If you're new to Thailand then you probably don't know too much about overstaying your visa. If you've made a few trips back-and-forth already, you may have heard the term but probably aren't au fait with the rules.
Either way, it's something every visitor and expat should familiarise themselves with.
So in this post I give you a full breakdown of the rules, plus some advice on how to avoid the hassle of overstaying your visa.
The A-to-Z of Overstay
What Does Overstay Mean?
Overstay refers to staying in Thailand beyond the period for which you are permitted.
An example of overstay would be to stay more than 30 days, if you have been given a 30-day exemption stamp.
Another example would be to stay more than 60 days on a single entry tourist visa, or more than 90 days on a single entry Non Immigrant O Visa.
Is Overstaying Illegal?
It is illegal to overstay your visa in Thailand, but overstaying by a small number of days does not carry a serious penalty.
However, overstaying for a long period of time could land you in a lot of trouble. Indeed, if you are on overstay and you are apprehended by immigration police, the consequences are far worse.
What Are the Current Overstay Rules?
- Overstay more than 90 days – 1 year ban from Thailand
- Overstay more than 1 year – 3 year ban from Thailand
- Overstay more than 3 years – 5 year ban from Thailand
- Overstay more than 5 years – 10 year ban from Thailand
How Much Is the Overstay Fine?
The fine depends on the number of days you have overstayed. The minimum charge is 500 Baht per day. This goes up to a maximum of 20,000 Baht for overstays of 40 days or longer.
What If I Am Arrested by Immigration for Overstaying?
If you are arrested by immigration for overstaying your visa, the penalty is far worse. It is likely that you will be taken to an immigration detention centre. After this, you will be subject to the following ban:
- Overstay less than 1 Year – 5 year ban from Thailand
- Overstay more than 1 Year – 10 year ban from Thailand
Where Is the Immigration Detention Center?
The IDC is located at the Immigration Office on Soi Suanplu, Bangkok. If you get arrested you will be held there while you await a court date. If you are to be deported, you'll be held here too until you take your flight home.
Note that the IDC is generally somewhere a serious overstayer will be taken; we're talking months not days.
Will I Be Banned from Thailand If I Overstay by a Few Days?
No. You can pay a fine and you will not receive a black mark against you. There are foreigners who pay overstay fines every day.
It is easiest to pay your fine on the way out of Thailand at the airport. However, the legal line is that any person who realises they are on overstay should immediately go to an immigration office and pay the fine.
You may have noticed that there is an overstay booth located on the other side of passport control – at the major airports. It is here you can pay your overstay fine.
Overstay is very common, at least by one or two days. Often people have good reason to stay another day or two and therefore it isn't practical to spend a day at immigration extending a visa. So it's just easier to pay 500 Baht per day at the airport overstay counter.
Let's say you overstay by 4 days: you'll pay 4 days x 500 Baht = 2000 Baht.
However, you should not make a habit of this. It is perfectly reasonable to overstay your visa by a day or two if you have misplaced your passport, or you are suffering from illness and cannot fly.
That said, excuses such as the fact that you wanted to spend an extra couple of days with your girlfriend, or needed to do some more shopping, are not valid. If you are a regular visitor to Thailand, endeavour to keep your immigration history as clean as possible.
What If I Overstay More Than Once?
One or two times isn't going to be an issue, particularly if it is just one, two or three days. But continuous violation of this immigration law could become a problem for you.
Your passport could be marked with a stamp declaring you in violation of immigration law. This stamp will label you as an “undesirable alien”. This could make travel to Thailand, and obtaining visas for other countries, more difficult.
We all hate having too many rules, especially when it interferes with our holiday. But in the case of overstay, it is best to stay on the right side of the law.
What If I Overstay by a Few Hours, Will I Be Fined?
Probably not. Immigration understands that some people have their flights cancelled or delayed, or that they might get stuck in traffic, be late to the airport and miss their flight.
