Can I enter Thailand on a 30-day visa exempt if my 60-day visa doesn't arrive on time?

Thai Visa Visa Exempt Visa Application E Visa Visa Extension Tourism in Thailand Immigration Rules

Jan 7, 2024

10 months ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

We applied for a 60 day visa on 23rd December at the Thai Embassy Rome ( flight departing from Cyprus).

We are due to fly to Bangkok on 15th January,but have not heard anything regarding our E visa.

If  60 day visa does not arrive in time,would I still be able to fly into Thailand on the 30 day visa exempt and extend when I arrive or would they look at my flight details and see that I am not due to leave until 29th Feb ( which is over 30 days) and therefore refuse entry .  The other possibility would be to fly to Singapore for a few days before the 30 days are up and then re enter again on visa exempt. Is this an option or would I need a visa to re enter? Thanks

379

views

likes

all likes

replies

images

users

TLDR : Answer Summary

The user applied for a 60-day visa but hasn't received it before their flight to Thailand. They are wondering if they can enter Thailand on a 30-day visa exempt and extend their stay or if they need to fly to another country before re-entering. Comments suggest that it's possible to extend the visa exempt entry by 30 days, but they may need to show proof of an onward flight. Additionally, if the user holds a Cyprus passport, they may only qualify for a Visa on Arrival instead of a visa exempt entry.

Henrik *****

Don’t worry, the embassies will issue the tourist visa as close as possibel to the departuredate as possibel, to the benefit of the tourist.

If choosing visa excempt, the you just buy a cheap onwardticket out of Thailand within the visa excempt period.

10 months ago

Terri ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Henrik ****

Thank you

10 months ago

Reply to

Terri ***********

Stuart *********

You don’t mention your nationality. If you hold a Cyprus passport then you can’t get a visa exempt entry you could only get a Visa on Arrival which would cost 2,000 baht for a 15 day entry stamp.

10 months ago

Terri ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

Sorry,we have a British Passport,but are departing from Cyprus via Istanbul for Bangkok

10 months ago

Stuart *********

@Terri **********

Then you can enter exempt. If the visa arrives after you’ve entered you’d need to exit Thailand and re-enter to activate it.

10 months ago

Terri ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

I didn't know that I would have to leave and re enter.

Would it be easier to just extend my stay at immigration after entering with visa exempt?

10 months ago

Stuart *********

@Terri **********

Depends where you are in Thailand. A border bounce might be a cheaper option than an extension but probably not unless you’re near a border crossing.

10 months ago

Terri ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

Thank you

10 months ago

Reply to

Terri ***********

David *******

You can extend the Visa Exempt entry by another 30 days at an immigration office without a problem. You might have an issue at check-in with the airline insisting on a flight out of Thailand within 30 days. Some check and some don’t.

If they make a fuss you can say you intend to visit Singapore or somewhere else nearby and be prepared, if necessary, to book the flight there and then.

Thai immigration won’t be a problem.

10 months ago

Terri ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@David ******

Thank you so much for this info,it is much appreciated.

10 months ago

Reply to

Terri ***********

Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else

... members · 60% approval rate

The Thai Visa Advice And Everything Else group allows for a broad range of discussions on life in Thailand, beyond just visa inquiries.

Join the Group