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Change visa type in Thailand: from visa exempt or TR to Non-O or Non-B

bartmolkenboerAdmin

@bartmolkenboer·Veteran

4d ago9 min read01

Changing visa type in Thailand costs 2,000 baht at immigration: from visa-exempt or a tourist visa to Non-O, Non-B and others, with over 15 days left.

Last checked: 11 October 2026

In short (as of 11 October 2026)

  • At a Thai immigration office you can get a Non-Immigrant visa or have your visa changed (change of visa type): from a visa-exempt stay (form TM.87) or from a tourist or transit visa (form TM.86).

  • Conditions: more than 15 days of stay left, no overstay, apply in person, and the documents for the new purpose.

  • Cost 2,000 baht. You get a stay of at most 90 days. After that you can extend by at most 1 year (1,900 baht) if you meet the requirements.

  • Possible according to Immigration Division 1: among others Non-O (marriage, Thai children, retirement 50+), Non-B (work, investment), Non-ED (study) and O-X (its own form TM.89 and 10,000 baht).

  • The DTV, the O-A and the tourist visa are not on that list. The embassies in The Hague and Brussels do not handle applications from people who are in Thailand.

This article is for Dutch and Belgian nationals who are already in Thailand and want to stay there on another visa, for example for retirement or a marriage. The general Thai rules in this guide apply to all nationalities; the parts about embassies and documents are written for Dutch and Belgian passport holders, so if you hold another passport, check the requirements of the Thai embassy or consulate that serves you.

What changing visa type in Thailand means

The official Thai term is "ขอรับหรือขอเปลี่ยนประเภทการตรวจลงตรา": applying for a visa or changing the visa category, at the immigration authorities in Thailand. The embassy in The Hague writes (1 September 2026) that anyone who wants to stay longer or "may wish to change their type of visa" applies to the Immigration Bureau or a provincial immigration office, and that the change is "solely at the discretion of the Immigration officer".

There are two forms:

  • TM.86: you have a tourist visa (TR) or transit visa and are applying for another category.

  • TM.87: you entered visa-exempt (the checklists mention the stamps ผ.30, ผผ.30 and ผผ.90) and are applying for a visa.

The exception is the O-X (long stay, 5 years per visa): according to the checklist of Immigration Division 1 (February 2022), you apply for it in Thailand with form TM.89, for 10,000 baht, with the requirements of the O-X (see the O-X guide). The rest of this article is about changing with TM.86 or TM.87.

The Bangkok FAQ of Immigration Division 1 also explicitly mentions changing "from a tourist visa or free visa to a Non-immigrant visa (such as NON-O)".

Which changes are possible

Immigration Division 1 (Bangkok) publishes 22 checklists (updated 2024). The main ones:

Purpose                                            Visa
Work in a company                                  Non-B
Work as a teacher                                  Non-B
Investment of at least 10 million baht             Non-B
18 target industries and startups                  Non-B
Study                                              Non-ED
Family member of a foreign employee/teacher        Non-O
Marriage to a Thai or to a resident                Non-O
Parent of a Thai child                             Non-O
Retirement, aged 50 or over                        Non-O
Work at a foundation, sports coach                 Non-O
Religion, monks                                    Non-R / Non-ED
Media, research, government                        Non-M / Non-RS / Non-F
Long stay, 5 years per visa (incl. Netherlands)    O-X

Not on the list: the DTV, the O-A and the tourist visa (TR). You apply for those via thaievisa.go.th while you are outside Thailand; The Hague refuses applications from people who are in Thailand, and so does Brussels.

LTR goes through the Board of Investment. After approval you can also have the visa issued in Thailand at the One Stop Service Center in Bangkok, for 50,000 baht per person (BOI).

Conditions

According to the checklists of Immigration Division 1 (February 2022, partly updated 2024):

  • Remaining period of stay: you submit the application while more than 15 days of your stay are left.

  • No overstay: "If you have overstayed, you are not allowed to submit an application for this type of visa."

  • In person: the applicant comes in person every time. For a marriage, both partners come.

  • Address notification: you show proof that your address of stay has been notified (section 38, TM.30).

  • Originals: you bring all originals and sign every copy.

  • Outcome: a stay of at most 90 days. For a longer stay you then apply for an extension.

Document checklist

Always:

  • Form TM.86 or TM.87

  • Copies of the passport: personal details, last entry stamp, visa and extension stamp (if any), TM.6 departure card (if you have one)

  • 1 passport photo of 4 x 6 cm or 2 inch

  • 2,000 baht

Plus per purpose, for example:

Retirement (Non-O, 50+):

  • Bank book and a bank letter in Thai (addressed to the Commissioner of Immigration), a copy of all pages, at least 800,000 baht in a savings or fixed deposit account in your name, and proof of the transfer from abroad; or

  • a letter from your embassy about a pension of at least 65,000 baht per month, with proof of the source; or

  • savings and annual income together of at least 800,000 baht.

  • Rental contract or purchase contract and house registration, a map and rent receipts for the last 3 months.

