Disclaimer: We’re not attorneys, and this isn’t legal advice. This is just our personal experience with extending our visa.
Extending Your Tourist Visa in Pattaya: DIY vs. Visa Agency Options
As U.S. citizens, we are eligible for a 30-day visa on arrival, with the option to extend for an additional 30 days. There are several ways to extend your tourist visa while in Pattaya. One option is to hire an agency to handle the process for you. However, since I enjoy managing paperwork, I decided to tackle it myself. Having navigated the process before in Krabi a few months ago, I felt confident in my ability to handle it.
How We Get to Chonburi Immigration in Pattaya?
Getting around Pattaya is fairly easy, and you have several options to reach the Chonburi Immigration Office.
Address: 75/265 12 Pattaya City, Bang Lamung District, Chon Buri 20150
Open: Monday to Friday from 8:30 AM – 4:30pm and is closed on weekends.
- By Taxi/Grab: This is the easiest and most convenient option, and it’s what we use all the time around Thailand. Just enter “Pattaya Immigration Office” as your destination, and you’ll be dropped off right at the entrance.
- By Baht Bus: If you’re looking for a cheaper ride, hop on a Baht bus. We think they’re the best bus option around! You’ll find them on the streets or heading towards Jomtien Beach, where the office is nearby. Just ask the driver to drop you off or mention the 7-Eleven close to the immigration office.
- By Motorbike: We often rent motorbikes because they’re super cheap and convenient. If you’re comfortable riding one, it’s a great way to get there.
- Walking: If you’re staying nearby, like we were, you can easily walk to the office. We purposely booked our hotel within a 7-minute walk so we could head over early in the morning.
Feeling adventurous? 🌍 Book your dream vacation and let the excitement begin! ✈️
Where to Stay Near Chonburi Immigration Office in Jomtien
If you’re looking for convenient places to stay near the Chonburi Immigration Office in Jomtien, there are several great options to suit different preferences and budgets. These hotels and guesthouses are all within easy reach of the immigration office and offer various levels of comfort and amenities to ensure a pleasant stay.
Nirvana Boutique Suites: We stayed here, and it offers charming, luxurious suites with a touch of traditional Thai elegance, all within close proximity to the immigration office. The receptionist was very kind, printing our immigration forms and making copies for us.
Fifth Pattaya Jomtien: Located just a short distance from the immigration office, this hotel offers modern rooms and a relaxing atmosphere, making it ideal for those looking to stay close to the action.
Grand Residence Jomtien: This stylish hotel is also near the immigration office, offering spacious rooms and friendly service, perfect for a peaceful getaway.
Sunny Beach Residence: A budget-friendly option, this guesthouse is near the beach and the immigration office, offering a simple and comfortable stay.
Happy Beach Jomtien Guesthouse: Just a short walk from the immigration office, this cozy guesthouse is known for its warm hospitality and clean rooms, perfect for travelers on a budget.
Visa Extension Checklist: What You Need for Pattaya Immigration
To extend your tourist visa in Pattaya, make sure to prepare a quick checklist to ensure you have everything you need:
1. Your original passport
2. One photocopy of your passport’s first page
3. One photocopy of your Thailand entry stamp
4. A completed TM7 immigration form Printing and filling it out in advance will save time.
5. One 4×6 passport photo
6. Your visitor address notification You can request this from your hotel.
The processing fee is 1,900 baht, so make sure to bring cash. Exact change is recommended as they may be short on giving change.
How Early Can You Apply for a Visa Extension?
In Pattaya, you need to apply for your visa extension no earlier than one day before your current visa expires. We learned this the hard way when we were turned away from the immigration office three days before our visa’s expiration date. The officers instructed us to come back just one day before the visa expired. It was a nerve-wracking experience not knowing if we’d get the extension in time.
In contrast, our experience at the Krabi Immigration Office was much more flexible; we had three days left on our visa and faced no issues with applying early. Always check the specific rules for your location to avoid last-minute stress.
Here is a full guide on how to extend your 30-day tourist visa in Krabi, Thailand.
Copies and Passport Photos: What You Need to Know
When visiting the Chonburi Immigration Office, you can conveniently make copies of your documents on-site. This service is available for a small fee of around 10 baht per page inside the main reception building. If you prefer, you can also visit nearby copy shops, where the cost is typically around 5 baht.
For passport photos, there are a couple of options nearby. You can get your photo taken at a local shop for about 70 baht, which is usually quick. Alternatively, if you prefer a more specialized service, a Kodak photo place offers passport photos for 140 baht for a set of 4 photos. This might be a bit pricier, but it ensures high-quality results and professional service.
Having your copies and photos ready in advance can help streamline the process and avoid any last-minute hassles.
Navigating Pattaya Immigration: How to Get Your Queue Ticket
When you arrive at the office, head directly to the left side where it says “Information” to get your queue ticket. Avoid the common mistake of going straight to the main office where the immigration officers process your visa and then realizing you need to go back to the “Information” building for your ticket—it’s easy to get confused about the process. After you enter the “Information” building, join the line to have your documents checked. If there’s an issue with your paperwork, you’ll need to fix it and rejoin the line. If everything is correct, you’ll receive your queue ticket. To avoid delays, make sure all your documents are prepared and accurate before you arrive.
Queue Ticket in Hand: Moving to the Main Immigration Building
After waiting for about 30 minutes in line and having all our documents checked by the officer, everything was in order, and we were given a queue ticket. We were then directed to the main immigration building just next door.
The wait there was approximately 35 minutes before we were called by the immigration officer. We were kind of nervous since this was our second time extending our visa, and we weren’t entirely sure if we’d be granted an extension. To add to the stress, our visa was expiring the next day, and we didn’t have any flight or accommodation booked if something went wrong.
Visa Review and the Nerve-Wracking Wait for Your Passport
We were called by the immigration officer. Our documents were reviewed again, with each one carefully checked, including our passports. After this thorough review, we were given a ticket to collect our passports at noon the following day. To avoid any issues when picking up your passport, make sure to keep the pick-up ticket safe, as it is necessary for retrieving your documents. It was quite scary for us since we had never been away from our passports before, and being in a different country without them felt very unsettling.
Easy Passport Pickup: Our Visa Extension Success
The next morning, around 11 a.m., we went to pick up our passports. The process was very straightforward—once we entered the main building, we simply handed over our ticket and received our passports. We were in and out in less than five minutes. Yay! Our extension was granted, and we were all set to explore more of Thailand.
If you’re curious about the island we visited next, check out our YouTube channel!
