Are land border bounces to Thailand now considered unlimited?

Aug 4, 2024
4 months ago
Richard ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Are the border bounces by land unlimited now !
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The current consensus among expats is that the previous hard limit on border bounces for entry into Thailand by land has effectively been lifted, allowing for more frequent entries. However, the term 'unlimited' is considered misleading. While there are no official caps on the number of border entries, the final decision lies with the immigration officer at the border. Many users report that officers have been more lenient since policy changes effective July 15, but participants in the discussion emphasize caution, as manipulation of visa exemptions could still lead to being questioned or denied entry depending on individual circumstances.
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Kim *********
Technically yes, but in reality no! Expect after a few 2-3 borderuns per yeah to get denied more entries, or at least getting told apply for right visa, as you clearly with that many month in Thailand aren’t a regular tourist, which the Visa exempt are there for 😉
Daniel ******
Clever people obtain a 10 years LTR visa very easily. Why all the hassle!
Victor *******
"I have by the current laws right to enter thailand as many times as I wish per a year if I can upkeep myself" - That should do it. - Dont worry the returns.. just prepare with a segement of the current laws in your phones to show to them.
Victor *******
In a new light.. It might be so that theyre actually obliged to allow you to enter as long as you can show them whatever they requests upon entry.. It might be just so scare you off and ultimately if you meet the requirements you can access as long as you like..

Stand up for your rights and state everytime the changes regulations.. You dont need to bow them and be meek. Just express your rights.
Ed ********
good luck
Angelik *******
No, they are not! I was just refused to enter Thailand after 2 stamps. First stamp is 90 days and another one 60 days. But they might let you in if you show hotel bookings and
*****
baht. Sadao border to Malaysia.
Anne *******
I would not rely on that, it always up to the officer at the border.
Neil ******
If the IO believes you’re living in Thailand on tourist visa/exempt, it doesn’t matter if there’s no limit or there is, you’re going to get denied entry. So maybe just either have a visa for your purpose or don’t take the risk? Nobody here can tell you what you want to hear because it would be false.
Richard ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Neil *****
Thanks for your very useful opinion but I just asked if the rules changed for border bounces
Jacques ********
Richard ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
thanks for your concrete response
John **********
I wish people would stop using the term "unlimited", it's misleading. The fact is you can now enter by land using visa exemption in exactly the same way as you can by air for the purposes of tourism. If the immigration officer determines you're not a tourist then they aren't going to let you in.
Daniel ************
for visa excemption 60 days - yes
Alexander ********
The person has picked phone up🙂
Terry ********
We will not know until someone and then some more do 3 entries by land.
เดวิด *******
Have the rules changed then?
Mark *************************
I can confirm this as I just talked to the officers in the Chiang Rai Immigration Office at Central Plaza. In fact when I was translating for my friend he told me without being asked that border runs now are unlimited. You have the option of paying 1900 for extension or do a border run if you are near a border. No more twice a calendar year bs, all started from the 15th of July. And before a smartass comes in and tells me all this is valid until an officer at the border informs you that this will be the last time you come into the kingdom this way, yeah, even my 5 year old neighbour's daughter knows this. My advice is this, enjoy it while you can, because thailand is thailand.
Greg ***********
it's too early to tell. The 60-days visa exempt was introduced and activated on July 15. Right now there is nobody who can confirm that he was allowed in on a second visa exempt, following a third visa exempt. If you ask me - no way Immigration will allow people to misuse the 60-days visa exempt for a longstay in Thailand. The word "unlimited" bears no guaranty
Angelo ***********
@Greg **********
Hard to say. I stayed 2 years on visa exempts. The exempt is for tourists. A MTR gives you 9 month, close to 270 days. Roughly the same as three visa exempts.
Jay *****
Try it and know it.
Arnold *****
I went on my first one ever and bro tells me get a visa next time 🤣
Henrik *****
Nobody knows for sure yet, have to wait and see, how Immigration will handle it, in the future.
Phil ******
@Richard *******
apparently why not let us know
Shannon ********
I just submitted my application for a TV in Laos. The guy almost wouldn't take it. He kept on saying u get 60 days entry for usa. Things seem to be changing
Rob *******
@Shannon *******
A good sign
Shannon ********
@Rob ******
I guess.. the pessimism is eyeing gentrification. 55. But yea. I guess it's good.
Jan ******************
@Shannon *******
Why did you decide to apply for a TV now? Do you have an excessive history of entries?
Shannon ********
@Jan *****************
nah. My passport is littered with entries but I'm getting some work in Tbailand and the job was adamant on me getting a TV to transfer over to work visa.. even though I have been told by many it can be done with an exempt entry. So I just went ahead and did it.
Angelo ***********
@Shannon *******
Technically it can. Since COVID. And that does not every HR department know. Then: usually you had to have something like 21 days (could be 14 days, depending on visa type) left on your entry stamp. So only a few days (5 working days) open to hand in the paper work.

