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You are here: Home / Visa Stuff / An Easy Guide to Visa Exemption Stamp Rules

An Easy Guide to Visa Exemption Stamp Rules

The visa exemption rule enables you to enter Thailand without needing to apply for a visa at a local Thai embassy or consulate.

Thailand has an agreement with 64 countries that facilitates visa-free travel for tourist visitors.

In this guide I will run through the entry requirements to help you ensure you are compliant for your visit.

* Please note that as of October 1, 2022, the visa exception stay period will be extended from 30 days to 45 days. This will remain in effect until March 31st 2023. The reason given for this temporary change is to stimulate tourism. 

What Is a Visa Exemption Stamp?

When you enter Thailand a visa exemption stamp will put in your passport by an immigration officer.

If you arrive by air or land, this stamp permits you to stay 30 days inside the country. The date of your entry and required leave date will be printed on the stamp.

There is no charge for this stamp. It is given to you when you hand over your passport in the immigration queue.

If you stay beyond 30 days, then you are considered to be on overstay and and you will be fined 500 Baht per day, with a maximum fine of 20,000 Baht. More on overstay here.

The visa exemption entry is granted a maximum of twice in a calendar year when entering over land or via a sea border. There is no limitation when entering by air.

For Malaysians entering by land border, there is no limitation on crossings per year. Citizens of Korea, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, and Chile get a 90-day exemption at both airport and land borders.

exemption-stamp

An Exemption Stamp: Entered on 8th Jan, given 30 days until 6th Feb.

The Six Stamp Limit Rule

Despite the official law stating that there is no limitation to the amount of times you can enter by air in a calendar year, you may have read elsewhere that there is a six limit rule.

This rule is not set in law, but rather said to be a quota that triggers suspicion.

Apparently an immigration officer will be alerted when you reach a total of six in/outs in a year.

That doesn't mean that the officer will refuse you entry, but it does mean that he/she will look deeper into your travel history and may question your intentions.

I would advise people who intend on visiting more than a few times a year to consider getting a tourist visa, which is easily obtainable from an embassy or consulate in your home country. A multiple entry TV lasts for 6 months, with a maximum 60-day stay in any given visit.

Participating Countries

The 64 countries allowed entry under the visa exemption rule are as follows: (I've listed the countries with special rules first)

  1. Peru (30 and 90 days)
  2. Argentina (90 days)
  3. Chile (90 days)
  4. Korea (30 and 90 days)
  5. Brazil (30 and 90 days)
  6. Cambodia (14 days only)
  7. Myanmar (14 days only)
  8. Andorra
  9. Australia
  10. Austria
  11. Bahrain
  12. Belgium
  13. Brunei
  14. Canada
  15. Czech Republic
  16. Denmark
  17. Estonia
  18. France
  19. Finland
  20. Germany
  21. Greece
  22. Hong Kong
  23. Hungary
  24. Ireland
  25. Israel
  26. Italy
  27. Iceland
  28. Indonesia
  29. Japan
  30. Kuwait
  31. Laos
  32. Latvia
  33. Liechtenstein
  34. Lithuania
  35. Luxembourg
  36. Macau
  37. Maldives
  38. Malaysia
  39. Mongolia
  40. Monaco
  41. Mauritius
  42. Norway
  43. Netherlands
  44. New Zealand
  45. Oman
  46. Philippines
  47. Poland
  48. Portugal
  49. Qatar
  50. Russia
  51. San Marino
  52. Singapore
  53. Slovak Republic
  54. Slovenia
  55. South Africa
  56. Spain
  57. Sweden
  58. Switzerland
  59. Turkey
  60. Ukraine
  61. United Arab Emirates
  62. United Kingdom
  63. United States
  64. Vietnam

My Country Is Not on the List, What Now?

Don't worry. This means you need a visa.

You can apply for an eVisa on arrival using iVisa. It's a quick service that cuts out the middle man.

Select your country of origin in the box to start the process:

Requirements for the Visa Exemption Stamp

Even though you don't have to apply, there are still rules that apply to visa exemption entry.

