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Visa and stay5 min readPublished
Thailand Tourist Stay Extension: 2026 Guide
How to check your current permission to stay and prepare a TM.7 extension request without relying on outdated visa-exemption assumptions.
# Thailand Tourist Stay Extension: 2026 Guide
Thailand's entry and visa-exemption rules changed materially in 2026. Do not assume that an older article saying every eligible visitor receives a 60-day exemption is still current. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on 19 May 2026 that the Cabinet approved a revision of the visa-exemption and Visa on Arrival schemes, including revocation of the former 60-day exemption scheme and replacement with revised 30-day, 15-day, bilateral and visa-based routes. The effective entitlement depends on nationality, travel document and the rules in force on the date of entry.
## Before asking for an extension
- Check the **permission-to-stay date stamped or recorded for your latest entry**.
- Identify how you entered: visa exemption, Tourist Visa, Visa on Arrival or another category.
- Do not use the visa label alone as the deadline; the controlling date is the permission to stay granted by Immigration.
## Extension application
The Immigration Bureau's public handbook for tourism-purpose extensions uses **TM.7** and states a government fee of **1,900 THB**. Approval and the period granted remain subject to the applicable immigration rules and the officer's consideration; an extension is not automatic.
## Practical preparation
Bring the passport and the documents required by the office handling the application. Requirements can differ with the entry basis and facts of the case. Check the local Immigration Office before attending, particularly where the entry privilege or nationality rules have recently changed.
## Official references
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs — 2026 visa-exemption revision: https://consular.mfa.go.th/th/content/20-5-69-0000
- Immigration Bureau public handbook — tourism-purpose extension: https://www.immigration.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/5-Public-Handbook-2.4-tourism-purpose.pdf
*Reviewed for Work Permit Flow in August 2026. General information only; verify the current rule for the specific passport and entry record.*
Thailand's entry and visa-exemption rules changed materially in 2026. Do not assume that an older article saying every eligible visitor receives a 60-day exemption is still current. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on 19 May 2026 that the Cabinet approved a revision of the visa-exemption and Visa on Arrival schemes, including revocation of the former 60-day exemption scheme and replacement with revised 30-day, 15-day, bilateral and visa-based routes. The effective entitlement depends on nationality, travel document and the rules in force on the date of entry.
## Before asking for an extension
- Check the **permission-to-stay date stamped or recorded for your latest entry**.
- Identify how you entered: visa exemption, Tourist Visa, Visa on Arrival or another category.
- Do not use the visa label alone as the deadline; the controlling date is the permission to stay granted by Immigration.
## Extension application
The Immigration Bureau's public handbook for tourism-purpose extensions uses **TM.7** and states a government fee of **1,900 THB**. Approval and the period granted remain subject to the applicable immigration rules and the officer's consideration; an extension is not automatic.
## Practical preparation
Bring the passport and the documents required by the office handling the application. Requirements can differ with the entry basis and facts of the case. Check the local Immigration Office before attending, particularly where the entry privilege or nationality rules have recently changed.
## Official references
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs — 2026 visa-exemption revision: https://consular.mfa.go.th/th/content/20-5-69-0000
- Immigration Bureau public handbook — tourism-purpose extension: https://www.immigration.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/5-Public-Handbook-2.4-tourism-purpose.pdf
*Reviewed for Work Permit Flow in August 2026. General information only; verify the current rule for the specific passport and entry record.*
