How to get a 30 day visa extension in Koh Samui immigration office from Koh Phangan Thailand
A common problem for travellers and digital Nomads is running out of time on your Thai Visa. Upon entry to Thailand you can get a free 30 day arrival stamp. If you wish to extend your stay for an additional 30 days you can do so for a fee at an Immigration office.
I’ve been working online for a while on the island of Koh Phangan at a co-working space called Koh Space and as there is a new growing digital Nomad scene on the island, I thought I’d put together a helpful post for those looking at extending your stay for an additional 30 days from the island of Koh Phangan.
The whole process was rather simple
It took only half a day of my time to extend my Thai visa for an additional 30 days from the island of Koh Phangan, there is a little route and step by step guidance to follow, so i’ll lay it out here for you in this blog post.
Travelling from Haad Rin, Koh Phangan
Haad Rin is the most popular area on the island of Koh Phangan and this is where you find most of the resorts and this is where I grabbed my boat to Koh Samui.
There is no immigration office on the island of Koh Phangan so you are required to travel over to the closest island to an immigration office, which is, Koh Samui immigration office, here you can extend your Thai visa for an additional 30 days.
From Haad Rin port you will find the queen transfer ferry, there are 4 services daily.
From Haad Rin Queen Ferry:
10:30am
13:00pm
16:00pm
18:30pm
The journey takes around 50 minutes to reach Buddha pier on the island of Koh Samui.
Return times to Haad Rin, Koh Phangan:
09:30
11:40
14:30
17:30
One way ticket is 200 Baht and you can buy your ticket from the Queen ferry ticket office, both located at the Pier itself.
It’s possible to travel from Koh Phangan, arrive in Koh Samui, get a taxi to the Koh Samui Immigration office and return in one day, there is no need to stay in Koh Samui for the night unless you want to, of course they have a shopping mall and cinema, so you can blend this trip into a few days visit to Koh Samui, the choice is simply up to you.
When you reach Koh Samui from Koh Phangan
From Buddha port you are around 20-30 minute taxi ride away to the Koh Samui immigration office located on the other side of the island in Na Thon.
(Moped Taxi was 200 baht one way and included free music and scenic route, happy days!)
Try and avoid the first few taxi people, they offered me a rate of 800 Baht one way! Just around the corner, I found a Moped Taxi who offered 400 Baht Return which is not bad for a hour round trip journey. He also offered to wait for me at the immigration office until I was ready to ride me back for no additional cost, this made the journey go a lot smoother specially as you don’t have to waste time renting a moped, can get a guy to drive for you.
Once you’ve reached the Samui immigration office
Opening hours of Samui Immigration office:
Monday to Friday only from 08:30am to 16:30pm
It’s important to note that the Samui immigration office is closed on weekends and Thai public holidays.
This is also important to bear in mind that Mondays and Fridays are always busy to beat the over demand from the weekend.
Many that travel from Koh Phangan also seem to grab the first boat out and can cause a busy rush in the morning.
For the quickest service, this is normally around Tuesdays-Thursdays after lunch around 15:00. It took me a total of 40 minutes from filling in my application to getting my passport back with a stamp.
Koh Samui immigration office is also closed for Lunch between 12:00pm-13:00pm.
The process can take between 30 minutes to 2 hours depending on the demand and how busy it is, its really pot luck.
Getting your application in order before you arrive
You can speed up your Koh Samui immigration office visit by having all your documents in place.
(This is what the 30 day visa extention form looks like)
You will need:
1 x Passport, with 2 – passport page spots and 6 months validity.
1 x Standard size passport photo (you can print your own to save cash or there is a photo shop around the corner from the Koh Samui immigration office)
1 x Visa extension application form (They have printed out copies there for you)
1 x photocopy of your passport (They can photocopy for you at 10 Baht per paper)
1 x photocopy of your immigration card that you got on arrival
1 x photocopy of your Thai visa entry stamp with clear date.
1 x 1,900 Baht in cash
Once you’ve paid, handed in your documents, you will be handed a number, then you will have to wait, depending on how many are in front of you this can take an hour to even two, three hours, it all depends on the demand.
You will want to keep an eye on the passport tray at the front of the office, this is where complete passports go when they are ready, your number is attached to the passport, when it’s ready you swap it over and you’re all done.
(Double check, make sure the dates are correct)
At this stage just double check that all your dates are in order and you’re all set to go.
Hopefully by now your Taxi is waiting for you, then you can return to Budha pier and grab the last boat back to Had Rin.
(Many great chill spots located next to the pier if you want to grab a bite to eat and look over the beach)
Just next to Budha pier are many great spots to grab a bite to eat and watch the sun set over the beach as you wait for your boat to pull in, who said getting a visa extension was difficult hey!
