Visa Extension & Retirement Visa Support in Pattaya

These are the procedures residents of Pattaya most often ask us about. All are handled at Jomtien Immigration (Chonburi Immigration, Pattaya office), which covers Pattaya.

The financial conditions follow the guidance published by Royal Thai Embassies abroad, and the official fees are the amounts on which several sources agree as of September 2026. Both may be revised by the authorities.

About the DTV: The DTV (Destination Thailand Visa) has been reported to face stricter screening in 2026, and its document requirements change often. We listen to your situation and explain the options, including other visa types.

We support new applications and renewals of the Retirement Visa for those who wish to stay in Thailand long term.

New applications

You are eligible if you:

• Meet the financial requirements
• Have a Thai bank account and the required bank documents
• Have an address in Thailand
• Meet the other conditions set by the Immigration Bureau

Renewals

For those who meet the financial and other conditions set by the Immigration Bureau. If you do not meet the conditions, please contact us first.

If your documents or conditions are not yet in place

Even if you are missing documents or are unsure whether you meet the financial and other requirements, feel free to consult us. We hear about your situation, check whether you meet the requirements and explain the legitimate options, including other visa types.

Government application fees payable to the Immigration Bureau are charged separately. Other visas and procedures are quoted after we hear the details.

From 15 September 2026, Japanese nationals can stay visa-free for 30 days instead of 60. Anyone who entered on or before 14 September may stay until the date stamped on entry.

The conditions described here apply to Japanese nationals. If you hold another nationality, please check the rules for your own country.

If you want to stay longer than 30 days, there are three options.

1. Apply for a 30-day extension at Immigration (1,900 THB, once per entry)
2. Obtain a visa that matches your purpose (retirement, education, DTV and so on)
3. Leave the country and re-enter

An extension typically requires your passport, entry stamp details, a photo, the application form and your address in Thailand. We prepare the documents, accompany you and interpret.

Who is most affected

• Visitors who planned to stay 31 to 60 days. Combine the stay with a 30-day extension or adjust your dates
• Anyone planning to change to a retirement visa inside Thailand after arrival. The change must be applied for well before your current permission expires, so there are now fewer days to work with

Whether an extension is granted is decided by Immigration. Staying past your deadline is an overstay, which Royal Thai Embassies say carries a fine of 500 THB per day (up to 20,000 THB).

These are general guides for each procedure. Waiting times and processing vary widely, so we show ranges.

If you apply with savings, you must hold 800,000 THB or more from two months before applying and keep a minimum balance for a set period after the extension (as described by the Consulate-General of Japan in Chiang Mai; sources differ on the exact periods).

When you consult us, we work back from your current deadline and plan the schedule with you. It is also worth adding your deadlines to a calendar yourself.

You can apply for any of these procedures yourself. The difference lies in the preparation and in the cost of having to come back.

Applying yourself suits you if: you are comfortable dealing with the counter in English, can take time on a weekday, and nothing has changed since last time.

We recommend asking us if: it is your first application, your finances or housing have changed since last time, or your deadline is close.

If you know the following, it is easier for us to tell you the procedure and schedule you need.

• Your current visa type and the permitted-stay date on the latest stamp in your passport
• Your passport's expiry date and how many blank visa pages remain
• Your plans (how long you will stay in Pattaya, and any trips home or abroad)
• Your finances (whether you have a Thai bank account, and whether you rely on savings or income such as a pension)
• Your housing (whether you have a lease and whether the TM.30 residence notification has been filed)
• Days on which you could go to Immigration

Requirements vary by procedure, but the table below shows what is commonly requested for each. We give you a checklist for your specific case.

○ means usually required, △ means sometimes requested, and — means not normally needed. The number of photos depends on the procedure.

• If you apply on the basis of monthly income, add a certificate showing your pension or other income

We can help with documents, accompaniment and interpreting, but in the following situations you are normally expected at the counter yourself. We plan the schedule around days you can attend.

• New retirement visa applications and annual renewals (your photo is taken and you sign at the counter)
• 30-day extensions of stay
• Re-entry permits (whether obtained in advance at Immigration or at the airport on the day you leave)
• Your first 90-day report, and the first one after a change of address
• Opening a bank account. Some banks also ask you to come in person for a balance letter

Later 90-day reports can be filed online, by post or through a representative. There are reports that applications made without the applicant attending are no longer accepted, so we assist on the basis that you attend in person.

Most of the reasons an application is turned away on the day can be prevented in advance.

• The deposit has not been held long enough: Immigration checks not only the balance but how long it has been there. Work back from your renewal date to build up the balance in time
• Document dates do not match: The balance letter and passbook update are usually required to be dated the day you apply. Plan to stop at the bank on the morning of your application
• The TM.30 residence notification has not been filed: Your landlord or accommodation files it, but without the receipt your application may not proceed. Check with your landlord beforehand
• Too little left on your passport: If the expiry date is close or blank visa pages run out, you may be granted a shorter period or be unable to apply
• Applying for an extension at the last minute: If a document is missing, there is no time left to fix it

A re-entry permit is required when you leave Thailand while holding a long-term visa. Leaving without one cancels the visa. A single permit (1,000 THB) covers one trip; a multiple permit (3,800 THB) covers any number of trips within the visa period. On price alone, a multiple permit is cheaper only if you leave four or more times within the visa period (three single permits cost 3,000 THB, less than 3,800 THB). If your plans are open, a multiple permit also saves applying before each trip. That comparison uses government fees only. If you ask us to handle it, our fees are added, and a multiple permit becomes cheaper from three trips.

A 90-day report is the address notification required for stays over 90 days. It can be filed from 15 days before to 7 days after the due date. The first report and any change of address must be filed in person; later reports can be filed online, although the system does not always accept them. A late report is subject to a 2,000 THB fine.

What we do

• Explain the documents for your procedure and help complete the forms
• Accompany you to the bank for balance letters and similar documents
• Accompany you at Immigration, interpret and guide you through the counters
• Checking your next renewal and 90-day report dates with you when we meet

What you need to do

• Attend in person (most procedures require identification)
• Meet the visa requirements yourself, including the financial conditions
• Bring your passport and original documents

Outcomes and processing times are decided by Immigration. We cannot guarantee a result.