  • Bank documents in the name of the applicant only, updated to the day of the application.

Marriage (Non-O): see the marriage visa guide. Among other things the marriage documents, the ID card and house registration of the Thai partner, income or 400,000 baht, and about 6 photos of the family and home.

Study (Non-ED): a letter from the educational institution and, depending on the type of school, from the Ministry of Education.

Step by step

  1. Check your end date in the last stamp. More than 15 days must be left.

  2. Download the checklist for your purpose from Immigration Division 1, or ask your provincial office for it.

  3. Arrange the bank documents on the day of the application (updated bank book and bank letter).

  4. Submit at the immigration office for where you live, with form TM.86 or TM.87 and 2,000 baht.

  5. Receive the Non-Immigrant visa with a stay of at most 90 days.

  6. Then extend before the end of those 90 days, if you meet the requirements for the extension (1,900 baht, at most 1 year).

Costs

Thai fees under Ministerial Regulation No. 27, in force since 26 August 2003. Euro amounts are an indication (ECB rate of 9 October 2026: 1 euro = 37.574 baht).

Non-Immigrant visa, single entry (change)      2,000 baht  (about 53 euros)
Non-Immigrant visa, multiple, 1 year           5,000 baht  (about 133 euros)
Extension of stay                              1,900 baht  (about 51 euros)
Re-entry permit single / multiple      1,000 / 3,800 baht  (about 27 / 101 euros)
LTR visa in Thailand (BOI)                    50,000 baht  (about 1,331 euros)
O-X in Thailand (checklist, TM.89)            10,000 baht  (about 266 euros)

The checklists for changing mention 2,000 baht, except the one for the O-X (10,000 baht). The fee of 5,000 baht for a Non-Immigrant multiple entry is on the fee list, but not on the change checklists.

Important to know

  • The bank rule of the extension. The checklist for changing to retirement sets no period during which the money must be in the account. For the extension afterwards it does: at least 800,000 baht from 2 months before the application (Immigration Division 1, section 22). Plan this within your 90 days.

  • The officer's decision. Changes and extensions are at the discretion of the immigration officer (embassy in The Hague).

  • Working. Even with a Non-B, you may only work after obtaining a work permit (embassy in The Hague, 1 September 2026).

Common mistakes

Waiting too long. With 15 days or less of your stay left, immigration does not accept the application. With 30 days visa-exempt, that point comes quickly.

Still trying after an overstay. Anyone on overstay can no longer change visa type.

Wanting to apply for a DTV or O-A in Thailand. These are not on the list of changes; applying through an embassy is only possible from outside Thailand.

Bank documents from another day. The checklists ask for a bank book and bank letter updated to the day of the application, in the name of the applicant only.

Where the sources contradict each other

  • 15 days. Immigration Division 1 (February 2022) requires "more than 15 days" (มากกว่า 15 วัน); the FAQ of the Immigration Bureau (17 February 2020) says "ไม่น้อยกว่า 15 วัน" (not less than 15 days). Apply with more than 15 days left to meet both.

  • Age of the checklists. The checklists of Immigration Division 1 mostly date from February 2022, a few from 2024. They refer to the stamps ผ.30 and ผผ.90 of that time. Since 15 September 2026, Dutch and Belgian nationals have a visa exemption of 30 days. Ask your office whether the checklist is still current.

What has changed

  • 26 August 2003: current fees (Ministerial Regulation No. 27).

  • February 2022: current checklists of Immigration Division 1 for most changes; updated in 2024 for study, investment, media and the 18 target industries.

  • 15 September 2026: visa-exempt stay for Dutch and Belgian nationals cut from 60 to 30 days; this leaves less time to change with more than 15 days left.

Frequently asked questions

Can I change from visa exempt to a retirement visa in Thailand?

Yes. With form TM.87, 2,000 baht and proof of 800,000 baht or a pension of 65,000 baht per month, you change to a Non-O based on retirement, with more than 15 days of stay left.

How much does it cost to change visa type in Thailand?

2,000 baht for a Non-Immigrant visa; for the O-X the checklist states 10,000 baht. An extension afterwards costs 1,900 baht.

How many days do I need left to change my visa in Thailand?

More than 15 days, according to Immigration Division 1. After an overstay it is no longer possible.

Can I apply for a DTV inside Thailand?

The DTV is not on Immigration Division 1's list of changes, and the embassies in The Hague and Brussels do not handle applications from people who are in Thailand.

How long can I stay after changing my visa?

At most 90 days. After that you can apply at immigration for an extension of at most 1 year if you meet the requirements.

Can I change a tourist visa to a Non-B for work in Thailand?

Yes, according to the checklist of Immigration Division 1, with form TM.86, documents from the employer and 2,000 baht. You may only work once you have a work permit.

Read also

Sources

All sources opened on 11 October 2026.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Thai visa rules can change and are sometimes applied differently from one office to another. Check the current requirements with the Thai embassy or the immigration office before you apply or travel.

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