There are clearly circumstances beyond your control that may cause you to overstay. In these circumstances, there generally won't be any problem.
Can Children Be Fined for Overstay?
Children under the age of 15 are not charged a fine for overstaying but still get overstay stamps when they leave the country. However, note that being exempt from the fine does not make them exempt from needing a valid visa entry or extension to stay in the country.
The easiest way to avoid overstay is to simply organise yourself efficiently. Plan your trip so that you have a visa that covers the amount of time you want to stay in Thailand.
=> A full guide to visas can be found here
Rather than think; “If I need more time I will just do a visa run”, simply apply for a single or multiple entry tourist visa before you leave your home country that gives you more than enough time than you need in the kingdom.
That way, if you do need to stay a couple of extra days you will be fully covered. Visa runs can be a pain, and certainly isn't something you want to leave the beach or the bar for
=> If you are considering a visa run, read this first
If you think you might need more than the 30 or 15 days you get on arrival (depending on which country you are from), make sure you get the right visa before you arrive.
Also remember that you can always extend your stay in the kingdom by visiting an immigration office. So if you are three quarters of the way through your holiday and think you might want to stay longer, take the afternoon out and go to immigration to extend your visa.
The overstay rules in Thailand are stricter than they used to be, but they are still pretty reasonable – especially considering how people have abused the system over the years.
Simply being able to pay 500 Baht per day for a couple of extra days in Thailand is not a big expense, and it is reassuring to know that if you do come down with a bout of traveller's tummy you have a little extra time to recover before your flight.
Last Updated on
Murat says
Hello, I went to Thailand last year on october, we made visa for me and for my wife, but for our 1 year baby we didn’t make visa. My friends said that no need make visa and pay money for baby, but that was wrong :(( My baby overstay 26 days. They didnt want the penalty money for her at the airport but they stamp her passport. We want to go back to Thailand in october again. Can it be problem for my 2 years old baby in airport ? Can we go again ? Thanks
Jul 31, 2019 at 9:26 pm
Lucy says
Good Day
If one has done a border run from Thailand intoCambodia but was denied entry which has been stamped in passport .
Returned back into Cambodia
what can be done in order to sort this out ? Re enter Thailand and be allowed another 30 day stay in Thailand
May 26, 2019 at 9:43 am
TheThailandLife says
You’ll need to try and get a tourist visa from the Thai embassy in Cambodia.
May 27, 2019 at 4:03 am
Aakib says
Hello
2 years before I was doing business on tourist visa in Bangkok. So Thai police arrested me and send me to the prison. After 48 days Court released me and send me to the Bangkok IDC 13july 2017 they deported me to India with red stamp on my passport. I was over stay only 3 weeks because of prison I want to know how long I will not come to Thailand.
May 20, 2019 at 4:58 am
TheThailandLife says
A 3-week overstay wouldn’t incur a ban (usually). But you were working on a tourist visa so they may have banned you for 5 or 10 years, or indefinitely. This should have been explained to you at the court ruling.
May 20, 2019 at 4:32 pm
Joseph Moore says
I overstayed 4 years I gave my passport to immigration officer and 20,000. Bhat give me another 1 year o a retirement visa. The lady never returned to the office and I had a baby now 4.5 years old. They arested me an banned me ten years. What can I do to be reunited with me Thai family?
Apr 30, 2019 at 3:54 pm
TheThailandLife says
To clarify, you went to immigration and admitted your overstay. You paid the 20k. The officer said they would give you a retirement extension, but then she didn’t return to the desk and you were arrested instead. Is that correct? So where are you now? Did they let you go? Or were you deported and banned for 10 years?
If you were deported and banned for 10 years then you will need a lawyer to fight in the courts and have this ban overturned.