  1. Your visit must be strictly for the purpose of tourism.
  2. Your passport has a validity of 6 months or more.
  3. You must have a confirmed return ticket to show that you are flying out of Thailand within 30 days of entry. Open tickets do not qualify. On arrival you may be asked to show proof of a return ticket. Traveling over land out of Thailand by train, bus, etc to Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia (including en route to Singapore), Myanmar, etc may be accepted as proof of exiting Thailand.
  4. You will need to be able to funds of at least 10,000 THB per person, or 20,000 THB for a family.

Travel Insurance

You do not need travel insurance to enter Thailand, but it is sensible to take out a policy to cover any unfortunate circumstances.

If you incur medical expenses in Thailand the bill will not be covered by the state. You will pay out of your own pocket, so I recommend getting cover.

You may have an international health insurance policy that covers travel, so check that first.

If not, travel insurance is very affordable and covers medical emergencies and personal injury and accidents. It can also cover missed/delayed flights, and lost luggage.

I recommend the following two companies:

  1. World Nomads (Global) (click here)
  2. True Traveller (Europe only) (click here)

A Word on The Entry Requirements

Most people who have previously visited Thailand won't recall ever having been asked to show a return ticket, or to prove that they have funds of at least 10,000 Baht for their stay.

I certainly haven't.

But that's because in Thailand rules are set but not always applied.

You might come across an immigration officer who is a stickler for the rules and works to the absolute word, and you might come across an officer who is less strict and actually smiles!

Moreover, sometimes rules get changed and the change doesn't filter down through the ranks for a long time (we've seen this in the case of requirements for marriage), meaning that some government officials are applying old rules and confusing foreign nationals.

Regardless of what you've heard from other people, or what's happened to you in the past, always read up on the requirements before you travel.

If you are entering on a visa exemption stamp, then make sure you are doing so for tourism purposes only, and that you have a confirmed return ticket to show that you are flying out of Thailand on a specific date.

If you don't have a return flight, use a service like Onewayfly to get one, without having to pay for the flight.

It might be worth carrying that 10,000 Baht, too, or the equivalent in foreign currency or travelers cheques, to prove that you have the funds required for your stay.

You don't have to carry it, though. You could show it at an ATM. As long as you can prove you have the amount you're good to go.

Extending Your Stay by 30 Days

If you enter Thailand on an exemption stamp, you will be given a 30-day stay. You can extend your stay for a further 30 days at an immigration office for a fee of 1,900 Baht.

Of course, you must do this before the 30 days expire.

You should set aside a whole day to get this completed, though it shouldn't take more than a few hours door to door. It will be far quicker if you get to the immigration office as close to opening time as possible.

Please note: Immigration reserve the right to extend your stay by less than 30 days and may give your 15 days, or even 7 days.

It doesn't usually happen, but immigration can also refuse to extend your stay, if they suspect you aren't visiting for the purpose of tourism, or see another red flag in your application.

What Happens When You're Refused Entry?

What happens if you exceed the permitted number of land crossings and are refused entry to Thailand, or perhaps on your seventh in/out air crossing of the year an immigration officer decides not to let you in?

There are two things you can do:

  1. Return to your home country.
  2. Go to the nearest country and get a tourist visa from the Thai embassy, and then enter Thailand again.

The first option probably isn't the one you're going to want to take. The second option will usually rectify the situation.

However, if you have a dubious travel history and you've been flagged on the system, it is possible that you will be granted a tourist visa in a neighboring country but be refused entry again once you return to Thailand. In this situation, your tourist visa will be stamped with a “void” stamp.

This is certainly not a good situation, and in such a case you would have to try and obtain another tourist visa and try your luck again with another immigration officer.

A Final Word of Advice

If you are coming to Thailand on holiday for a specific number of days, and you know that you are definitely going to leave on that day because you need to get back home, then the exemption stamp is designed for you.

However, if you think you might want to stay longer than your allotted 30 days, you should consider a Tourist Visa.

Sure, you can extend the exemption stamp at immigration, as explained above, but it will interrupt your trip and require a day trip to immigration.  Moreover, you don't want to end up on overstay: It's easy to forget what day it is when your life is a blur of beaches, bars, and restaurants.