Now with 60 days entry stamp that would be no problem, of course.
Shannon ********
@Angelo **********
yea. I tried to tell them but they didn't want to listen to me. I doubt they even know or care that farangs get 60 days entry now. But TIT .. if there is a way to do things.. that's how u do it and not a lot of gray area
Stuart *********
The limit of 2 border entries using visa exempt entries no longer exists. The use of “unlimited” as a term is misleading in terms that there is no actual limit, but you won’t get away with “unlimited” entries. You will get away with as many as you can get away with until the immigration officer decides that you can’t anymore. Whether that is 2, 3 or 8 is up to them.
Casey ******
@Stuart ********
I hate this answer. We’ve all had to listen to “it’s ultimately up to the immigration officer you encounter” given as advice for many many many years as a failsafe answer.

It’s always been up to the immigration officer.

Yes, if the immigration officer agrees with the unlimited interpretation of the rules you get get unlimited.

It’s like we shit on people when it was a twice a year limit and then we still find a way to shit on them when it’s changed.

IT’S UP TO THE IMMIGRATION OFFICER.

Nothing has changed.
Richard ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Casey *****
apparently it change cause there is no more official limit

You hate or you love Stuart s answer it doesn’t t change the facts

The decision of the IO is an other story
Stuart *********
@Casey *****
You can hate it all you like. There was a hard limit of two land/sea border entries in a calendar year. It has changed. Now there is no technical limit.
Casey ******
@Stuart ********
can we also agree an immigration officer could deny you on only your second land crossing if they wanted?

In other words, again. “It’s up to the immigration officer”
Stuart *********
@Casey *****
In theory that could have happened. Except that in practice it was almost universally accepted that if you were within the allowed 2 entries per year then you’d get away with it. Now it’s too early to see if there will be the same sort of “allowance”.
Casey ******
@Stuart ********
I respect the hell out of you Stuart you give amazing advice I’m not trying to fight. I’m just saying it’s not too early.

In 1 year if someone gets rejected or turned away our answer is going to be the same. “Ultimately it’s up to the officer”

New policy or not. The answer to this question is just that. 5 years ago or in 5 years.
Casey ******
@Stuart ********
it’s up the the immigration officer. Can we agree on this?
Jiji ***********
Probably "unlimited" in the same way that visa-exempt air entries already are "unlimited".

No legal limit, but after 4-8 months (give or take) on nothing but back-to-back border bounces, you have a *high* chance of being pulled out of line to the back office & questioned about what you're doing here.
Terary **********
@Jiji **********
I have been "pulled aside" a couple times, and they let me in both times. Each time they said "Welcome to Thailand and next time...."
Jiji ***********
Worth taking those warnings seriously, as people can and do get denied, all the time.

If you've already attracted their attention enough to get onto their radar, best not to push your luck.
Victor *******
@Jiji **********
Happened to me last time.. first officer deemed being too long in Thailand this year without proper visa (2 times border runs with extension and this time tourist visa and all the stays in previous 2 yrs. Was asked to questioning by senior officer. I explained Im not living in Thailand nor any asian countries just using Bangkok as travel hub due main airports there.
Jiji ***********
"Well I know someone who knows someone who lived here for two years on visa-exempts" means nothing.

The amount of time you can get away with here on back-to-back exemptions is a roll of a dice.

The point is that sooner or later, your number *will* come up.
Casey ******
@Victor ******
again. This is my frustration. So “your limit is clear” and then after this experience you came back, and were denied?

You are speaking in definite terms like there is a limit but have never been denied entry, correct?

