How to Stay in Thailand Visa-Free for 90 Days

If you’re Indonesian, you probably already know that Thailand is among the countries we can enter without a visa. But I only recently found out that not many people realise you can actually stay for a total of 90 days. You get 60 days visa-free when you first enter, and then you can apply for an extension at the local immigration office.

At first, I thought I needed a visa agent because I’d never done anything like this before and was scared of getting rejected. But when I went to the immigration office in Chiang Mai for the first time, they happily explained the steps. It was surprisingly easy – and you can absolutely do it yourself.

Check how many days you can stay in Thailand visa-free on Thai e-visa official website

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The first 60 days

After checking several trusted official websites, the rule (at the time I’m writing this) hasn’t changed. Indonesians can enter Thailand visa-free and stay for 60 days, despite the uncertain news you might have seen on social media. What shocked me was that during check-in at Soekarno–Hatta, when I showed my return ticket, the staff questioned my 60-day stay – even the immigration officer seemed unsure. But don’t worry. If you’re ever in doubt, you can check the official Thai e-visa official website and enter your nationality (if you’re not Indonesian) to confirm whether you can enter visa-free and how long you’re allowed to stay.

Fill in TDAC online before you fly

Arriving in Thailand

Don’t forget to fill in the TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card) form before arriving in Thailand – you can do it a day before your trip to stay organised. In the form, you’ll be asked for your return flight details.

When you’re in the immigration line, you just need to scan the barcode sent to your email. As long as you haven’t been going in and out of Thailand a suspicious number of times in the past few months, you should be fine. I landed at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, and after scanning the QR code, they didn’t even ask me any questions.

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After your first 30 days

Depending on where you’re staying in Thailand, you can look up the nearest immigration office. I was based in Chiang Mai, and the immigration office there is conveniently located inside a shopping mall called Central Festival Chiang Mai.

After you’ve spent a month in the country, or basically before your 60 days run out, you can apply for a 30-day extension. Here’s what you’ll need:

Applying for your extension

It’s actually pretty straightforward once you have all your documents ready. You can show up during opening hours, but like most administrative offices, I’d suggest going early. I’m not sure about other cities, but in Chiang Mai they’re closed for lunch from 12–1pm. When I arrived, an officer checked our documents first. They’ll let you know if you’re missing anything or forgot to fill in a section. If everything’s in order, they’ll sign it off and give you a queue number.

After that, you just sit inside and wait for your number to be called. When it’s your turn, hand over the checked documents and pay the 1,900 Baht fee in cash. Then you wait another 15–30 minutes (depending on how busy it is). Your name will be called, they’ll take a quick photo of you, and hand back your passport with a new stamp giving you another 30 days to stay in this beautiful country.

In my personal experience, I wasn’t asked a single question, and the staff were actually pretty nice – you know how immigration offices can sometimes feel a bit intimidating? Anyway, that’s it. The whole process was done in one day, which was great and super efficient.

Final Thoughts

So yes, staying in Thailand visa-free for 90 days is completely doable for Indonesians and many other nationalities, and you don’t need an agent to make it happen. It might feel intimidating at first (especially with all the mixed information online), but once you understand the steps, it’s actually very manageable.

My biggest tips are to double-check official sources, prepare your documents properly, and go early to the immigration office. That’s really it. Hope you find this article useful and happy holiday!

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10 Jan 2025 by Bella in Info

Getting Married in Lovely Denmark: A Step-by-Step Guide (Part 2)

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If you're new to Kata Bella, you're probably wondering what this website is all about. So hi! I'm Bella. I started this page as a blog to share fun and interesting things about life in Bali - the place I've called home for the past 12 years, as well as bits and pieces from my journeys outside Bali too. I first moved here completely unplanned - I “accidentally” got a job while travelling. Yep, accidentally. I left my big city life behind and landed on this island with nothing but a small suitcase. Wait…where is Bali again? Bali might sound familiar - people talk about it all the time. But I’m no longer surprised that a lot of people still don’t know where it is (It’s okay, though. No judgement here). So here's a quick geography check: Bali is a small island in Indonesia, a country in Southeast Asia made up of over 17,000 islands. Despite all that competition, Bali has consistently been in the spotlight as one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. You might also like this article: Things to do in Bali - Fun Art Classes at Rumah Rabbit The magic of Bali: what keeps people coming back There are plenty of reasons! Surfing is a big one. Not for me, but a lot of the friends I’ve met here came for the waves and ended up never leaving. Bali’s got some legendary surf spots, especially for seasoned surfers, like the world-famous Uluwatu, Padang Padang, and Bingin. Another major perk is the tropical weather. Bali has only two seasons: the wet season, usually from November to March, and the dry season for the rest of the year. Simple, sunny, and warm pretty much all year round - no winter coats needed! Beyond the beaches, there are some lush green rice terraces. You might recognise some of them from Eat Pray Love. Two of the most iconic ones are Tegalalang and Jatiluwih. Jatiluwih rice fields - known for producing good quality organic rice If you’re more into hiking, Bali’s got that covered too. 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Things to do in Bali: Fun Art Classes at Rumah Rabbit

