Can a US citizen on a tourist visa re-enter Thailand after a short trip to a nearby country?

Sep 16, 2023
a year ago
Jazmine *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I am US Citizen currently on a 60 day tourist visa in Thailand. Can I leave to a nearby country for a a few days and come back into Thailand on same visa if it’s not due to expire prior to me returning?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A US citizen on a 60-day tourist visa can leave Thailand for a nearby country and return without any issues, provided they apply for a re-entry permit before leaving. If their re-entry happens within 30 days of the visa's expiration, they may not need the re-entry permit since they can enter Thailand with a visa-exempt status, receiving an additional 30 days upon return, as long as they haven't reached the limit for multiple entries at a land border.
Martin *******
If it is a single entry visa then it is already used.

You can keep the same "admitted until" stamp with a re-entry permit.

However, if your current stay has less than 30 days to run, leaving and returning will get you a 30 day visa exempt entry anyway.
Brandon ************
As Ellie said you can apply for a re-entry permit. But if you will have 30 days or less left of your original entry stamp when you return, there's not much reason to spend the money on a re-entry permit since you are eligible for visa exempt entry with a US passport which will give you 30 days. But if your plan is to travel to return to Thailand via land border from this nearby country, you need to make sure you haven't already entered Thailand 2 times at a land border without a visa, since that's the limit (at a land border only).
Ellie *******
@Vivian ***********
, never heard that someone successfully applied for a re-entry permit on visa-exempt entry.

The total duration doesn't matter. Re-entry permit works just to keep your current stamp alive. Please make your own post if you want to ask further.
Brandon ************
@Vivian ***********
your question isn't related to the op so you'll need to make your own question because many more details are needed
Ellie *******
Yes, but you need to apply for and get a re-entry permit BEFORE you leave Thailand. And no additional date further than the current permitted-until-stay date.

This is general information on re-entry permits.
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