My Thai O-Visa Application Journey: A Smooth Transition from B-Visa!

After years of navigating Thailand on a Non-Immigrant-B visa, a recent change in my employment status meant it was time to switch to a Non-Immigrant O-Visa. This process involved surrendering my old visa and work permit, which thankfully came with a grace period to exit Thailand. My mission: head home to Kuala Lumpur to sort out the new O-Visa.

Pro-Tip: Plan Ahead, Even When Abroad!

During my grace period in Bangkok, I didn’t waste time. I made sure to clarify the entire process directly at Chaeng Wattana Immigration. They presented me with two options for changing my visa status: doing it in Bangkok, or exiting the country to obtain a new O-Visa and then returning. I confirmed the latter was my intention, as I understood it to be the simpler route. This foresight proved invaluable – especially as I obtained the “requirements and documentations when applying for extension of temporary stay in case of staying with Thai husband” printout directly from Chaeng Wattana, a truly helpful resource!

Crucially, I had also read about the recent shift to an online (e-Visa) system for the Royal Thai Embassy in KL. This meant I not only avoided an unnecessary trip to the embassy in person, but also saved myself the last-minute stress of document scanning and JPEG conversion, with a huge assist from my hubby! I made sure all necessary documents for both the visa application process in KL and the subsequent extension of stay process in Bangkok were understood and prepared well in advance.

My “planner DNA” kicked in: I had a draft e-Visa submission (including all document uploads) entirely ready while still in Bangkok. The moment I landed in KL, I was all set to hit “submit”!

It’s important to note the two distinct stages of this whole visa process:

• Obtaining the O-Visa from the Royal Thai Embassy in KL (you must use it to enter Thailand within 3 months of issuance).
• The 1-year stay extension at the Immigration Bureau after entering the country with your initial 90-day stamp.

Why Applying from Outside Thailand is Crucial

I initially toyed with submitting the application while still in Bangkok, but wisely decided against it. This decision was based on crucial reminders: Thai Visas are strictly for entering Thailand, and therefore MUST be applied for while you are outside the country. Your application will be rejected if you are physically in Thailand during the visa process. Once approved, a confirmation email is sent, which you can conveniently print for airlines and Thai immigration officials upon your return.

Despite some mixed Google reviews for the e-Visa system, I approached it with apprehension, especially concerning the technical side. However, I felt confident my documents were in order. And happily, all went well!

Upon arriving in KL, I submitted my application on Sunday, and received approval on the very next day – an incredibly quick turnaround!

Essential Documents & Tips for Your E-Visa Application:

Here’s a breakdown of the documents I prepared and uploaded for the e-Visa, along with some key insights:

• Passport and Photo: Scanned to PDF, then converted to JPEG (using a Mac) to ensure the size was less than 3MB. Pay close attention to file size limits!
• Bank Statement: I used my latest month’s statement, downloaded directly from the SCB bank app. Remember to save it to PDF after unlocking any passwords.
• Marriage Certificate: Scanned to PDF (both Khor Ror 2 and 3).
• Husband’s ID Card: My hubby’s Thai ID card scanned to PDF.
• My Proof of Address: My Malaysian ID card scanned to PDF.

Understanding Visa Validity & Timing: I filled in fictitious flight details for a later date on the application. My e-Visa was valid from February 17th to May 17th, meaning I needed to enter Thailand within that 3-month window. It’s important to note: you should apply for an e-Visa at least 1 month before your intended travel date, but no longer than 2 months beforehand, as the visa typically has 90 days’ validity from the date of issuance.

My remarkably quick approval was likely due to all my documents being perfectly in order, my marriage certificate being closed to three years old (I’m only applying for an O-Visa now because my previous company covered my B-visa), and my bank statement showing a financial standing well above the minimum requirement.

For general conditions and detailed information, even though it’s for the Royal Thai Embassy in the Netherlands, this link is very helpful: https://hague.thaiembassy.org/th/publicservice/e-visa-general-conditions.

Post-Entry: My Extension of Stay Experience

I entered Thailand on March 9th, 2025, and received a 90-day stamp valid until June 6th, 2025. I then proceeded with my extension of stay application in early May at Chaeng Wattana Immigration. It’s often recommended to apply at least 30 days before your current stamp expires, and after going through it, I can certainly see why it’s wise not to leave it too late.