Apr 30, 2019 at 6:07 pm
saril b sulaiman says
my name saril b sulaiman.1years ago i was charged by the trafik law.when iarrive at hatyai many people waiting for us malaysia buses to check.they blocked 7 malaysia buses at robinson.thailand court chareg cajus tqi and other driver paid the summon 60000 bath for 1.i want to ask u why my pasport was bann.today almost 1 year and half icannot enter hatyai.i want to know how long cannot go insidethaila d
May 01, 2019 at 4:24 am
TheThailandLife says
If the ban has expired then it is still up to immigration on whether they let you in. Even with a visa, immigration still reserve the right to refuse entry.
May 01, 2019 at 7:07 pm
Ryan Meyer says
I went to Cambodia a from Thailand via mini bus on the 6th March. Got my stamp and 30 day and back into Thailand the next day. The one stamp says visa valid until 6th April and another one says 4th April. I now want to extend my visa at immigration for one month. Since today is the 4th April. If i do not go today will i have to pay a fine. Even though I have 2 stamps. One with the 6th and one with the 4th. I am not sure why the stamp says the 4th April as I entered back into Thailand the 6th March on a 30 day visa. Please assist. Thank you
Apr 04, 2019 at 10:44 am
TheThailandLife says
30 days is 4th April. The other stamp may have been a mistake. You need to go today. If not, go tomorrow and say you thought it was the 6th because that’s what the stamp says. You might get a pass.
Apr 04, 2019 at 7:23 pm
William Lowrey says
I have accidently overstayed 30 days in Thailand.
This was genuine confusion after people in the queue were surprised they had 3 months instead of the usual 2.
I got my passport and indeed it had until march 18th.
I didn’t pay attention to the stamps however, just thought they would tally with the visa.
To my horrror, as I was about to go to immigration to extend, I saw the stamps and got a sinking feeling. Realised that the 18th march date was just the visa validity length and not my allowed stay in thailand.
I’m not sure what to do as Kuala Lumpur apparently dont like to see multiple tourist visas in passports.
I’ll have to flu out and pay a hefty fine – but can I just re-enter on 30 days visa exemption?
Mar 18, 2019 at 9:10 am
TheThailandLife says
Explain your mistake, pay the fine, re-enter on a 30-day tourist stamp.
Mar 18, 2019 at 7:34 pm
Vinod says
Me and my wife (both Indian nationals of 65 and 63 years of age) came here on 13th night. We checked at 2300 Hrs and was given visa on arrival for 15 days. Our return flight is on 28th March, early morning. We requested Immigeration officer for allowing us either staming our passports after 1 hour on 14th March or give us 16 days visa. He seems to be very angry with the whole world and shouting at everyone. He did not agree to our genuine request. I do. It know why such a officer is given the duty at the counter, who cannot even smile or return your good evening message.
Are we supposed to pay a fine of 500 Bhts on 28th morning before standing in the long line at the immigeratiom counter or first trying our luck at immigeratiom and if the authorities ask us to pay, then pay and this delay thr flight.
Mar 15, 2019 at 7:00 am
TheThailandLife says
The officer can’t give you 16 days because there isn’t a 16 day stamp. It’s unfortunate that you arrived an hour before and will overstay by a day. You can try and leave as normal but most likely they will charge you 1-day overstay. Don’t stress, try and enjoy your holiday.
Mar 15, 2019 at 7:08 pm
Chaz knights says
I got one ban for one year overstay I had retirement visa but I left thailand for one week not knowing I need a re entry permit can I appeal
Mar 04, 2019 at 5:10 pm
TheThailandLife says
To clarify: you were on a retirement visa (extension), which was valid at the time you left Thailand, then you left for a week, came back in and was banned for a year? Or do you mean you came back in and didn’t realize your retirement visa had been cancelled and actually you were on an exemption stamp for 30 days?
Unfortunately the onus is on you to know the rules. You can appeal but it will be a costly process and difficult to do from outside Thailand.
How long did you overstay?
