we will attempt to explain the differences between visas and ‘permission to stay’ stamps. These are often confused.

A visa is fundamentally a document (affixed into the passport) issued to a foreigner by the Thai government allowing said foreigner to travel to the Kingdom and normally be granted permission to stay for a prescribed period. Visas can only be obtained outside of the Kingdom from a Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate (usually). A visa has a validity period which denotes the period within which the visa may be used to apply for entry. The validity period is NOT the length of time you will be permitted to stay in the Kingdom using said visa. Exceptionally, when an applicant meets the requirements for an annual extension of stay, a change from tourist visa or visa-exempt status to a non-immigrant visa can be obtained from an immigration office preparatory to the extension of stay.

A ‘permission to stay’ stamp is entered into your passport upon arrival into the Kingdom. Whatever visa you hold, you will always receive this stamp. It will include the date of entry and date when you MUST leave the Kingdom or make alternative arrangements. The ‘length of stay’ will be dependent on what type of visa one holds. Once inside the Kingdom, this stamp is sacrosanct, your visa is now effectively irrelevant until you re-enter the country.

30 day entry stamp : for the majority of passport holders, this is a 'permission to stay 30 days' stamp only obtained (free of charge) at a port of entry into the Kingdom and is issued without the need for a visa. At the discretion of the immigration officer this may be extended for up to 7 days at an immigration office after which time the holder must leave the Kingdom. This is NOT a visa.

3 month validity, single entry tourist visa: pre-obtained at a Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate and will result in the holder obtaining a 60 day 'permission to stay' stamp upon entry. If required, this type of visa may be extended by 30 days at an immigration office, but after that time the holder must leave the country. After one entry, the visa is “used”.

3 month validity, single entry non-immigrant visa: pre-obtained at a Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate and will result in the holder obtaining a 90 day 'permission to stay' stamp. This visa can be extended up to one year for specific reasons and with the required documentation (see 12 month extensions).

12 month validity, multi entry non-immigrant visa: pre-obtained at a Royal Thai Embassy/Consulate (usually) in your home country and will result in the holder obtaining a 90 day 'permission to stay' stamp upon entry. Each time the holder enters the Kingdom whilst the visa is valid, he/she will obtain a further 90 day 'permission to stay stamp'. Such visas can be issued for students/work/family etc. but normally require supporting documentation. This visa can also be extended up to one year for specific reasons and with the required documentation (see 12 month extensions).

Note: a 12 month validity, multi entry non-immigrant visa may also be obtained from some Royal Thai embassies outside your home country if you can provide evidence of your marriage to a Thai citizen (marriage certificate).

12 month extension to a non-immigrant visa: If you are holding a non-immigrant visa, you have the option of extending this by 12 months based on either retirement (50 years old or over) or support to a Thai citizen, work, education and such. This may only be accomplished at an immigration office inside the Kingdom and certain criteria have to be met. Such extensions consist of a stamp in your passport detailing “issue date” and “permitted to stay until” date.

Note 1: If you are residing in the Kingdom under an extension to a non-immigrant visa and wish to leave the Kingdom at any time, then you will need to obtain a “re-entry permit” to avoid losing the extension and the subsequent need to re-apply (i.e. applying for a new non-immigrant visa and then extension of stay).

Note 2: If you are residing in the Kingdom under an extension to a non-immigrant visa it is a legal requirement that the holder reports current address to an immigration office using form TM.47 (in person or by registered mail) every 90 days. Re-entering the Kingdom is the equivalent of a 90 day report.

Note 3: If you are in possession of a valid tourist visa or a 30 day visa exempt entry stamp and qualify for extension of stay and plan on doing so, you may be permitted to change to a non-immigrant visa at an immigration office inside Thailand. This change of 'status' has certain restrictions depending on your particular circumstances therefore you should check with an immigration officer first.

The information given above is for guideline purposes only.
And, the final decision on visa application/issue or entry into the Kingdom will always be at the discretion of the immigration officer.

kind of related story:

Acquiring Work Permit for Filipino Teachers: The Real Story

abelcadias.blog.co.uk/2008/10/30/acquiri...e-real-story-4954954

*** Edited by Admin ***

Hello Manay po. Thanks for your concern. This thread is for General information with regards to the visa types in Thailand. Now with regards to your info regarding this service, please PM me your details and your questions (as we are now more sensitive to these kind of matters in general). We would be glad to seek an explanation and clarification from the said party. Thank you for your understanding.

Again, please PM me your concerns so we can do our due diligence. Please read our Forum posting rules and guidelines. Thanks1

*** Edited by Admin ***

Hello Manay po. Thanks for your concern. This thread is for General information with regards to the visa types in Thailand. Now with regards to your info regarding this service, please PM me your details and your questions (as we are now more sensitive to these kind of matters in general). We would be glad to seek an explanation and clarification from the said party. Thank you for your understanding.