There are so many things to do in Bali, from sightseeing and beach hopping to hiking, cultural trips, endless culinary adventures, and all kinds of parties if you’re into that. Me, personally - I’ve retired from the nightlife and now gravitate towards activities that feel more relaxing and laid back. And when you live here, it’s easy to fall into the same everyday routines - even though there’s so much to do. Somewhere between work and the gym, I found myself craving something different, something to reignite my creative side. A few months ago, I stumbled upon a lovely little art space in Pererenan called Rumah Rabbit. Translating to Rabbit’s House in Indonesian, it’s a creative playground offering art classes for kids and big kids. The lovely founder, and one of the art teachers - Bianca Timmerman, also known as Bunny Bone, showed me around her art studio and shared the stories behind Rumah Rabbit. One of the kids drawing classes at Rumah Rabbit You may also like this article: What it's like to live in Bali - cost, culture, and everyday life Table of ContentsThe Story Behind Rumah RabbitA House Full of CreativityThe Perfect Bali Holiday Activity The Story Behind Rumah Rabbit Bunny is a contemporary artist from Jakarta. She relocated to Bali in 2008 and worked as a fine art curator at an established gallery in Seminyak for quite some time. Just before Covid hit in 2020, she began teaching drawing and painting from her home in Pererenan. She did everything herself back then; from preparing teaching materials and running classes to scheduling, buying art supplies, marketing, and even cleaning the studio. What started as small classes has now grown organically into Rumah Rabbit, with regular daily classes taught by Bunny herself and a few other art teachers.What I love is that Bunny isn’t just teaching art - she regularly holds her own exhibitions and recently curated a kids’ exhibition featuring her students’ work, which was very cute and impressive. Beyond the studio, she’s involved in various art projects, from commissioned pieces to her most recent mural at Carpe Diem Jiu Jitsu Gym in Jakarta. Bunny also trains Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and turns her love for the sport into artworks! A multi-talented girl, she is! The recent kids art exhibition by Rumah Rabbit "Bhineka Warna" A House Full of Creativity The moment you enter Rumah Rabbit, it feels like home, like you’ve been invited into Bunny’s house to play. There are several rooms dedicated to different art classes. For kids, there are drawing, painting, and craft sessions using a variety of materials and techniques, including acrylics, watercolours, pastels, coloured pencils, paper crafts, recycled and found objects, dry air clay, and more. They offer just as many classes, if not more, for adults. You can also book personalised private classes for special occasions like birthdays, hen’s nights, or team bonding activities. You may also like this article: 4 Must-Visit Underrated Coffee Shops in Canggu, Umalas, and Nearby Areas Some of Bunny's paintings at Rumah Rabbit The Perfect Bali Holiday Activity You could easily spend most of the day here. It’s also a great spot for kids to unplug from their gadgets, and for parents to enjoy a few hours of well-earned kid-free time. Everyone is welcome, from absolute beginners to emerging artists looking to sharpen their skills. Honestly, I think the world needs more art spaces like this. So, if you’re in Bali, or live in Bali, do check out Rumah Rabbit and let your inner artist come out to play. RUMAH RABBIT📍Jl. Bumi Damai Indah, Pererenan, Kec. Mengwi, Denpasar, Bali 80361🎨 Group and private classes available💵 From 450K per person⏰ Group class duration: 1–3 hours🖼️ Classes available for toddlers (from 2.5 years old) to adults👩🏻‍💻 Book your class via the Rumah Rabbit website ☎️ WhatsApp: +62 881-0384-49407