Spend enough time in any Thai expat Facebook group and you’ll eventually stumble into the trenches of one of the community’s most divisive and oddly passionate debates: using a visa agent versus doing it yourself.

There will be a post - usually from a stressed newcomer or a long-stayer dealing with a change in visa type - asking for advice. And without fail, the thread will devolve into a clash of values. On one side: the DIY warriors, loudly declaring that “you can do it yourself for 1,900 baht!” On the other: the quieter, less combative folks who just want their paperwork handled without the headache, even if it means paying 10,000 baht or more.

Let’s talk about it.

The myth of simplicity

Yes, it’s true: many visa processes in Thailand can be done yourself. Extensions, 90-day reports, re-entry permits - it’s all theoretically straightforward. But theory and practice often diverge in spectacular ways in Thailand. The immigration office experience can range from relatively smooth to utterly bewildering, depending on factors like:

- The immigration office you visit (they’re not all equal)

- The mood and English proficiency of the officer

- Whether the policy changed two weeks ago and nobody told you

- Whether your documents are “correct” in the eyes of a particular official (even if you used the exact same documents last year)

- How long you’re willing to sit in a plastic chair waiting for your number to be called

DIYers often leave out these variables when they boast about doing it themselves for 1,900 baht. Yes, they did it, great! But what they don’t tell you is they may have had to return three times, print surprise documents at the last minute, or get a Thai-speaking friend to help them explain something.

What’s your time and sanity worth?

Why expats who use agents aren't lazy or stupid

Here’s what the pro-agent camp understands: not everyone wants to dedicate their day (or days) to bureaucracy. Some people:

- Work full-time jobs with little flexibility

- Don’t live near a friendly immigration office

- Struggle with language barriers

- Just don’t want the stress

For them, paying a few thousand baht extra for an agent to make things smooth and stress-free is a smart choice. It’s not about laziness. It’s about prioritizing mental health, time, and reliability. In fact, some agents can pre-check your documents, escort you through the immigration process, and in some cases, get everything stamped and ready without you ever setting foot in the office. To many, that’s priceless.

The judgement and the ego trip

So why the mocking tone from the DIY crowd? It often boils down to ego. Some expats wear their self-sufficiency like a badge of honor. “I did it on my own” becomes synonymous with “I’m smarter than you,” as if successfully navigating Thai bureaucracy without help is the ultimate rite of passage. But here’s the thing: bragging about saving money by doing it yourself while belittling others for choosing convenience reeks of insecurity. If you enjoy spending a full morning at immigration to save a few thousand baht, great. But that doesn’t make you morally superior to someone who prefers to outsource the hassle.

False economies and hidden costs

That 1,900 baht you spent on your visa extension might look like a win on paper. But what about lost work hours, travel costs to and from the immigration office, printing and reprinting forms, the mental toll of being told “you come back tomorrow with this” after three hours of waiting?

Add that up, and suddenly the agent’s fee doesn’t look so outrageous. For many, it’s a no-brainer: pay a bit more, avoid the chaos, and move on with your life.

Live and let live

The expat community in Thailand isn’t a monolith. It includes retirees, digital nomads, teachers, investors, and everyone in between. Some speak fluent Thai, others barely know sawatdee krap. Some have flexible schedules, others work 50-hour weeks. Some are in love with the bureaucratic puzzle; others want nothing to do with it. So let’s stop the sneering. Whether you use an agent or not is a personal choice - one shaped by time, money, language skills, and personal priorities.

There’s no prize for doing it the hard way. There's no trophy at the end of your stay in Thailand for spending the least on paperwork. If someone chooses convenience, good for them. If someone wants to save every baht and do it themselves, also good for them.

Just don’t make the mistake of thinking your way is the only way.