+ Go  here to see Tourist Visa requirements

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Last Updated on September 27, 2022

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Comments Sort by : newest | oldest

  1. Brit says

    December 28, 2022 at 2:16 pm

    If you enter on. a 45 day visa exemption, how long do you have to be in Thailand before you can go into immigration to get the 30 day extension. I already know I want to stay longer. I didn't get a visa before I traveled. I know now that's what I should have done. Thanks for any help.
    Reply

    Dec 28, 2022 at 2:16 pm

  2. Scott Elliott says

    December 24, 2022 at 7:32 pm

    One of the requirements for Visa Exemption stamp: must have a confirmed return ticket to show that you are flying out of Thailand within 45 days of entry. Clarification requested: CONFIRMED return ticket does not necessarily mean a PAID returned ticket? And is this the reason why https://onewayfly.com/ was recommended as an alternative? Thanks and Happy Holidays! Scott
    Reply

    Dec 24, 2022 at 7:32 pm

  3. Jo says

    October 23, 2022 at 7:37 pm

    Hi, i want to go to Thailand on a 45 day exemption visa and maybe extend that for 45 days before march 31....or maybe not, maybe I extend only 10 days or 20 days before I want or have to go home...So I cannot book a return ticket in advance because i not know exactly when i go home. I know that immigration wants to see a return ticket or a ticket you leave to another country.

    As i see it, i have these 2 options :

    Book a single ticket and when you're ready to come home book the return ticket...and hope immigration not check for return ticket.

    Book a fake return ticket on onewayflight for 20 dollar (is that a safe option ?) and book the real ticket when you are ready to go home.

    I honestly not feel really at ease with those 2 options.

    Is there any other way ? Am i missing something or are these the only possibilities someone has who does not know exactly when he comes back home..

    Thanks very much.
    Reply

    Oct 23, 2022 at 7:37 pm

    • JamesE says

      October 24, 2022 at 7:13 pm

      You don't say where you're flying from but if the US there's another option. US law permits you to book a ticket and within 24-hours cancel without penalty. You'll get all the paperwork immediately (showing a booked and paid for "return") and then your just cancel that reservation and book your outbound flight on the same outbound itinerary. That being said, over twenty or so trips to Thailand in the past ten years I have never been asked to show any proof of a return flight. Currently, they don't even require a TM-6 to be filled out on arrival. Also, the extension hasn't been increased to 45 days, just the initial permission to stay.
      Reply

      Oct 24, 2022 at 7:13 pm

  4. dave says

    October 22, 2022 at 10:21 pm

    I'm arriving 27 oct 2022, visa exempt. I'm hoping for a 30 day extension after the 45 initial days, then a 60 day extension to visit my wife. OK, mai?
    Reply

    Oct 22, 2022 at 10:21 pm

    • JamesE says

      October 24, 2022 at 7:41 am

      So, part one and two are okay but you don't get a second extension so you'll need to do a border run and re-enter to restart the clock.
      Reply

      Oct 24, 2022 at 7:41 am

    • Jo says

      October 24, 2022 at 8:28 pm

      Hi Dave, so obviously you not booked a return ticket yet...I posted a question about this a few days ago. You book a return ticket when you are ready to go..right ? but what about immigration who wants to see a return ticket when you arrive..?

      How do you handle this ?

      Thanks
      Reply

      Oct 24, 2022 at 8:28 pm

      • TheThailandLife says

        October 24, 2022 at 10:21 pm

        If you have a visa you don't need proof of an onward journey. If you don't have a visa but plan on staying longer and don't know when you will leave you can use a service like onewayfly to get proof of an onward journey without actually paying for a ticket.
        Reply

        Oct 24, 2022 at 10:21 pm

  5. Jo says

    September 29, 2022 at 8:34 pm

    So, what is it..can i stay 30 days on a tourist visa or 45 days ? if it is 45 can i extend 45 days (by going to immigration) ?
    And to be sure ..if it is 30 days I assume i can also extend but then for 30 days.

