Thai Tourist Visa from Royal Thai Consulate In Bali

[COYS]

I am currently in Bali and found out that they had a consulate here. I thought it would be great to kill two birds with one stone and renew my visa whilst also having a holiday. There is precious little information on the internet about it so here is a first hand experience of what to expect if you ever decide to go there.

The actual consulate is in a house on a main road and is not easy to find. I used a sat nav and still had to stop and ask directions from a few people as it was so hard to find. I tried emailing them a few weeks before with questions but got no response. Having obtained tourist visas before I decided to turn up with my passport and the cash as I usually do. It is open 9am-12pm in the morning for applications, and then from 1pm in the afternoon for picking up your passport (the next day)

When I finally found the place I was to be disappointed. The requirements of obtaining a tourist visa from here are:

 

Passport with at least 6 months validity

 

3 passport photographs

 

Proof of tickets IN AND OUT of Thailand.

 

I have obtained visa's from Vientiane and Hull before and have never been asked for proof of onward travel from Thailand. I'm not sure when I'll be leaving and as long as it's before the 3 months is up where is the problem? The problem is that I don't know if I will be leaving after 2 months or extending for another month at the end of that period. I'm sure a lot of people will be in the same boat as me. Why have the rule that you can extend for another month if you have to book your onward ticket before you get your visa?

I've heard of rules varying between consulates before and to be honest I think it's a joke. They should all have the same rules for obtaining a visa in all embassy's and consulates. So now I have to go to another consulate in another country....same visa, different rules.

 

Anyway, hope this info helps anyone thinking of renewing their tourist visa in Bali.

 

COYS

[Piece Corp]

Thanks for posting, good to know

[pubstud]

I have been hearing reports from people all over the place about tightening up of all sorts of Thai visas. It seems the word has been sent out to all embassies/consulates to toughen up.

[COYS]

Sorry, please disregard this post.

Edited July 14, 2011 by COYS

[BTaTP]

FYI it is the same in Manila. They require an onward ticket.

[Regulator]

it's a pain but buy a fully refundable ticket out of thailand, refund it after you land..