20,000. The overstay fines guide has the entry bans.

Exemption or Visa on Arrival at the counter

Many travellers assume any run restarts a 30-day clock, yet the embassy describes two schemes. A Visa on Arrival at designated checkpoints gives a stay not exceeding 15 days, and that stay generally cannot be extended. Because the days differ, read the date on the stamp before you leave the immigration checkpoint and plan your return around it.

If you enter on a Visa on Arrival, the London embassy lists a passport valid for at least 6 months with at least 2 blank pages among its requirements. That line belongs to the Visa on Arrival list, not to the exemption, so compare your passport’s expiry date with what your own embassy publishes before you book any run.

Extension at Phuket Immigration

One extension is granted, for no more than 30 days from the day the permitted stay ends. The fee is THB 1,900 and is not refunded. A Visa on Arrival stay generally cannot be extended.

File on form TM.7 with a photo, before your permitted stay ends. Approval is at the officer’s discretion. The full steps are in the tourist extension guide.

The main office is at 482 Phuket Rd., Talad Yai, Mueang, Phuket 83000. The phone is 0 7622 1905. It is closed on Saturday, Sunday and national public holidays. Hours and the other two points are in the Phuket Immigration Office guide.

DTV: when it beats both

The DTV covers remote work and activities such as Muay Thai courses or cooking classes. Each entry gives up to 180 days. The holder can apply at the Immigration Bureau for one extension of 180 days.

After the 180 days plus the 180-day extension, you leave and can re-enter on the same DTV within its validity. The visa is valid for 5 years. The extension steps are in the DTV extension guide.

Applicants show financial evidence of no less than THB 500,000.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs infographic of July 2024 lists the visa fee as THB 10,000. The London embassy lists GBP 300. Check the fee table of the embassy you apply to. The DTV guide has the documents.

Next in this journey

Start with the visa exemption, then the tourist extension, then the DTV.

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Not confirmed: Which land crossings and boat links from Phuket are running, with hours and prices: no official Ranong page opens, so confirm with the operator. Whether a flight entry counts toward the land cap: ask your embassy before paying for a flight run. Penang consulate tourist-visa fee: confirm with the consulate.

General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.

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