    Thanks
    Reply

    Sep 29, 2022 at 8:34 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      September 29, 2022 at 9:56 pm

      A Visa Exemption (stamp) is what you get in your passport when you enter Thailand without a visa. From 1st October, the usual 30-day entry will be raised to 45 days. If you have a tourist visa, issued by your local Thai embassy or consulate, you will be given a 60-day entry (single tourist visa). See here for more details on the Tourist Visa: https://www.thethailandlife.com/thailand-tourist-visa
      Reply

      Sep 29, 2022 at 9:56 pm

  6. Jeff says

    September 23, 2022 at 3:07 pm

    Hi, I just arrived in Bangkok a few days ago with the visa exemption stamp. Will the 30->45 day extension be shown on the stamp itself? I just checked my passport (US) and the stamped date is still 30 days. Does that mean I can only stay 30, or am I still eligible for 45?
    Reply

    Sep 23, 2022 at 3:07 pm

    • JamesE says

      September 23, 2022 at 9:54 pm

      30 days. The 45-day rule doesn't kick in until 1-October. You can always apply for a 30-day extension on your current entry. ฿1,900 at an immigration office.
      Reply

      Sep 23, 2022 at 9:54 pm

    • Roger Wayne Drummond says

      September 24, 2022 at 6:05 am

      You are OK to stay until the date stated.
      Reply

      Sep 24, 2022 at 6:05 am

  7. Kay says

    August 13, 2021 at 2:34 pm

    Hello

    I have extended my exemption visa once for 30 days in order to get an education visa but have decided against it as I will leave the country two months after the date my visa was extended to which is 29 Sept 2021 (edu visas are canceled when you exit the country). Is there any way I could apply for a tourist visa while already in the country? What would you say are my options?
    Reply

    Aug 13, 2021 at 2:34 pm

  8. Tom Richmond says

    May 11, 2021 at 3:43 pm

    How many time can you extend a 45 day visa exemption in country?
    Reply

    May 11, 2021 at 3:43 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      May 11, 2021 at 5:26 pm

      You can extend your stay once, at a local immigration office for 1,900 Baht.
      Reply

      May 11, 2021 at 5:26 pm

  9. Aaron says

    April 20, 2021 at 6:19 am

    How many times can a visa exempt traveler extend? For example, Thailand is currently allowing a 45 day stay for visa exempt travelers. After that 45 days, one has the option to stay 30 more days. Beyond that, can this same tourist continue to extend without needing a border run, or how would that work?
    Reply

    Apr 20, 2021 at 6:19 am

    • TheThailandLife says

      April 20, 2021 at 9:45 pm

      You can extend once. You would have to leave and re-enter after that. If the situation changes and you are unable to leave because of COVID restrictions, you will be offered a visa amnesty like everyone else. This will give you a set number of further days.
      Reply

      Apr 20, 2021 at 9:45 pm

  10. Jay says

    March 18, 2021 at 3:34 am

    Hi I am just wondering if this information is still current in terms of extending the visa on arrival for an additional 30 days during Covid. I am traveling on the Visa Exemption Scheme and would like to extend my stay for an additional 30 days while I am waiting on my education visa to get approved. Please let me know as it’s been difficult to find any additional information on this topic online. Thanks!
    Reply

    Mar 18, 2021 at 3:34 am

    • TheThailandLife says

      March 18, 2021 at 3:38 am

      Yes, you can extend.
      Reply

      Mar 18, 2021 at 3:38 am

  11. wayne says

    June 24, 2020 at 3:39 pm

    Hi, what would you recommend would be my best visa option. my wife is a thai national and we live in the UK. Next year we are selling up and moving to thailand. i am 31 years old and doubt i will find work in Thailand for my profession. My plan is to work elsewhere in the world for 4+ weeks on at a time and then return to thailand for my off period between the next period away with work. i dont know what visa to apply for.
    Reply

    Jun 24, 2020 at 3:39 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      June 24, 2020 at 4:56 pm

      Possibly a non-immigrant O visa based on marriage. It lasts for a year and you can stay for 90 days at a time before having to leave the country. If you activate another entry just before it expires you can get a further 3 months out of too. Hopefully this would give you long enough between work stints. A single entry tourist visa would give you 60 days stay at a time but it would be a hassle to have to apply for one each time you wanted to come back in.
      Reply

      Jun 24, 2020 at 4:56 pm

      • Martin1 says

        June 24, 2020 at 11:42 pm

        Sorry, Peter,

        I guess there is a misunderstanding. Non-Imm. visa type O entitles one to stay in the kingdom until the visa expires. NO need to leave the country before that.

