In-Country Conversion vs Consular Application Abroad
TM.86/87 in Thailand vs Vientiane/Penang/Savannakhet consulate · cost · time · success rate
Turnaround
In-country 3–5 days · Vientiane 3–7 days · Penang 5–10 days · Savannakhet 3–5 days
Gov fee (THB)
2,000 (in-country) / 2,000+ (consulate)
Legal service from
฿12,000
Legal reference & authority
Immigration Act + Ministerial Regulations · Immigration + Thai consulate abroad
Two options
Path A — In-country via TM.86/87 (no exit needed, 30–45 days Under Consideration, ~70–85% success). Path B — Consular application at Vientiane, Savannakhet, Penang, KL, or HCMC (Non-Immigrant issued in 3–10 days, ~95–99% success on complete files).
Total cost comparison
In-country TM.86: THB 2,000 gov + THB 10,000–15,000 legal = THB 12,000–17,000. Consular: THB 2,000 visa + THB 6,000–15,000 flight/hotel/agent = THB 8,000–17,000. Similar cost, but consular offers higher certainty.
When in-country is best
(1) Urgent work, can't leave. (2) Thai spouse with complete marriage paperwork (~90% Non-O success). (3) Retirement 800k in-account 3+ months. (4) LTR/Elite/Smart application (in-country only).
When consular is best
(1) Complex corporate documents (Non-B). (2) Need 100% success rate. (3) 3–10 days available. (4) Want Multiple-entry (some consulates issue 3M/6M/1Y ML upfront). (5) Overstay history (in-country may reject).
2025 recommendations by visa type
Non-B — Consular (Vientiane) 95%+ · Non-O Marriage — In-country (~90%) · Non-O Retirement — In-country (~90%) · Non-ED — In-country (~85%) · LTR — In-country only · Elite — In-country only · DTV — Consular only.
Required documents
- Class-specific documents
- Passport (6+ months)
- 5-year visa history
- Financial records
- Travel tickets (consular route)
FAQ
Is in-country faster?
No — Consular 3–10 days vs In-country 30–45 days (Under Consideration).
Consular rejection risk?
~1–5% on complete files.
Vientiane or Penang?
Vientiane closer (1-hr flight) · Penang cheaper + touristic.
Attorney required?
In-country: DIY OK. Consular: local agent recommended (THB 500–2,000).
NYC Legal Vientiane package?
Yes — THB 15,000–25,000 all-in from Bangkok.
DTV in-country?
No — DTV consular only.