DTV extension in Thailand: 1,900 or 10,000 THB, and why people fly out instead
A DTV entry can be extended once, for up to 180 days, at a Thai immigration office for 1,900 THB. Here is why many holders leave and re-enter instead.
Published . Updated . 6 min read.
You extend a DTV in Thailand by filing form TM.7 at a Thai immigration office before your 180-day stamp runs out: you get one extension of up to 180 more days per entry, and the government fee published by the Immigration Bureau for an extension of temporary stay is 1,900 THB. The 10,000 THB figure you also see online is the DTV visa fee paid to an embassy, not the extension fee. The harder question is whether to extend at all, because since 2026 many holders leave and re-enter instead.
How do you extend a DTV in Thailand?
You apply once per entry, in person, at the immigration office that covers the place you live. The Royal Thai Embassy in London states the rule plainly on its DTV page: 180 days per entry, and an extension of stay "one time for a period not exceeding 180 days per entry". That caps a single entry at about 360 consecutive days. After that you must leave Thailand and come back on the same visa for a new stamp.
Where you file matters if you live on an island. On Koh Tao, the island office handles 90-day reports and the 30-day TM.7 extension for visa-exempt and tourist-visa stays, but not longer extensions for non-tourist visas, according to the Baan Lyy guide to the Koh Tao office (updated 2 July 2026), which, as a non-tourist visa, points DTV holders to Samui Immigration in Maenam. Our post on the Samui immigration day trip covers the route.
What is the DTV extension fee: 1,900 or 10,000 THB?
The extension fee is 1,900 THB. Samut Prakan Immigration, an office of the Thai Immigration Bureau, lists "Application for extension of temporary stay: 1,900 baht per time" on its fee page, with no carve-out by visa type. ThaiLawOnline gives the same amount for the DTV: one extension of 180 days per entry, filed at a local immigration office, for 1,900 THB.
The 10,000 THB number is the DTV visa fee itself. It is set in baht and converted by each embassy, which is why the London embassy charges 300 GBP. The confusion is easy to see on one page: Greenback Tax Services writes that "the standard fee is 10,000 THB per entry or extension" and, a few lines later, gives the extension fee as 1,900 THB. Budget 1,900 THB in cash for the counter, and treat 10,000 THB as the cost of the visa you already hold.
Can a DTV extension be refused?
Yes, and that is the real risk. An extension is discretionary. ThaiLawOnline puts it in one line: "An extension is a request, not an entitlement." Thailand Elite Net, an agency that sells the rival Thailand Privilege membership, reports that through 2026 many DTV holders were refused at the extension stage, or were asked for more documents across two, three or four visits before an answer. Treat that as a trend report from a party with an interest, not an official statistic. No immigration office publishes refusal rates.
The same source says it is now common for DTV holders to leave Thailand and re-enter for a fresh 180-day stamp. That works because the visa allows unlimited entries during its five-year validity, as ThaiLawOnline confirms. Re-entry is also at the discretion of the officer at the border, but it is a single, routine decision taken in one visit.
Is it better to extend or to fly out and re-enter?
On paper the extension wins on cost; in practice it wins only if it is granted on the first or second visit. We do not publish a price table for flights and ferries here, because those move with the season and we have no dated public source for a fair average. Compare the structure instead.
| Question | Extension at immigration | Leave and re-enter |
|---|---|---|
| Government fee | 1,900 THB | 0 THB |
| What you get | Up to 180 more days, once per entry | A new stamp of up to 180 days |
| Who decides | Extension officer, discretionary | Border officer, discretionary |
| Visits needed | One, or several if documents are requested | One crossing each way |
| Day count for tax | Keeps running inside Thailand | Keeps running across the calendar year |
| Best when | Your file is complete and your office is close | You live far from an office or were already asked for more papers |
Price your own options with real quotes: the ferry or flight to your office, a possible night away, and the same for a flight to a nearby country. Our currency check helps if you are paying in euros or dollars.
How does a DTV extension affect Thai tax residency?
An extension almost always makes you a Thai tax resident for that year. The Thai Revenue Department defines a resident as any person staying in Thailand for periods "aggregating more than 180 days in any tax (calendar) year". MBMG Group, a Bangkok advisory firm, stresses the same count: days are added up from 1 January to 31 December, not per stay. A full DTV entry plus an extension can reach about 360 days in a row, which crosses that line in any calendar arrangement.
Residency changes what you owe. The Revenue Department states that a resident is taxed on Thai income and on "the portion of income from foreign sources that is brought into Thailand". Forvis Mazars explains that under Revenue Department instruction Por. 161/2566, foreign income earned from 1 January 2024 is assessable when a resident brings it into Thailand, whenever the transfer happens.