        And I know that for sure as I have the same situation like Wayne: I stay in Thailand with such a visa.

        It might be the case, that the very first time after the first entry one has to go to immigration to activate the full staying time.
        But I can freely extend each and every year my visa type O without having to leave the country before 11-1/2 months are up.

        Wayne should be aware though that 90 days reporting is required!!!
        Reply

        Jun 24, 2020 at 11:42 pm

        • TheThailandLife says

          June 24, 2020 at 11:50 pm

          Hi Martin, there's no misunderstanding. I have a Non Immigrant O visa based on marriage. I have to leave every 90 days, or am able to extend one time, for 60 days, within the visa period. Unless Wayne activates the 1-year extension by using the financial requirements route, then he will do the same as me. If he does go down the financial requirements route then he will, as you say, have to do 90-day reporting.However, the best option for his situation is as I suggested. Because he will most likely leave every couple of months for work, thus activating a further 90-day stay each time he re-enters. If he activates the 1-year extension, he will need a re-entry permit to ensure the extension stays valid while he is gone.
          Reply

          Jun 24, 2020 at 11:50 pm

          • Mike Baker says

            June 25, 2020 at 8:22 am

            That's interesting. You get a choice when applying. Leave every 90 days and have no financial requirements to meet or commit 400k and stay a year.......either way it costs you something but at least there is a choice.....
            Reply

            Jun 25, 2020 at 8:22 am

            • TheThailandLife says

              June 25, 2020 at 3:49 pm

              Hey Mike, you don't get the choice when applying for the visa; the visa as standard requires you to leave every 90 days. But when inside Thailand, you can do a 1-year extension so that you don't have to leave the country. You then do the same 90-day reporting you would do on a retirement extension.
              Reply

              Jun 25, 2020 at 3:49 pm

              • Mike Baker says

                June 25, 2020 at 8:22 pm

                Right... so... let me get my understanding right ..... the "choice" comes after getting the initial marriage visa..... and is not offered as such but is there for you to apply for... and to extend 1 year you will need 400k in a bank for a period before application (60 or 90 days).
                Reply

                Jun 25, 2020 at 8:22 pm

                • TheThailandLife says

                  June 25, 2020 at 8:34 pm

                  Exactly. The visa by default is 1-year with the stipulation that you leave every 90 days. You can extend at immigration for 1,900 Baht, just once during the period of the visa and get a further 60 days. This would give you one stay of 5 months straight. But as standard you leave every 90 days and return to activate a further 90 days. Unless you go down the financial route and extend using the 400k in a Thai bank account for 60 days prior to applying.
                  Reply

                  Jun 25, 2020 at 8:34 pm

  12. Jason says

    May 6, 2020 at 1:00 pm

    So the question that I don't see answered anywhere...How can I live in Thailand if I'm under 50? No desire to get a job there or get married. All of the info mentions air and land entry, what about by sea (a sailboat).
    Reply

    May 06, 2020 at 1:00 pm

    • Mike Baker says

      May 6, 2020 at 6:07 pm

      Thailand Elite Visa?
      Reply

      May 06, 2020 at 6:07 pm

      • Jason says

        May 6, 2020 at 8:42 pm

        Good idea!
        Reply

        May 06, 2020 at 8:42 pm

    • James E says

      May 6, 2020 at 11:30 pm

      By sea is considered a land entry. If you've got the coin the Elite Visa is a good choice BUT make sure you check out how that visa works when you enter at an immigration checkpoint that doesn't have Elite service if you're arriving by boat. Otherwise, you're stuck with the METV or ED visa options.
      Reply

      May 06, 2020 at 11:30 pm

  13. Dave says

    January 19, 2020 at 2:35 pm

    Question for you. Your opinion or expertise would be appreciated.

    If you are denied a 60/90 day tourist visa, will they put you in the system and automatically refuse your entry on the exemption.

    I was told that one is allowed to do two Tourist Visas per year. I obtained my first one back in November. I flew to Phnom Penh to obtain the second one on January 13th. Technically, this should have counted as my first tourist visa for 2020.