So far your access to Thailand has been unlimited?
Victor *******
@Casey *****
Thats true. But they have since early this year been asking why Ive been here so long with excemptions etc. Before last time Tourist visa saved me, propably with excemption she wouldnt have let me in. So its getting tighter every time. Now only secure way is retirement(marital/DTVisa Or Non-B with workpermit. I found that limit after last entry 5 weeks ago.

I just know that if you´ve been in more than out for the last 2 yrs its alarming to them that this person actually tries to live in thailand. So Im not going to take that risk anymore this year unleas I get Non-B
Casey ******
@Victor ******
this is the point of my entire comment. It’s the discretion of the officer. If the officer believes in unlimited, it’s unlimited. If the officer believes even 1 crossing is too much, it’s too much.

But here we are as farang speaking as matters of fact. Every single answer to these questions should be, it’s up to the officer.

You got in. Shouldn’t your answer be, based on experience “so far it’s been unlimited for me?”
Victor *******
@Casey *****
No, cos its not unlimited, my limit became very clear.. I had to even promise to the officer I wont be coming back anymore this year.. Its the same senior officer there who takes you for questioning.. So in Suvarnabhumi I Wouldnt try my luck after 8-9 months with excemption/tourist visa unless you have new passport with just less than 2-4 entries for 2 yrs.
Casey ******
@Victor ******
you are responding to the question “is border bounces by land unlimited now?”

After a policy changed July 15.

It’s just really hard to get good info in this group when unrelated comments are everywhere.

Mate he’s asking about after July 15 and your experience is earlier this year and “probables”

Do you have any experience after July 15 that might help this person out?
Victor *******
@Casey *****
There is nothing certain with this subject. My friend told you can enter via land "unlimitedly" not just 2 times and he did it about
*****
I doubt thats neither "unlimited" limitlessly. Experience doesnt matter when theres so many variations. No-one knows the real truth
Casey ******
@Victor ******
have you been denied entry into Thailand before?
Casey ******
@Victor ******
wait. But then you got in? If so, why are you talking in a tone that indicates multiple border bounces are not ok.

No one cares about the blah blah blah words.

Did you get in? Y/N?
Victor *******
@Casey *****
Theyre not ok for that reason Jiji mentioned, it makes it seem like youre just trying to extend your stay unlimited.. "unlimited entries" doesnt mean you can actually keep coming forever with excemption or tourist visa, even that doesnt guarantee anythingm, its always in discretion of any random officer at immigration
Casey ******
@Victor ******
I was just curious because you said “happened to me last time”

You got in. So from your experience, so far, it’s still unlimited.
Bart **************
@Victor ******
why would you tell them that if it's so clearly false? I suppose they didn't let you in? Would be surprised if they did.
Victor *******
@Bart *************
Of course they did.. its all about "honesty".. If you dont tell anything they will withold their assumption and wont let you in.. you need to convince them and emphasize it with credible facts that supports that presumption
Frank-Steven ***********
Jeff ******
I wouldn’t chance it, but let us know!
Ian **********
No just an extension on certain countries from 30 to 60 days, the rest is still set in stone
Terry *********
@Jim *******
and your point
Ian **********
@Terry ********
its a fact
Jim ********
@Ian *********
yes it is a fact but the question is about whether land entries are now unlimited and not the fact visa exempt went from 30-60 days and more countries are eligible
Alex ********
Two friends who both have two border bounced already have done a third
Rob *******
@Alex *******
How many of them

bounces have been via land ?
Alex ********
@Rob ******
all of them that's
Lynnette *******
I'd explain it more as "not limited" at the moment.
Terry ********
Lynnette *******
Terry ********
Sorry, I changed my mind and decided to post for everyone not just you
Terry ********
Tin **********
How many air
Jan ******************
@Tin *********
No limit, until the immigration says it’s enough for a while.😉
Todd *********
Let us know for sure when you try. A few have succeeded now
James *******
Yes, you can come and go as you please.
Angelo ***********
@James ******
Yeah, yeah! But that gives the term "border bounce" an unhappy meaning!
Angus *********
@James ******
just like a true 'do as you likey' 👍
Rei ***********
Thats what i heard
Rob *******
be intrested to know to
Bruce ****
@Rob ******
I've been in TH 7 mo but in July I went to Agency in CM (Festival Mall) and got 30-day extension w/o leaving the country.
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