I’ve also put together a helful video with the same information
Thank you for reading my blog post and I hope you found it useful. Koh Phangan is a great place for digital Nomads to call a home base for a while, with an easy method of extending your 30 day entry visa for an additional 30 day visa extention you simply have nothing to lose, come on over and live on this lovely paradise island!
Travelling the world, one adventure at a time. Follow the UK's leading solo adventure travel blogger, Dave Brett on his travels around the world. An Adventure travel blog that features travel tips and advice, inspirational stories, travel videos and travel photography that will help you inspire and plan your next trip abroad. To read more, please visit: 
This blog was such a blessing I have decided last minute to stay longer and hate doing research you covered everything love people like you. Thank you so much wish me luck xx
Most welcome Faye, enjoy your stay in Thailand.
Thankyouuuu! You’ve saved my life with this man ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Hi Dave
I’m hoping to complete a master diver course on Koh Tao, I’ve received my exemption visa on entry into Phuket 28-02-2017, I’m traveling to the north of Thailand for a couple of weeks and planning on flying into koh Samui around 23-3-2017, I need about 60 days to complete my course! As understand I can extend my exemption visa by 30 days at Koh samui immigration, after that I’m not sure how how can get another 30 days? I’ve been informed if I travel over the border I can gain some more time? Can you help my understanding?
You can get 30 days free upon entry. Then extend this for another additional 30 days in a visa extension office. Once this time is up you have to leave Thailand and apply for a new tourist visa outside of Thailand. Many go to Penang, Malaysia to sort this out as its close. Hope that helps.
such helpful blog!!! thank you Dave (and everybody!!)
Most welcome, any time! Happy travels!
Hey Dave, just want to give a quick thank you note for this blog post. Very usefull information! Need to get my visa extension pretty soon. Cheers mate!
Most welcome! Happy travels!
Hey Dave,
Thanks for the article. I just mentioned that you have mixed up times.
Departure should be
09:30
11:40
14:30
17:30
Arrival
10:30am
13:00pm
16:00pm
18:30pm
Thank you for the update, must have changed recently, appreciate the time and post.
Hi Dave
Do you know if the Immigraion office has changed location? Some Ocala here are tell g me they are opening a new office.
Thank you
Denise
I’ll look into it Denise, it is on the other side of the island, haven’t heard about this myself. Thank you for the update.
Hi Dave. Thanks for having such a great page.
Do you have an adress for the immigation office in Koh Samui ?
And can you tell me if it is possible to extend my visa aklready when arriving in Koh Sami.
I have a 60 dyas visa already but will stay 84 days – most in Koh phangan.
I would love to extend the visa already a few days after I arrive to Koh Samui.
Is it possible?
Thanks, maria
Hi Maria, you can extend around a week before your current Visa expires, hope thats helpful and have a wonderful trip.
Hi Dave!
Great info!
Just to confirm…we cannot apply until we are within 10 days of expiry? And they will require Perot of an airline booking?
TIA
Thats correct, normally its around a week before expiry, information has differed from different offices.
I’m here in Thailand already with my 30 day stamp i got on arrival. Is it possible to apply for a 60 day tourist visa when already in Thailand or can I only get another 30 day extension?
You can apply for the extension, if you wish to gain the two month visa you won’t be able to get this inside of Thailand.
Hi I have a 60 day visa and I am thinking of extending it as it runs out during my holiday with friends so I’m trying to decide weather to fly out then in before my friends arrive so I can enjoy my time with them and not have to leave half way though or just to extend it in job samui is sounds really easy to do I’m just worried if it doesn’t work for any reason or not this simple I will have to leave whilst my friends are here ,? Please help need some advice ? Also if I was to extend it how early can I apply for an extension ? As my runs out on the 27th Aug and my friends get here on the 20th so I was thinking about doing it before just incase I have to fly out for any reason ? Hope this make sense.
You can extend roughly a week before expiry, best to try the extension option.
hi dave, i had a problem when booking my flights as i will be staying in koh samui for 61 days and the tourist visa is for 60 days. would i be able to get an extension on this for one day?
Thanks
I would suggest to get the two month tourist visa too. If you overstay by one day you will be fined at the airport 500 Baht (Be prepared to pay if you over run). Of course you can get an extension as well to cover that one day, but it will be for the whole cost of the one month, you can’t pay a per a day fee its one whole price only.
another question : does the extension from samui works only on an official visa or does it also applies on the free visa exemption ?
thanks
I’ve extended an entry stamp as I wished to extend my holiday further than 30 days, which is what the extension is for.
Hi Dave,
we are in the same situation as Isabelle. I’m belgian and my partner is from Holland. He is wandering if we’ll get the free visa exemption at the airport because our return ticket is only after 35 days.