To my surprise, I was asked to return three weeks later for the “results” – something I hadn’t expected. I had foolishly thought I’d receive the extension stamp on the application day itself, especially since I’d already been granted the O-Visa by the Thai Embassy in KL. This three-week wait, however, significantly threw off my plans for my driving license renewal, which required a visa with sufficient validity! I was advised that there was a tolerance of 2-3 days later than the stated “results” date if I wasn’t available, but absolutely no earlier.

On the application day, my husband (who must accompany me for this application and for the interview!) and I were fortunate enough to jump the queue. We headed straight for the document check, and the officer was kind enough to swap us with a queue number that another applicant had just been turned away from. The interview itself (at a different counter after document check) was rather straightforward: they asked about where we met, when we registered our marriage, my husband’s employment (company and job designation), and my previous employment details. It was a very pleasant experience. All in all, the entire process took us less than half a day.

Important Note on Financial Documents: It’s worth noting that we did not need to provide any financial supporting documents (e.g., bank statements) because my Thai spouse is a husband. This is a key difference from applications where the Thai spouse is a wife. Trat Immigration provides helpful info on this: https://www.tratimmigration.com/documents-required-thai-visas/#google_vignette.

Essential Documents for Your Extension of Stay (Marriage-Based O-Visa – Thai Husband):

Here’s a detailed list of what we provided:

1. Filled application form TM7, attached with one recent photo of the applicant.
2. Filled affidavit of family relationship to Thai national (STM.10), to be completed by your Thai spouse.
3. Filled consent form (STM.11) for fact-checking and information verification.
4. Original and copy of passport: First page with photo, and copy of your entry stamp.
   • (Note: While the official list might mention “last visa,” “departure card (TM6),” and “evidence of 90 days,” these were not required in my specific case this time. However, “last visa” and “evidence of 90 days” seem to be a requirement for my following year’s extension).
   • I came a few days early, mistakenly preparing for the 90-day report (as it’s often listed as a document requirement), but the 90-day counter confirmed it was far too early. (I’d even attempted the online 90-day report before turning up at Immigration, but this was rejected later).
5. Copy of e-visa.
6. Copy of TM.30 (Notification of Residence): Print a screenshot from the screen where your landlord/spouse registered you online. (It seems that if my husband logged in again closer to our application date, he could no longer see the submission; best practice is to screenshot when it’s being keyed into the system!).
7. Marriage Certificate (Khor Ror 2 and 3): Original and copy.
8. Husband’s original and copy of Thai ID card.
9. Copy of Sale Contract document and Tabian Baan (house registration book): We did not provide the house/land deed, as it’s understood that it’s still with the bank. I had the foresight of bringing the original Sale Contract document, which the officer then made new copies of, as one page was not legible.
10. Four recent photographs (taken within 6 months): Develop as 4R (4″x6″) prints at a photo studio and glue two photos each onto one A4 paper.
    • Two outside: In front of our condo’s main entrance and in front of the swimming pool.
    • Two inside: In front of our unit with the room number clearly visible, and in the living room sitting on a couch. (We did not provide photos inside the bedroom or sitting on the bed, as sometimes suggested in forums, and it wasn’t an issue).
11. Hand-drawn map of condo’s location.
12. Payment of 1,900 baht.

Important: At the document check, you’ll be asked to sign on all photocopied documents. The owner of each document should sign on their relevant copies. In the case of the marriage certificate, photos, map, etc., both my husband and I signed on them.

On collection day, I went by myself, arriving at Chaeng Wattana Immigration just slightly after 1 PM, right when they reopened after the lunch break. I was fortunate to be the second in line for Counter L2-38. I wasn’t expecting a long wait, and true to that, I was in and out in just 20 minutes with my new extension stamp, valid until June 6, 2026!

However, my immigration journey wasn’t quite over. I then proceeded to apply for a re-entry permit, which took an additional hour. Remember, a re-entry permit requires a separate application form, a separate queue ticket, copies of your passport’s first page (with photo), visa stamp, entry stamp, and one additional photo. The cost for a multiple-entry permit is 3,800 baht, and its validity matches your visa’s validity (e.g., until June 6, 2026, in my case).

Altogether, I received four distinct stamps on my passport during this process:

1. The initial Entry Stamp (March 9th, valid until June 6th, 2025).
2. The “Application of Stay Under Consideration” stamp, with instructions to contact again in person on May 22nd.
3. The “Extension of Stay” stamp, permitted until June 6th, 2026.
4. The Multiple Re-Entry Permit stamp.

This journey highlights the importance of thorough preparation and understanding the specific requirements for each step of the Thai visa process. Good luck to anyone embarking on a similar path!