Mar 04, 2019 at 6:59 pm
Lee says
I read on my visa stick in page that I could stay until 26/2/19 but it’s actually 26/1/19. Will I be banned?!
Going to immigration office tomorrow, hopefully I can explain to them.
Feb 20, 2019 at 6:40 pm
TheThailandLife says
You mean they stamped the wrong date? Hmm, tricky one, because it may say the proper date on the system, so when you go to leave it will trigger overstay. But it’s their error. I reckon it’s worth going to immigration and getting it cleared up.
Feb 20, 2019 at 7:29 pm
Peter says
If I have a 6 month, multi entry Visa and overstay my 60 day window (still must leave every 60days) by a day or two, would that invalidate the remainder of my 6 month multi entry Visa?
Jan 08, 2019 at 4:51 pm
TheThailandLife says
If you overstay an entry stamp without first extending it, the fine is 500 THB per day for a maximum fine of 20,000 THB (40 days) and you will no longer be eligible to extend that particular entry.
Jan 08, 2019 at 5:21 pm
Adam says
My year ban is finished. Can i now reenter thailand?
Jan 08, 2019 at 1:20 pm
TheThailandLife says
Technically, yes. However, border officials still have the right to refuse people on entry. This is the same for most countries.
Jan 08, 2019 at 5:22 pm
Christzen says
Good morning, for many personnal reasons, my overstay is almost four years. Now i have ticket plane to come back in my country and 20000 baths for emigration office at the airport, can i go without trouble or i have to pay more ? Thank’s for answer and best regard.
Dec 18, 2018 at 12:14 pm
TheThailandLife says
Wow. You will be banned for 5 years. You will have to pay 20,000 Baht. And there is a risk that you will be detained for a period of time.
Good luck!
Dec 18, 2018 at 6:54 pm
christzen says
Thank’s for this answer, but if i have ticket plane already, they can arest me some day ?
Dec 18, 2018 at 8:14 pm
TheThailandLife says
They could if they wanted to, but I have no idea if they will. Usually people are only arrested in they get caught, but you will be voluntarily leaving and offering to pay a fine, so maybe you will be okay.
Dec 18, 2018 at 8:31 pm
Christzen says
Hope so, to enrich your blog, I will give you news about this case, thank you a lot
Dec 18, 2018 at 9:06 pm
TheThailandLife says
I look forward to your update. Good luck!
Dec 18, 2018 at 9:30 pm
christzen says
Hello. so I finally took my plane without any problem after paying 200000 Baths on 19/02, but with a 5 year inadmissibility.
cordially
Feb 25, 2019 at 9:45 pm
TheThailandLife says
Thanks for reporting back. Did you pay at the airport or at the immigration office?
Feb 25, 2019 at 9:54 pm
christzen says
Yes, we check in the airline, then the customs passage they take us to the immigration just behind, we pay and they make the ban notice. That’s all,
friendly.
Feb 27, 2019 at 11:23 pm
Tabe says
I will really be happy if you reply me. Is the most difficult time for me. I came to Thailand in 2015 overstayed my visa till date wish to go back, passport has also expire. What can I do and how to do it.
Dec 17, 2018 at 6:31 am
TheThailandLife says
Did you get a ban? If you only got an overstay fine you will be able to go back, no problem. If you got banned then you will have to wait out your ban.
Dec 17, 2018 at 8:20 pm
Billy Hilton says
What happens if somebody overstay and cannot get flight home and cannot get money sent for flight home
Dec 07, 2018 at 1:57 am
TheThailandLife says
You should also contact immigration and let them know the situation. After that, you would have to contact your embassy for help, because essentially you are stranded.