Some websites state that upon arrival we have to prove that we leave within 30 days. Other websites say that if we don’t have a thai visa, we might not board the plane at departure (we leave from germany).
can you confirm wehter we should get the visa exemption upon arrival in BKK and can get an extension at Samui ? thanks a lot !
You can get a free 30 day entry stamp upon arrival for Dutch and Belguim citizens. Yes, its stated that you need proof of onward travel. However, you can extend this entry stamp for an additional 30 days with an extension at a Thai imigration office. This extension is intended if you wish to remain in Thailand longer than your current visa, this is a secondary option to extend your holiday. I hope this helps.
Hello Dave,
First, thank you so much for this blog!
I’m planning to enter Thailand under the 30 days Tourist Visa Exemption. I will be in Ko Phangan for 36 days, so I will need to get a 30 days extension Visa in Ko Samui (if I understood you right). Is it going to work out even if I entered first with a 30 days Tourist Visa Exemption?
Thanks to confirm me!
By the way I’m from Canada, just in case it would make a difference.
Last question: is it mandatory to have 10,000 Baht ”cash” at my arrival in thailand to get the Tourist Visa Exemption? I got that information from the Thai Embassy web site. Since it is complicated to get Thai money here in Canada, I was thinking to get it in an ATM machine once there. Thank you for your help!
Yes correct, as long as you can gain access online or in some way show it’s in your account that’s fine.
Yes, that will work, make sure you get the extension a week before expiry just to be safe and give you enough time.
Thank you sooooo much! ;0)
That was a quick!
Most welcome, have a great trip.
Hello Dave,
I’m planning to get the 30 days tourist visa at my arrival in Thailand in July. Since I need to show a proof for my flight out 30 days after, what would you recommend me? would you recommend me to purchase a flight from Koh Samui to an other country (closed to it?), so I can show you a proof. My plan is to stay in Thailand 40 days, so to get to koh samui to renew my tourist visa around the 25th day.
Thank you for your feedback.
Yes, that would work, need out going travel proof, correct.
Hi there!
Im travelling to Thailand at the end of the year to complete my dive master course. Will be there for 80 days. Just looking into visas, if I go for the 60 day tourist visa (Australian passport) before I leave, can I then extend that the 30 days? Does it have to be the multiple entry visa when Im applying through the embassy before I go?
Thanks for any help!
Yes, you can extend a 60 day visa with a 30 day extension. That will give you 90 days.
Very helpful site. Thanks!
Just renewed my entry visa for 30 days. Went Friday afternoon and was in and out in 30 minutes! The Samui Immigration Office has become very efficient!
Btw, photos and copies can be made across the street for “pennies”!
Thank you Jonah for your feedback and great to hear it went well. Awesome to hear your tip, handy to know and thank you for sharing! Happy travlels.
Hi! My visa on arrival for 30 days is expiring next week and I was planning my trip to Penang when I found Dave’s blog… Do you think I can still get 30 days extension visa with Italian passport at Kho Samui office?
Looking forward to your reply!
Hi Adrian, you can extend a 30 day entry stamp with a 30 day extension in Koh Samui, they do offer that service. Best of luck.
Thanks Dave, we just got our extension today (May 2016, german passport) 🙂
Fantastic to hear, thank you for sharing your update. Appreciate it. Have a great time in Thailand.
Nice infos here! Ty
it is also possible to take the boat from thong sala directly to na thong. Saves time and you dont need to do the long ride around the half islande.
Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for the helpful post Dave.
Quick question – when you arrive at the airport, does immigration officer require a proof of a flight out?
Also, when you arrive, do you say you gonna stay 30days?
Thanks.
Thank you for your question Oksana, Yes you will need proof for your flight out on the date that you wish to depart and have a tourism reason to want to extend 30 days. Hope this helps and happy travels.
So helpful! You took the uncertainty out of having to organise it without knowing a thing. Much appreciated Dave. Thorough and a god send!
Thank you SO much! You should ask to get get payed (well) by the Thai Immigration as they do need lots of help communicating 🙂 THANKS AGAIN 🙂
I’m planning on coming with my partner and 3 children we want to stay for one year
Do I need to keep getting us a new visa every 30 days
You will need to get proper visa from your local Thai embassy, this is just an option for Tourists
Hi Dave does the immagration office ask for proof of onwards travel or are they not too bothered?
Yes they do ask for proof of onwards travel.
Hi! I just wanted to give everyone a heads up: this whole post is still valid as of January 19, 2016. I’m an American, I got a Visa-On-Arrival when I landed in Bangkok, and I extended it for another 30 days in Koh Samui. I hope that helps! Thanks for the info, Dave!
Thank you for passing on the info, Cheers buddy!
Hey Dave!
Thanks for all the information youre putting in here! Really appreciate this.
