Are visa runs still possible for visa-exempt entries in Thailand?

Collywobble Thomason no immigration may deny you entry

Time to get longer term visa

Doe normaal en gebruik de wegen die nodig zijn voor een normale visum aanvraag en zoek niet de rand op om het te krijgen.

Really depends who you talk to, visa run company hua hin to rayong allows 2 visa runs a year, so technically can do a 60,30,60,60, BUT Will only end it tears doing that in the long run afterwards.

DTV is the way to go as I have.

Nope not allowed.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A BORDER RUN and a VISA RUN

People usually interchange the terms 'border run', and 'visa run' with no issues,

BUT I'm here to tell you they are two completely different things. 😮

Now that the land borders with MOST countries are open for exit/entry (Myanmar and Cambodia land borders are still closed both ways) I thought it prudent we go over the terms of what's what.

*** BORDER RUN:

A “border runner” is going to a border or fly to another country, and on the way stamps out of Thailand.

He stamps into another country.

Now he theoretically can turn around and stamp right back into Thailand. This would be a “same day border bounce”.

Or he stays in that country for a few nights or even weeks, before he re-enters Thailand visa-exempt, again.

This would still be a “border run” by the meaning of the word.

A “border run” means you first exit, and then re-enter Thailand on a visa exempt entry.

Or you leave and by re-entering you activate another stay permit you are elegible to, if you hold on a valid multi-entry visa, like the DTV, a multi-entry Tourist Visa or if you are on a 1-year extension of stay for which you bought a re-entry permit.

*** VISA RUN:

A “visa run” means that you exit Thailand either by land, sea or air, and enter another country with the intention to apply through the Thai Embassy’s or Consulate’s E-Visa online system for a specific visa type for Thailand.

A visa run requires you to prove in the application that you are physically inside the country where you apply, and you need to remain in this country until the visa gets granted and issued.

No

Do you really want me to post my comment over again?

You have probably been confused by some unbiased comments on the internet and the wrong info being spread by stupid and false ChatGPT and AI texts.

Visa-exempt entries and touristic entries:

What has changed by November 2025, mandated from above, was the beginning of stricter scrutinizing of your number of visa-exempt entries and the thorough check on "visa runners" (actually they meant to say "repeated border runners").

The new approach taken by border officials is intended to ensure that the option to do a border run is not misused, and the visa-exemption system shall not get “milked”.

There are no new visa rules or new law. There is no calendar-year reset of the number of touristic entries.

There is no limit of two visa-EXEMPTIONS within a 1-year period, and definitely not within a calendar year. This is simply not true.

Now as far as regarding the EXTENSIONS of visa-exempt entries, it does appear that the Immigration is only issuing 7-day extensions if you already got a previous 30-day extension on a previous visa exempt stay permit. The count is 60 + 30 + 60 + 7 = 157 days of a maximum stay permit within a 1-year period, regardless of whether you arrive by air or land.

The decision is made upon the discretion of the individual immigration officer, and your experience might vary from it, as it is not standardized.

There are some reports of touristic 30-days extensions on top of the visa-free 60-days being denied for those having arrived across a land border, while there have been some cases under the same circumstances where an extension was granted.

Fact is, entry is subjective and up to the decision of the officer you are standing in front of. They decide if you are a "real tourist" or if they think you are milking the visa-exempt entry program.

There is just no clear directive as far as what's what, there are no official rules, however after a few interviews with Immigration top officers, a few basic patterns have crystallized.

Some people report they have successfully received a 30-days touristic extension on top of second visa-exempt 60 days, but again, your experience might vary from that.

The 7-days extension is a REAL extension. It is not the same as the stamp "application to extension denied, you have seven days to leave the Kingdom". I have already seen the stamp of a 7-days extension, it takes up almost half of a passport page.

Visa-exempt entries are not limited to two entries per year. This is a misconception, and some agents and lawyers spread this information to make profit from panicked people.

Honest agents and Immigration Volunteers are warning you not to believe those alleged news telling you that visa-exempt entries are limited to two per year. It simply is not true.

In the past, visa-exempt entries were limited to two across a land border, however, this rule was discontinued on July 15, 2024.

On the paper, visa-exempt entries by air or across land and sea were “unlimited” after this date.

Attention: the wording “unlimited” is not a fixed rule of Immigration – again, the officer you stand in front of decides individually the moment when your “personal limit” is up.

On conditions, several visa-exempt entries within a one-year period are possible - like four, five or even more times, if it is apparent that you do not try to circumvent the system.

The entry history in your passport and your profile on Immigration’s Central Computer must prove that your stays were short-term holidays - like only 2-4 weeks.

Some Immigration officers will tell you that the total number of visa-exempt days should not exceed 157 days. It remains unclear – because there is no official rule.

The best proof that you are not milking the visa-exemption system is when you can show that you returned to your home country between each stay, or stayed abroad for a long time.

You should always be able to show an onward travel proof, a booked accommodation and – which is VERY important – you show carrying a minimum of 20,000 THB in cash (which can be the equivalent in another currency). With the emphasis on the word CASH (credit cards and bank statements on your phone are NOT a cash proof)

The new approach was to prohibit "visa runs," where you only entered a neighboring country briefly and then immediately re-entered.

A border official would rather consider you being a "genuine" tourist based on short holiday trips within a year. They expect that you never maximized (bought the 30-days extension) during any of these visa-exempt holidays.

Some people still claim a new calendar year resets the count, yet this is simply not true. The count is based on the recent one-year period, and can actually reach beyond that.

ATTENTION: obtaining a 60-days single entry tourist visa after you have already accumulated a few visa exempt stays, does not clean your touristic stamp history slate.

Touristic entries on a tourist visa will also be frowned upon once you start to maximize them. The use of a tourist visa directly after you have completed visa-exempt stays, does not free you from the obligations. The Immigration officer won’t be fooled.

For people who like to spend a consecutive half a year of hibernation in South East Asia and who like to make Thailand a base for other travels, the 6-months multi-entry Tourist Visa is the perfect choice.

Border run

Get a DTV based.on dental work.

You can purchase Safe Entry option thru an Agent. It’ll run you a few thousand baht and get you threw the Priority Lane on arrival.

Why is it called a “Visa Run” if you don’t have a Visa!?!?

We offer a same-day bounce via air, usually done in around 6 hours.

You can contact our team via LINE:

Ranong works fine but prices went up quite a bit

I've just looked through your previous posts. I'd say with your history it's highly unlikely you would be able to get another visa exempt entry. You could try asking a border run company and see if they will take you with your history but they might not. Generally speaking they won't take you unless they can get you back in

Yes

Depends on how many you’ve done, yes they can be done, just be prepared to jump through a couple more hoops or pay.

The rules are clearly communicated. Check out Google.