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Can I extend my stay in Thailand after multiple visits within the same year?

Thai visa rules visa extension visa exempt entry tourist visa U.S. passport holders immigration regulations

Apr 25, 2018

7 years ago

Lev ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi everyone,

I was in Thailand in January for 10 days and in April for 10 days. I want to go back to Thailand again, but this time I want to live there for 2 months. I plan on coming for 30 days and then extending my visa for 30 more days. 

Does anyone know if that would be possible to do since I have already visited Thailand twice so far this year. I am not really certain exactly what the immigration rules are. It seems like somewhat of a grey area. I read something that you can only enter the country so many times within a year. 

I have a U.S. passport but I live in a small city in China at the moment.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user inquires about the possibility of returning to Thailand after two previous visits within the same year, aiming to stay for two months by initially entering on a 30-day visa exempt entry and then extending it by another 30 days. Responses indicate there are no specific entry limits for visa exempt stays, suggesting they could successfully extend their stay without issues, especially if they follow required procedures like having proof of onward travel and accommodation.

Joe ***********

Should you choose to - you could first fly to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - go to the Thai Consulate there and get a 60 day tourist visa which can be Extended 30 days at Thai Immigration inside Thailand. Or even stop first in Hong Kong.

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Squid ****

No limit, if you are in and out a bit

Make sure to have cash, hotel booking, and plane ticket out of Thailand.

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Squid ****

No limit for air and visa entries - Land entries have a 2 per 12 month period max.

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Squid ****

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Tod *********

You shouldn't have any problem comin' in on a 30 day visa exempt entry stamp and getting a 30 day extension at the immigration office here for 1900baht.

There is no official limit to visa exempt entries coming in by air. And the people they do target at passport control are people living here on back to back visa exempt or tourist visa stamps. Your entry history doesn't reflect that at all. You will be fine

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Tod *********

@Stephen *********

There are definite financial requirements for the 6 month METV and most consulates also have a residency requirement <- meaning you need to live legally in the country where you're applying for the visa. This makes most people have to go back to their country of passport origin to get an METV. The only consulates that don't have the residency requirement are the ones in Australia but they still have the financial requirements.

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Stephen **********

. Thank you for the clarification. I think it was 2012 I started having problems at immigration at Phuket airport and the immigration office in Patong have given mixed messages also. Are you able to confirm the requirements for multiple entry tv? When double/triple entry tv was replaced by metv I, along with everyone else applying, failed to meet the 6 months bank statement requirement. I opted for setv and modified my travel plans to comply.

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Tod *********

The 90 days total on visa exempt entries in 180 days went away November 28, 2008 when police order

********

went into effect. That is also when 15 days at the border went started.

Here's the old and the new rule about it side by side.

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Tod *********

, and I am stating that despite what is on the website (run by the ministry of foreign affairs NOT the immigration division) there is no official rule about how many visa exempt entries you can have by air in a period of time. There was an old rule that said you could have no more than 90 days worth of visa exempt entries in a 6 month period of time but that was rescinded a long time ago.

They just don't want people to live here and possibly work here illegally on 30 day visa exempt entries so they question people to make sure you're a real tourist.

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Richard *******

@Stephen *********

It is still on their website. But I have yet to hear of anyone knocked back on visa exempt at the airport because they have done it too many times.

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Stephen **********

I play buy their rules but have twice been blocked by the immigration computer system and was told only 3 entries in 12 months following a change in the law a few years back. On this trip...I left yesterday...I brought the current embassy document with me in case of any problems but it was ok. But that was on the website in January.

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Tod *********

Stephen Marshall that is not accurate, except for the two 30 day visa exempt entries by land in a year

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Stephen **********

.....the embassy in London says visa exempt entries are limited??

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Tod *********

Ian, In bangkok you use the main immigration office out at the Chaengwattana government complex

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Lev ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

wow your friend did it for a long time

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Karl ******************

@Lev **********

one of my "friends" made it for 3 years on back to back tourist visas before they Red stamped her and sent her home, I also know I guy that's on his 7 consecutive non O ED (one year single entry, 90 day stamp at immigration) even tho the agents say you can't do it for more than 3 years. Everything is possible in the land of smiles.

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Lev ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks!!

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Tod *********

Nope, no idea what makes them target certain people and not others. I know people who have been living here for years on back-2-back tourist visas or visa exempt entries and who have never been questioned at all when stamping into the country AND I know people who were questioned on their 4th visa exempt entry stamp.

As other people suggested make sure you have the 20K baht proof of funds and onward travel in 30 days if you're comin' in on a visa exempt entry just in case you're asked at passport control.

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Lev ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks for your helpful response Tod. Do you know how long these people live in Thailand that get targeted? I might want to stay for longer...say about 6 months.

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Lev ***********

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