Since i didnt read my case, i’ll explain you mine now 😛 Im from germany and i’ll fly to Thailand in March the 6th. And i will get the free “visa” for 30 days, right? I will spend 60 days in thailand (2 months). So i will have to expand my visa. Thus, i can go to the Immigration office to expand it one time for an additional 30 days, right?
Hope i got this right, would be really happy, if you can confirm this or if needed correct it.
PS: I do not have the 60 days visa, wich i can get in germany before i fly to Thailand (Reason: I’d have to send it via post, and it’s to risky for me to send my Pass plus flighttickets to Berlin just to get those 60 days)
Thanks in advance,
Alex
Yes! thats exactly correct Alex, your all good to go and this is perfectly fine for tourism purposes,
here is another blog post that explains a little more detail:
https://traveldave.co.uk/extend-thai-tourist-visa-chiang-mai/
Happy travels and enjoy exploring Thailand
Alright, thanks so much for helping out!
I’ll dfntly stay around here 🙂
Cheers,
Alex
Dave u think I can apply 2 weeks before my Visa on arrival will get over or do I need to do this extension just in time before it runs out?
I had a friend with the same question and he discover that 10 days before is the limit. Hope that helps.
Hi I just realize my 30 day visa granted upon arrival expired 3 days ago and I am really freaking out!! I don’t know whether to just apply for an extension or leave to another country and do a visa run? I am on Koh Tao and whats worse is that I won’t make it in time to extend my visa until Monday (so I will be over my visa 6 days in total) since its already Friday afternoon.
What do you suggest I do? I dont mind paying a fine but is there a chance they will reject me for applying for an extension in Koh Samui? What do u suggest I do?
Thanks so much!
I would head straight to immigration on Koh Samui ASAP and declare that you have overstayed and pay the 500 Baht per day overstay fine, lets hope they let you pay the fine, once you have cleared your overstay, then you can see what’s possible, I don’t have any past experience with overstay but I do know that the quicker you sort it out the easier it will become.
Hello,
I have a friend in this sitation and is 2 days over her expiry. Did you manage to extend your Visa at the embassy and pay the fines.
Any info you have will be great thanks.
She is British passport holder.
Regards
Ellie
My advice would to never go over your Visa duration, this is not a good situation and I would recommend leaving Thailand as quickly as possible and pay the 500 Baht per day fine before it gets worse. The quicker you sort it out, the easier you it will be. Please all check your dates and keep on top of it. The extension is not intended for this purpose its just to extend your time in Thailand not to overrun it, be careful everyone.
Hey,
So me and my friend entered Thailand on the 21.11.15 and are spending Christmas in Ko Samui then going onto Ko Phangan for New Year.
We got a stamp for 30 days. However we will need it extending.
Will we be fine to come to ko samui and to the process you’ve mentioned to ensure we can sit back an enjoy our Christmas?!
Is it still 1,900B for 30 days?
Also I don’t think we have the Thai Visa entry slip?! Should this be a problem?
We are in two minds to do a boarder run or whether a visit to a Thai Embassy is easier?
Thanks for your help x
Hey Jade, did you manage to get a 30 day extension? Reason I ask is that I fly to samui tomorrow (I’m a Brit and will get 30 days upon arrival) and am planning on staying longer than 30 days…I want to know if I can get a 30 day extension at immigration ? It’s not that clear..thanks.
Yes you can get extensions on koh samui at Immigration office, get your stamp then you can extend around a week before your 30 day free stamp expires.
Ahh, cheers Dave, appreciate you getting back to me..
Really great , clear info well done , I have two 60 days visas for Thailand . I am coming towards the end of my first two months , am I allowed to extend this first 60 day visa for an extra 30 to stay without leaving to activate second one , thanks ! Molly
Yes, that is correct you can extend a 60 day visa at any Thai Immigration office to add another further 30 days to that current Visa, must do it a week before Monday to Friday avoiding public Thai holidays and Lunch break between 12:00-13:00. You can add one extension to every entry, hope that helps.
Hi Dave
Do you perhaps know how many times the visa can be extended?
Many thanks, your blog’s been very helpful.
Arienn
You can only extend your entry stamp once.
If you are referring to the entry visa, you can have one immigration extension per entry. For example, if you have a double entry visa, you can have two extensions, only one per entry, so a 4 month double entry becomes a 6 month period visa, hope that helps.
You can only extend your entry stamp once.
If you are refering to the entry visa, you can have one imigration extention per entry. For example if you have a double entry visa you can have two extensions, only one per entry, so a 4 month double entry becomes a 6 month period visa, hope that helps.
I don’t see a date on this post… is it still possible to get a 30-day extension on a visa exemption? Things seem to change a lot.
Hello Kiva, Thank you for your comment, This was put together last month, it’s still up to date (08/08/15). Just bare in mind this was for a British Passport it varies nationality to nationality, best of luck with your extension.