    The lady at the counter asked me why I didn't return to the States on the ticket that I'd given as proof on my last request I told her that I'd changed my mind about going home for Christmas and was instead heading back to the States for the Spring (March Madness).

    She said that the consulate may refuse my Visa because of this....and they did.

    I wonder if that will preclude me from entering at all.

    I'd like to get back and collect my things before I head to the States. I also don't want to risk being deported.

    I was thinking about heading over to Vientiene to try the Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge border crossing but nervous that I'll be put on some kind of blacklist or have already been entered in the system as deny access.

    I showed them proof that I was doing tourist things like taking Muaythai, etc and provided contact details for the courses and what not. Still denied.
    Reply

    Jan 19, 2020 at 2:35 pm

  14. M says

    November 14, 2019 at 10:00 pm

    There are 64 countries on the visa-exemption list: https://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand/changes-visa-exempt.php
    Reply

    Nov 14, 2019 at 10:00 pm

  15. Ellie says

    October 15, 2019 at 5:31 am

    My bf and I took a flight to Suvarnabhumi Airport a week ago, and while the officer at passport control gave me my stamp, by bf passport was flagged as stolen (his municipality’s mistake) so then my stamp got a Red VOID stamp on top and we both got denied access and got sent back to Amsterdam. Flying again in a week and I wonder if being denied access for something that wasn’t my fault will be an issue when flying in again.
    Reply

    Oct 15, 2019 at 5:31 am

    • TheThailandLife says

      October 15, 2019 at 1:54 pm

      That's a difficult one. You should have appealed immediately but you weren't to know that and that would have taken up valuable time on your holiday. It's probably best to get a new passport. And talk with your embassy in Amsterdam about the mistake and see if they are prepared to contact Thai immigration and have the record amended, since it's unfair that you have both have this mark on your name for something that wasn't your fault.
      Reply

      Oct 15, 2019 at 1:54 pm

      • checktheTimAtic says

        February 3, 2020 at 2:11 pm

        ellie is most likely dutch, seeing the name. Thus her BF should have had problems when exiting NL on the airport if this passpt was on the list of being not valid anymore. Alltogether a bit of a strange story.
        Most airlines now check also the passpts of travellers if they hold the needed visa and have enough validity left on them.
        There is a difference between a PERSON on not wanted list or only a passprt nr.
        Reply

        Feb 03, 2020 at 2:11 pm

    • Yam says

      October 21, 2019 at 3:47 am

      How comes that your bf passport was flagged stolen?
      Reply

      Oct 21, 2019 at 3:47 am

  16. Heart says

    October 5, 2019 at 6:40 am

    Hi, If you have been refused entry due to many in/out stamps by land, when and what's the best thing to do from your home country?
    Reply

    Oct 05, 2019 at 6:40 am

    • TheThailandLife says

      October 5, 2019 at 5:42 pm

      Get a 6-month tourist visa from the Thai embassy in your home country.
      Reply

      Oct 05, 2019 at 5:42 pm

      • seeTiMatic says

        February 3, 2020 at 2:12 pm

        Thats impossible, as tourist visa are for 60 days only.
        Reply

        Feb 03, 2020 at 2:12 pm

        • TheThailandLife says

          February 3, 2020 at 5:34 pm

          A Multiple Entry Tourist Visa will be valid for 6 months from the date of issue. Travellers must enter Thailand within the validity of visa, and they will be permitted to stay in Thailand not exceeding 60 days for each entry within the period of 6 months from the date of arrival in Thailand.
          Reply

          Feb 03, 2020 at 5:34 pm

        • Mike Baker says

          February 3, 2020 at 5:48 pm

          It is a very confusing system.... yes, tourist visas are stated as allowing a maximum 60 day stay when you apply..... but in fact both single entry and multiple entry can be extended by 30 days in Thailand..... and the METV (multiple entry tourist visa) is valid for ENTRY for 6 months..... which is a different thing to the length of stay limits..... with an METV it is possible to stay almost 9 months if you get the timing of entry, exit and extensions correct..... because in Thailand, as long as you enter just before the visa "enter before" date expires, you will be given a period of stay appropriate to the type of visa from that entry date...... unlike the UK for example, where the visitor visa expiry date refers to the last day you can actually stay in the UK.
          Reply