Again, please PM me your concerns so we can do our due diligence. Please read our Forum posting rules and guidelines. Thanks!

Sorry, you are temporarily unable to post. You have been requested to PM us your concerns and to abide by our forum rules and guidelines until we resolve this matter yet you did not do so as requested.

  Sorry po admin.. I dont know how does PM works.. can u teach me? and my apology for the message if this hit other people. my concern is just to share with other kababayan. I hope that this apology will be granted and give me another chance to post here . I know my Id was banned for this reason kaya po humihingi ako ng paumanhin. pano po ba kayo i pm or email para maipaliwanag ko tong issue na to?

  Sorry po admin.. I dont know how does PM works.. can u teach me? and my apology for the message if this hit other people. my concern is just to share with other kababayan. I hope that this apology will be granted and give me another chance to post here . I know my Id was banned for this reason kaya po humihingi ako ng paumanhin. pano po ba kayo i pm or email para maipaliwanag ko tong issue na to?


Let me help you Manay PO or aka Rebelde.

To PM someone, All you have to do is to click MY MESSAGES then type the name of the person you wish to talk too. Example (master j) then type your messages on the space provided below. Thats it.  BBEELLYY

  Sorry po admin.. I dont know how does PM works.. can u teach me? and my apology for the message if this hit other people. my concern is just to share with other kababayan. I hope that this apology will be granted and give me another chance to post here . I know my Id was banned for this reason kaya po humihingi ako ng paumanhin. pano po ba kayo i pm or email para maipaliwanag ko tong issue na to?


Let me help you Manay PO or aka Rebelde.

To PM someone, All you have to do is to click MY MESSAGES then type the name of the person you wish to talk too. Example (master j) then type your messages on the space provided below. Thats it.  BBEELLYY
  OK maraming salamat , na message ko na si Master J and ERICk regarding this issue. Again my apology for this matter.

Dear Claudio,


              A friend of mine owned an agency here in Romklao. He has 200 to 300 teachers who is working all over bangkok and he ask me if i can help him about the visa run. He asked me if I know somebody who can help them because some of his teachers are still doing a monthly visa run. What I did was I gave your website and I showed this article to him. Anyway, how many trips do you have every month? I hope you can offer your good service to these people. Thank you so much and More power to your business.


Steve St. John

Sa totoo lang eh pinagbabawal na tong klaseng mga teachers na ito dito. Kaya't nga binago ang patakaran tungkol sa pag papa-extend ng permiso - sa Thailand - lalong-lalo na sa may mga tourist visa. Kapag tourist visa ang hawak mo pinagbabawal ang maghanap-buhay dito.

Bilang law-abiding Pinoy sa bansang ito, dapat lang na respetohin nating ang batas dito.



Dear Claudio,


              A friend of mine owned an agency here in Romklao. He has 200 to 300 teachers who is working all over bangkok and he ask me if i can help him about the visa run. He asked me if I know somebody who can help them because some of his teachers are still doing a monthly visa run. What I did was I gave your website and I showed this article to him. Anyway, how many trips do you have every month? I hope you can offer your good service to these people. Thank you so much and More power to your business.


Steve St. John

Thank you very much indeed Ms. Demi. I really understand your concern.

Anyway, I hope you didn't misconstrue my article.

You're right about the law and about respecting others law.

But my concern here is very simple.

First of all I have this friend who is incharge of an agency.

This agency had been helping Filipinos for almost 3 years now.

As a matter of fact they've deployed almost 150 teachers in and outside Bangkok provided with a work permit.

And still a lot of Filipinos are applying almost everyday. Let's say minimum of 10 to 20 Filipinos a day.

Most of these Filipinos are new and some are had been recruited illegally.

I attended a couple of his interviews. I noticed that these applicants had a lot of sad stories to tell.

One of the applicant said that he can't go home because he owe a lot of people there. So, she must look for a job here.

The other man said that he has a lot of children and they are expecting a lot from him.

These are the sad stories of our Kababayan here in the Kingdom.

My friend the interviewer knew that he cannot promise a job to all his applicants.

Then this problem occured. The applicants and since they're new here.

They need some services in order to stay a little longer until they'll get a work permit.

I think they also new about the law but I guess they have no where else to go.

Then my friend ask me if new somebody who can offer some services.

And I said yes. I knew a filipino who owned a travel agency but i lost my contact with him.

So, I recommend Claudio. I told my friend to open this site and he said okay and thank you.

My concern was for these filipinos who are looking for a better life here in the Kingdom.

So, with all due respect. I'm just doing my part here as a Filipino.

Keep the Faith and God Speed!