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Foreigners in Phuket can now apply for ‘visa extensions’ online

Foreigners in Phuket can now apply for ‘visa extensions’ online

PHUKET: Foreigners in Phuket staying in Thailand on one of any 12 types of visas will be allowed to apply for extensions to stay via an online portal, Pol Lt Gen Itthiphon Itthisanronnachai, Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, announced in Phuket yesterday (Dec 25).

immigrationtourism
By The Phuket News

Tuesday 26 December 2023 10:04 AM


 

Lt Gen Itthiphon made the announcement while on the island to promote the Immigration Bureau’s current efforts to help facilitate tourists entering the country for the New Year holidays, and those wanting to stay.

As part of his visit, Lt Gen Itthiphon inspected teh operations of the Immigration officers stationed at Phuket International Airport to ensure they are ready for the anticipated influx of tourists for the coming New Year holidays.

“Convenient, fast, safe, impressive”, is the motto behind the inspections, Lt Gen Itthiphon noted.

“Phuket is the main tourist area in the upper southern region. which the government gives importance to. In addition, Mr Srettha Thavisin, the Prime Minister, has a policy of waiving visas for tourists from certain countries, such as China and India, resulting in an increased influx of tourists, especially during important festivals,” Lt Gen Itthiphon said.

“This will result in Thailand’s tourism industry getting better and better. For example, the highest number of incoming tourists traveling through Phuket Airport during December 2023 are from Russia with an average of 3,600 people per day, followed by China with an average of 1,500 people per day, the United Kingdom with an average of 780 people per day and India with an average of 720 people per day,” he said.

Phuket is expected to see some 350,000 tourists arrive via the airport this month, he added.

“The Immigration Bureau therefore must prepare to support facilitation along with screening for prohibited groups of people not being able to infiltrate [the country] and commit crimes in the country,” Lt Gen Itthiphon said.

After his inspection at Phuket airport, Lt Gen Itthiphon joined an event at the main Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket Town, where he revealed that online applications for so-called ‘visa extensions’ (extensions to stay) will be available for foreigners staying on 12 types of visas.

According to a post online by Phuket Immigration yesterday, Lt Gen Itthiphon explained that “in addition to increasing service potential, such as visa extensions for tourists, the Immigration Bureau has created the E-Extension Visa project, which provides visa extension services via the internet for tourists, who can submit documents and make an appointment before bringing your passport in to receive a stamp granting permission to extend your visa. 

“This will reduce the steps. and the duration of service can be greatly improved,” he said.

According to the post by Phuket Immigration, now shared by a variety of local government agencies, the ‘E-Extension Visa’ service is “currently available at Immigration Bureau 1 (Bangkok), Immigration Offices in Chonburi, Phuket, and Chiang Mai, providing services for 12 types of visas such as tourist visas, teachers, etc.”

However, Phuket Immigration has yet to announce any details of the ‘E-Extension’ service available for foreigners in Phuket, or post a notice announcing the new service on the Phuket Immigration official website.

The Phuket Immigration post yesterday noted that Lt Gen Itthiphon is to meet with local immigration officers on the island today (Dec 26) to “discuss issues and hear feedback and suggestions”. There was no comment indicating that further details were expected to be revealed today.

YEAR TRIAL

The ‘E-Extension’ service was initially in November last year as a ‘trial’ for foreigners staying on 12 types of visas ‒ but at the time of launch only available for foreigners staying in Bangkok.

The online service is provided in partnership with VFS GLOBAL, which is the authorised partner for the UK Government to receive passport applications from British citizens.

The Immigration Bureau has since carried the notice “Apply for Electronic Extension of Thailand Visa” on the home page of its main national website.

However, VFS Global notes 13 categories of foreigners who can apply online to extend their stay, as follows (verbatim):

  1. Carry out duties for the government (Non-Immigrant and Official visa)
  2. Tourism
  3. Teacher, professor or expert in government educational institution (Non-Immigrant and Official visa)
  4. Study in government educational institution (Non-Immigrant and Official visa)
  5. Teaching practice or conducting training or research in education institution or research institution (Non-Immigrant and Official visa)
  6. Performing duties in the mass media (Non-Immigrant and Official visa)
  7. Skilled laborer, medical expert or practitioner of other professions (Non-Immigrant)
  8. Installation or repair of machines, aircrafts or ocean vessels (Non-Immigrant)
  9. Family member of a Thai residence (Non-Immigrant) ‒ Only for family member of a foreigner (not Thai nationality) who has residence certificate and alien registration certificate of the alien granted residence permit in Thailand.
  10. Used to have Thai nationality or whose parent is or was of Thai (Exemption visa type), (TR 60 days) and (Non-Immigrant)
  11. Necessity case, Confirmation or request by embassy (any reasons), Exemption visa, TR 60 days, Non-Immigrant and Official visa
  12. Training case, Confirmation or request by embassy (Non-Immigrant)
  13. Person in charge of conveyance or crew of conveyance (Exemption visa - Transit)

- Additional reporting by Eakkapop Thongtub