          Feb 03, 2020 at 5:48 pm

  17. Robin says

    August 25, 2019 at 3:07 pm

    I’ve entered thailand on a 30 day exemption stamp from the US. I’ve overstayed by a few days, but want to continue my time in Thailand. Is it possible to get a 30 day extension if I’ve already overstayed by 3 days? What is the best course of action, try to extend at the immigration office? Or try to do a border run
    Reply

    Aug 25, 2019 at 3:07 pm

    • James E says

      August 25, 2019 at 11:25 pm

      It depends on the mood of the immigration officer that day. If I were doing it I'd go to an office at an airport just so you'd have an easier time of making a border-run/hurried-exit without spending time in custody to make sure you leave. Second, again depending on the officer, your overstay might give you a black flag for reentry. If you have a good reason for the overstay maybe not, but Thai authorities have been taking a dim view of overstays of late.
      Reply

      Aug 25, 2019 at 11:25 pm

  18. Martin1 says

    April 25, 2019 at 12:53 am

    Peter, I am sorry, I guess here you made a mistake:
    "Extending Your Stay by 30 Days"

    As far as I know when a 30 days stamp when you go to immigration the maximum extension you could get is always the half of it: 15 days.

    My Chinese ex-GF got a 14 days allowance, and at the immigration office they extended that for a whopping 1,900 THB fee for one more week (7 days).
    Reply

    Apr 25, 2019 at 12:53 am

    • TheThailandLife says

      April 25, 2019 at 5:26 pm

      Since 29.8.2014, the 30-day visa exempt stamp can be extended for 30 days at Thai Immigration for THB 1,900. Unless this has changed it is still the case. It does depend on your country of origin. If you can find any details of different rules please let me know where and I will update the article. Thank you.
      Reply

      Apr 25, 2019 at 5:26 pm

      • Lucas says

        July 8, 2019 at 12:51 am

        when you mean't a flight ticket to proof you are leaving thailand within 30 days of visa exempted entry did you mean having to print out the flight itinerary or can you show the immigration officer your itinerary via your phone
        Reply

        Jul 08, 2019 at 12:51 am

        • Mike Baker says

          July 8, 2019 at 1:26 am

          I would think showing on your phone is acceptable. After all, tickets don't exist in paper format these days and they understand that......Having said that, if it is easy to do then print a copy to give them..... if they ask, offer the phone screen first and see what happens. Better safe than sorry!
          Reply

          Jul 08, 2019 at 1:26 am

          • Lucas says

            July 8, 2019 at 9:43 pm

            "If you do not possess a flight ticket to show you will be exiting Thailand within 30 days of entry you will be most likely refused entry"

            how does the above statement work with the 30 day visa exemption extension for another 30 days at 1900 baht?
            if you need to show a flight ticket to proof you are exiting the country within 30 days then whats the reason of having a 30 days extension to make it 60 days altogether if you already pre-planned a return flight within the first 30 days of visa exempted entry, cause if you intent to extent your stay for another 30 days you won't be using that return flight ticket as you would still be in the country

            cause i know that a 30 days visa exemption stamp, single entry tourist visa and multiple entry tourist visa all allow 30 days extension.. would really appreciate it if you could answer this, cause it has been bugging me as my trip is coming soon :)
            Reply

            Jul 08, 2019 at 9:43 pm

            • TheThailandLife says

              July 9, 2019 at 4:57 pm

              You only need a return flight ticket if you do not have a valid visa. However, you are right, the ability to extend your stay, even on a tourist exemption stamp, is somewhat in contradiction with the rule. Regardless, they want tourists to show an intention to return home, and a return flight ticket shows that intention to some degree. Moreover, there are many reasons why a person would need to extend their extension. For example, you may not be well enough to fly home, or your travel plans might change and you decide to visit another country and therefore change your flight out of Thailand.
              Reply

              Jul 09, 2019 at 4:57 pm

            • Mike Baker says

              July 10, 2019 at 1:44 am

              If you intend to stay more than 30 days it is best to get a 60 day tourist visa whilst in your own country. You will find it cheaper and more convenient and then your leaving flight corresponds as well.
              Reply