Dec 07, 2018 at 2:04 am
Tony says
I would not do as replay says I would get passport sorted with embassy and phone who you can for a flight home because you will be taken to Idc and left in there until you pull up the money but you will be limited in how you go about that because I have just left idc myself it was very hard to contact the out side world I had money on my debit card but they wouldn’t let me book on line so-had to relay on my British embassy that come once a week to make calls to family the embassy where useless would leave saying the would-send email to my dad with bank details which they never did I had no other way of getting money to me safely and was locked up for longer then I had to be because idc is a business where human well being doesn’t matter it’s about charging you more money then your ticket home is me and my partner was there who was pregnant it was hell I would have paid any think to get out it was such a inhumain place we come out sick I have just been told I have scabbies we feel so unwell with in are selfs . for a immigration center you are treated worse then if you are a prisoner in Thailand if any one has over stayed even by a day when leaving I would have to advice to have in cash your flight money plus bribe money cos the idc say they need to check your finger prints that take two weeks if your lucky but if you pull up money they can do it with in days if you have cash but if you got a card no good as A result of how me and my partner was locked up for 3 mouths for nothing treated worst then animals giveing food you wouldn’t even give to a dog I will never go back to Thailand been out there 4 times in the last year wanted to travel more see more but not now will never go back
Dec 31, 2018 at 1:23 pm
James E says
This article appeared in the Bangkok Post this morning. The Thai Immigration Department is rolling out a test of using text messaging to warn people when their visa is about to expire. It also claims that overstay is now at 0 since the recent crackdown. I’m guessing not.
https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1584694/foreigners-to-get-visa-text-alerts
Nov 30, 2018 at 10:24 pm
Alan says
Hi there i was stopped from entering thailand because i travelled outside and back a lot. What will happen if i go back again after the 6 months and what does the stamp look like i was sent back to vietnam
Nov 22, 2018 at 4:41 pm
TheThailandLife says
Once the 6-month ban is up you’ll be good to come back in. Did they stamp your passport with the ban? If so, maybe apply for a new one so the immigration officer doesn’t see that when you come back in. Next time get a tourist visa; it’s easier.
Nov 22, 2018 at 7:19 pm
Kevin Y says
Hi thank you for the details information re Thailand visa. My son is 1 year old and only get a tourist visa when we entered Thailand. My wife and I work in Bangkok, and is the child under 15 year age are not charged any fine for overstaying? I’m is this still valid until today? 2018? I have read from few forums and websites but never find any information from a goverment site etc, so I’m still worry we have to pay a lot of money when we leave Thailand for holiday.
Nov 13, 2018 at 8:52 am
TheThailandLife says
Hi Kevin,
Children under the age of 15 are not charged a fine for overstaying but still get overstay stamps when they leave the country; because like everyone else children need a valid visa entry or extension to stay in the country.
Nov 13, 2018 at 8:03 pm
Naz says
Hello .in 2015 my visa had expired ,i was oversaty 4 monts but finally i go to court paid fine and went back home country .in 2016 i came thailand but unfortunatly my visa again expire from 4 monts .but again i want to leave thailand .so can i go to airport and pay fine or should i go by cort . My tickets are ready at18 november 2018
Nov 03, 2018 at 2:52 am
TheThailandLife says
Why did you do this a second time? If you go to the airport they may detain you. Take the risk and hope they let you pay the fine and leave.
Nov 03, 2018 at 2:57 am
David says
Perhaps this is a separate topic unto itself. But there seems to be lots of discussion these days on expats needing to fill out the TM30 form,
Personally, never filled one out and never been asked in all my years of going back and forth to Thailand. I doubt my Thai family would even know about this. Chief of police in my village is a family friend, but this doesn’t necessarily mean I wouldn’t be fined one day.
Any thoughts on this?
Sep 20, 2018 at 12:40 am
TheThailandLife says
The law states that all properties that have non-Thai nationals living on their premises must register them with the immigration department. The owner of the property can do this online or in person. Once you leave the country it will expire, so when you re-enter and stay with the person again it must be done again.
Most likely you could go 100 years without doing it and no issue, but for the sake of compliance I’d just get it done.
Sep 20, 2018 at 4:34 pm