Changing visa status inside Thailand

You can sometimes get a Non-Immigrant visa, or switch to a different category, without leaving Thailand. Whether you can depends on how you came in and which category you're after.

Several of Immigration's document lists want more than 15 days left on your stay and won't take an application during an overstay. They differ by route and office, so use the one for yours.

TM.86 and TM.87

There are two forms, and which one you use depends on how you came in.

TM.86 - To change visa category, for certain people already holding a Tourist or Transit visa.

TM.87 - To get a visa, for certain people who came in without one.

Check you qualify for the route before picking a form.

Common routes

Each purpose has its own list of documents, so marriage and retirement need different ones. The routes include working or doing business in Thailand, supporting or being a dependant of Thai family or a resident, retirement, education, and certain investment or institutional purposes. Immigration's family and dependant checklist covers both forms for that route.

Timing

Start early. You need enough time left on your stay for the office to accept, review and process the application, and the minimum on a checklist doesn't mean every office can finish every case by then.

If you're already short on days, ask the immigration office whether you can get an extension and whether it affects your application.

Documents

You'll normally need your personal and immigration records plus evidence for the new purpose: employer records, relationship documents, bank evidence, support from your school or a government approval, depending on the route.

Foreign documents may need translating, legalising or certifying, and bank letters and company documents can have strict rules on how recently they were issued.

Approval and the next step

If it's approved, you'll usually get a time-limited Non-Immigrant stay first, then extend it as a separate step. Look at exactly what you've been given and the date it ends.

A new category doesn't automatically come with a work permit, a one-year extension, a re-entry permit or permanent residence.

When it's easier to leave and apply from abroad

Applying on eVisa from outside Thailand can be simpler if you can't switch from your current status inside the country, you haven't got enough time left, your sponsor's evidence isn't complete, or the embassy or consulate has a clear process for your purpose.

You don't always have to leave, but dodging one flight isn't worth an overstay or a weak application.

If you're not sure which visa you should be switching to, compare the routes for your purpose first. Our visa guides cover each one in detail.