Whether you are a backpacker, digital nomad or just a long-term traveler thinking about extending your Thai visa, you will need to do a visa run or visit one of the immigration offices in your area.

Suppose you are based in Koh Tao or Koh Phangan. In that case, you can extend your visa directly at the new immigration office at Koh Phangan or travel to Koh Samui and extend your visa at the local immigration office, unless you cannot extend your visa and need to do a visa run to Malaysia. If you only use the free WiFi in your hotel to plan your visa extensions, I suggest getting an eSIM for Thailand to navigate hassle-free around the islands.

Keep reading if you are looking for information about how to extend your visa at the immigration office in Koh Samui. 

Getting to Koh Samui

If you are not already at Koh Samui, you must take a ferry. You will probably be departing from either Koh Tao or Koh Phangan. 

There are several ferry companies transporting travelers between those three islands.

You will want one that gets you to the Nathon Pier in Koh Samui, closest to the immigration office.

We used the ferry company Lomprayah.

• In Koh Tao you can find them right next to the ferry terminal (next to 7/11)
• In Koh Phangan they are around 500 meters from the pier (Tambon Ko Pha-ngan, Amphoe Ko Pha-ngan, Chang Wat Surat Thani 84280)

Ferry schedule

The ferry departs from Koh Phangan to Koh Samui (Nathon Pier) three times a day: 7:20 12:00 14:30

From Koh Tao it leaves around one hour earlier.

The ferry back to Koh Phangan leaves Koh Samui (Nathon Pier) at 11:15, 13:30 and 17:30.

The ferry ticket from Koh Phangan cost 300 thai baht per person for one way. From Koh Tao you will need to pay 700 thai baht.

As soon as you arrive in Koh Samui you have two options for getting to the immigration office.

1. Take a local taxi for 150 Thai baht (one way)
2. Rent a scooter for 200 Thai baht for the whole day (just at the beginning of the pier)

We went with the second option and rented a scooter for one and a half days (300 bath) at a rental place called Sccoter Rental.

Requirements for the immigration office in Koh Samui

• Passport Copy of your passport
• copy of your current visa stamp (20 bath)
• Passport Photo (can be done at the Immigration Office for 100 bath)
• Visa Extension Form (is provided at the Immigration Office)
• 1.900 TBH in Cash

Upon arrival, you can take passport pictures of yourself (in case you don’t have any), make a copy of your passport, and fill out the visa extension form.

As a next step, you will submit your documents in immigration and get wait until your extension gets approved. We waited for about one hour to get our passport back. While waiting for your Thai visa extension, you can get some breakfast and drinks in the small restaurant in front of the immigration office.

Koh Samui immigration office – opening hours

• Boat trip (Koh Phangan to Koh Samui 300 bath or Koh Tao – Koh Samui 700 bath)
• Transport from Nathon Pier to the Immigration office in Koh Samui 150 bath one way (or rent a scooter for 200 bath / day)
• A passport photo and passport copy 120 bath
• Thai Visa Extension Fee 1.900 bath
• Total cost between 2.520 and 2.820 bath (in case you need to get passport photos)

The trip to Koh Samui to extend your Thai visa will take you at least half a day. If you have not been in Koh Samui before, I suggest you stay over for at least one night and explore the island, unless you are in a rush. Apart from the busy coast road, driving in Koh Samui’s jungle is an adventure you will never forget.

Book your stay in Koh Samui today

If you have not used Airbnb yet, feel free to use my code to save 46 EUR on your next Airbnb stay. Airbnb accommodation starts at 10 EUR per night. If you preffer to stay in Hostels or Resorts, feel free to explore the following options:

Hostels from 8 EUR per night: Lub d Koh Samui Chaweng Beach / Baan Hinland Home and Hostel / P & T Hostel 

Mid-Range from 27 EUR per night: Samui Zenity / Escape Beach Resort / Fisherman Village Private Garden

Luxury from 99 EUR per night: Mantra Samui Resort / Bandara Resort & Spa / Bo Phut Resort and Spa

We stayed at Samui Zenity, which is a small but cosy hotel with pool and food options close to the immigration office in Koh Samui.

Where next?

If you haven’t explored the two other islands, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, you should plan to stay a few more days and explore them. Here is a list of things to do in Koh Tao (the turtle island). You can easily spend at least three days on the island. Go snorkeling, diving or just rent a scooter and check out the viewpoints.

Koh Phangan is the biggest island out of the three, and it is famous for the full moon party, which is being organized every month. Thousands of travelers gather here to celebrate. The island itself is very beautiful. Everything is, however further apart as on Koh Tao; make sure to keep that in mind when you make your itinerary.

Are you a remote worker or a digital nomad looking to enjoy the exotic islands in Thailand? Book the best accommodation for digital nomads in Koh Lanta.