How long can you stay in Phuket without a visa and how to extend this period?

In Phuket, as in all of Thailand, Russian citizens can stay without a visa for 30 days (until September 15, 2026, it was 60 days). This period can be extended by another 30 days right on the spot, at the immigration office, by paying 1,900 baht. That is, without a visa and without leaving the country, you can actually stay in Phuket for up to 60 days in a row.

You need to count visa-free days carefully. It is not 30 days from the moment of arrival, but exactly 30 calendar days, including the day of entry and the day of departure. If you arrived on April 10, then the first day is considered to be April 10, not the 11th, so you must leave the country no later than May 9. There is a small life hack: the starting date is set not by the time the plane arrives, but by the moment you pass passport control. If the flight landed late in the evening and you passed control after midnight, then the first day shifts to the next day — and you gain another day. The same rule works when departing.

What is needed for visa-free entry to Phuket:

• A foreign passport valid for the entire duration of the trip;
• A return ticket or a ticket to a third country within the visa-free period;
• Cash for the period of stay — a guideline of 20,000 baht per person or 40,000 baht per family (can be in any currency);
• A completed electronic arrival form TDAC (detailed instructions — How to fill out the Thailand migration card (TDAC)).

If you want to stay in Phuket longer than 30 days, then on the 31st day (or a little earlier) you need to contact the immigration bureau with an application, a 3.5×4.5 cm photo, and a ticket out of the country. The extension is issued as a tourist one and costs 1,900 baht. The more supporting documents you attach — hotel reservation, return tickets, proof of funds — the higher the chance of approval. You will find a list of all immigration offices with addresses here.

Another option is the so-called "visa run": leave to a neighboring country and immediately return for a new stamp. But keep in mind that in 2026 the rules became stricter: visa-free entry through land border crossings is limited to two times per year, and with a large number of stamps, an inspector may suspect illegal work and deny entry. For travel by plane, there are no such restrictions yet.

And most importantly — do not stay longer than allowed. Overstaying is punishable by a fine of 500 baht for each day of delay, but not more than 20,000 baht. If you overstay more than 15 days, this is already a border violation and illegal residence: deportation, prison, and a "blacklist" with no right to enter Thailand in the future. For a one-day overstay, the fine is usually not charged.

We recommend reading our detailed and honest guide Visa and visa-free entry to Thailand: everything you need to know before your trip, where we have analyzed from personal experience all the nuances of entry, extension, and possible problems.

Where to go in Thailand for the first time?
Do I need a category "A" license to rent a motorbike?
Can I exchange rubles in Phuket?
Follow the link, all these questions are discussed in the chat - https://t.me/thailand_travel_chat