01How the extension actually works
Most visa-on-arrival holders can extend once for an additional period, applied for at a local immigration office or, more commonly, through a visa agent who handles the paperwork and queueing on your behalf. The process typically involves submitting your passport, photos, and paying a fee, with the extension itself sometimes taking several business days to process.
02Doing it yourself vs. using an agent
Applying directly at an immigration office is cheaper but requires navigating the process in person, potentially multiple visits, and paperwork that isn't always in English. Most visitors — and a large share of long-stay expats — use a local visa agent instead, trading a service fee for having someone else manage the queueing and forms.
03Timing your application
Start the extension process at least a couple of weeks before your current visa expires, not the day before — processing takes time, and immigration offices don't rush for a looming deadline. Overstaying, even briefly, brings fines calculated per day and can complicate future entries.
04What you'll typically need
- Your passport with at least the required remaining validity.
- Passport photos, per current requirements.
- Proof of onward travel or accommodation, sometimes requested.
- Payment for the extension fee.
05Practical tips
Rules and exact requirements shift periodically — treat this page as a process overview and verify current specifics with an agent or the official immigration channel close to when you need it, consistent with how we handle all time-sensitive rules on this site (see our visa & entry rules page).