              Jul 10, 2019 at 1:44 am

  19. Harry says

    April 5, 2019 at 12:50 pm

    I got stopped at Swampy late December.'Too many enties'. I think it was 6, all by air. He showed me his screen, a large no entry icon was on display. I was late back from work abroad, my visa had expired the day before.
    I showed him a photo of my two kids and pleaded, 'Johnny Walker?' he asked.
    I said OK and he closed his desk and we went shopping!
    Reply

    Apr 05, 2019 at 12:50 pm

    • Mike Baker says

      April 5, 2019 at 8:35 pm

      They have signs now which say "no tips". But not "no tipples".
      Reply

      Apr 05, 2019 at 8:35 pm

  20. Renay says

    March 21, 2019 at 2:37 pm

    Great work love it thanks Renay
    Reply

    Mar 21, 2019 at 2:37 pm

  21. Tony Blackmore. says

    March 21, 2019 at 1:16 pm

    Peter,
    I just applied for a O visa (12 months) I was informed I needed a Police Check.
    I had rung Sydney CIB and they had no idea. So a trip to Sydney was wasted, I had to get a month visa (with two extensions) and then apply for a O visa.
    Meantime I have applied for a Police Check for a later O visa.
    Just letting people know.
    Reply

    Mar 21, 2019 at 1:16 pm

    • TheThailandLife says

      March 21, 2019 at 6:02 pm

      Hi Tony, which O visa did you apply for? If you are planning to do the retirement extension then the easiest route is to get a non-O visa from your home country and then apply for the retirement extension inside Thailand, that way you can avoid the police check. I wrote about this here: https://www.thethailandlife.com/the-thailand-retirement-visa-guide
      Reply

      Mar 21, 2019 at 6:02 pm

  22. wayne Drummond says

    March 21, 2019 at 10:02 am

    Be wary of using visa agencies to circumvent the rules OR to avoid being there in person. My experience my wife is terminally ill and cannot be left alone. My first 12 month extension therefore handed to an agency (I qualified by rules) but my extension and subsequent 3 x 90 day reports were completed in Roi Det and completed docs sent me at our BKK condo. I got hit with fines when I did my last 90 day report at Chaeng Wattana personally, Paid to have address updated in the 90 day system and "failing to report" BUT when I went to renew my 12month extension was told I had to do it at Roi Det.
    Reply

    Mar 21, 2019 at 10:02 am

    • TheThailandLife says

      March 21, 2019 at 6:06 pm

      Hi Wayne, I hear a lot of negative stories about agents. I'm not saying all are bad but as you note you do have to have your wits about you, and if possible do things yourself. I'm very sorry to hear about your wife.
      Reply

      Mar 21, 2019 at 6:06 pm

    • Mike Baker says

      March 21, 2019 at 6:56 pm

      I think you were caught by the TM30 reporting law, a subject that TTL may consider doing an article about, as it appears to be little understood by us foreigners AND the Thais alike, but increasingly is being enforced with fines up to 10,000 baht.
      Reply

      Mar 21, 2019 at 6:56 pm

  23. Mike Baker says

    March 21, 2019 at 8:52 am

    Another great post. Clear and concise. Thank you.

    As you observe, so many people end up with problems of their own making. Often by trying to shortcut the system unnecessarily!

    The emphasis here is to KNOW THE LAW and do everything to comply with it and just be aware (not assume) that often the law is not fully applied. Not just with regards to visas either!
    Reply

    Mar 21, 2019 at 8:52 am

    • TheThailandLife says

      March 21, 2019 at 6:22 pm

      Thanks Mike. Absolutely. When I first came to Thailand illegal visa dealings seemed to be the norm: paying for stamps, getting a Non O without visiting immigration, etc. It's not as prevalent now but still, if you plan on making somewhere your home for the foreseeable future it's just not worth the shortcuts.
      Reply

      Mar 21, 2019 at 6:22 pm

  24. Ken says

    March 21, 2019 at 8:31 am

    Best explanation I have read to date. Thank you.
    Reply

    Mar 21, 2019 at 8:31 am

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