Leaving does not reset the tax count, because the count runs over the calendar year, not per entry. What leaving can do is give you control over the timing. A holder who spends the last weeks of a year abroad can keep that year under 181 days in Thailand, while an extension makes that much harder. Whether that matters depends on your income, where it is taxed, and whether you bring money into Thailand at all. Our post on counting a Thai tax year shows the day count in practice, and the remittance exemption post tracks the proposed change to foreign income rules.
What should you bring to a DTV extension appointment?
Bring the file you used for the visa, refreshed. ThaiLawOnline says offices may ask for updated bank statements, proof of ongoing remote work and a lease agreement before they approve. A practical checklist:
- Your passport with the DTV and the current entry stamp, plus copies of the photo page, the visa and the stamp.
- A completed TM.7 form and a recent passport photo.
- Recent bank statements showing you still meet the 500,000 THB funds requirement.
- Proof that your foreign remote work or client contracts are still active.
- Your lease or another proof of address in the office's area.
- 1,900 THB in cash.
Hold a changeable flight out as a fallback in case the office asks for more papers than you can supply before your stamp expires.
What happens to your 90-day report and your DTV renewal?
The 90-day report is a separate duty, and leaving resets it. The Thaiger's reporting guide says DTV holders who stay continuously through the 90-day point must report, and that a genuine departure and re-entry "starts a new one from the new arrival date". A missed report is not erased by leaving.
Renewing the DTV itself is not an extension. The visa lasts five years; after that you apply again from outside Thailand. Since 31 August 2026 you must file at the Thai mission covering a country where you are a national or a permanent resident, according to ThaiLawOnline and the London embassy page. Visa Check shows which Thai options fit your passport today, and our comparison of the DTV and the LTR covers the higher-cost alternative.
Extension approval is at the discretion of the immigration office. This is not legal or tax advice.
Updated on 25 September 2026. Rules and prices change: confirm with the official source linked above before you act.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a DTV extension cost in Thailand?
The government fee is 1,900 THB, the standard Immigration Bureau fee for an extension of temporary stay, paid in cash at the office. The 10,000 THB figure quoted in some guides is the DTV visa fee paid to an embassy, not the extension fee. Budget extra for travel to your office, photos and copies, and possibly a second visit if the officer asks for more documents.
How many times can you extend a DTV?
Once per entry, for up to 180 days. The Royal Thai Embassy in London states the extension is granted one time for a period not exceeding 180 days per entry, so a single entry tops out around 360 days. After that you leave Thailand and re-enter on the same five-year multiple-entry visa for a fresh 180-day stamp.
Is it better to extend a DTV or do a border run?
An extension costs less in fees, but a border run gives a faster, more predictable answer. Extensions are discretionary, and 2026 reports describe refusals and repeated document requests at some offices. Leaving and re-entering gives a new 180-day stamp in one crossing. Neither resets your Thai tax day count, which runs over the calendar year.
Does a DTV extension make you a Thai tax resident?
In most cases, yes. The Revenue Department treats anyone in Thailand for more than 180 days in a calendar year as a tax resident, and an entry plus an extension can reach about 360 days. Residents are taxed on foreign income they bring into Thailand if it was earned from 1 January 2024. Check your own position with a tax adviser.
How do you renew a DTV when it expires?
You apply for a new DTV from outside Thailand; there is no in-country renewal. The visa is valid for five years. Since 31 August 2026 you must file through the Thai e-Visa system at the mission covering a country where you are a national or a permanent resident, with fresh proof of 500,000 THB in funds and of your remote work.
Sources
- Royal Thai Embassy in London, Destination Thailand Visa: 180 days per entry, one extension of up to 180 days, 300 GBP visa fee, accessed .
- Samut Prakan Immigration, immigration fees: extension of temporary stay 1,900 baht per time, accessed .
- Thai Revenue Department, tax residence at more than 180 days in a calendar year and taxation of foreign income brought in, accessed .
- ThaiLawOnline, Destination Thailand Visa requirements: one in-country extension of 180 days for 1,900 THB, home country filing since 31 August 2026, accessed .
- Greenback Tax Services, digital nomad visa Thailand: 10,000 THB visa fee and 1,900 THB extension fee on the same page, accessed .
- Thailand Elite Net, Privilege versus DTV: 2026 reports of extension refusals and repeated document requests, accessed .
- Baan Lyy, Koh Tao immigration office: 30-day TM.7 extensions and 90-day reports only, longer extensions at Samui (updated 2 July 2026), accessed .
- MBMG Group, the 180-day rule: days aggregated from 1 January to 31 December, accessed .
- Forvis Mazars Thailand, Por. 161/2566 and foreign income earned from 1 January 2024, accessed .
- The Thaiger, 90-day reporting guide: required past 90 consecutive days, a new cycle from the new arrival date, accessed .
