Answered2 years ago

Can I extend my stay in Thailand beyond 90 days with border bounces?

Thailand visa rules Visa extension Border bounces Tourist visa Immigration policies

asked Jun 3, 2024

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Flew into Thailand 5/30 /24 went to Immigration 6/27 / 24 in Sisaket got a 30 day extension officer there said i could do a border bounce to Laos and get another 30 days . He also said at end of that 30 days I could return to Sisaket for one more 30 day extension. Reason was  only one border crossing all other entry was at airports. My understanding was 90 days max , his answer would give me 120.  Don’t want to do an overstay and have. Flexible air tickets I need to change if I’m staying.  Anyone have the right answer? TIA🙏🏻

Answer summary

The user inquired about extending their stay in Thailand beyond the typical 90 days by using border bounces to Laos. They received conflicting comments regarding the maximum stay duration. An immigration officer stated they could obtain a total of 120 days through a combination of extensions and border bounces. Community members shared insights on visa regulations, with suggestions for using onward tickets and converting to a longer tourist visa for future visits.

14 repliesnewest first

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Pam *****************

As far as I know you can do 2 border bounce per year and each border bounce you can extend at the immigration (that makes it 2 extensions for 2 border bounce) that's 120 days.

2 years ago

Joe *******

@Pam ****************

pretty much what immigration officer said. That’s how I’m going to proceed

2 years ago

Joe *******

And you as well 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

2 years ago

Pam *****************

@Joe ******

🙏🙏🙏 God bless you

2 years ago

Henrik *****

Onward tickets may be cheaper than changing a flex ticket.

Next time you want to stay in Thailand for a long period, start out with a 60 day tourist visa, which can be extended 30 days.

2 years ago

Bart **************

It's June 3rd now. You seem to have been to Thailand in the future.

Either way, I don't know where you got a 90 day maximum from, but I've never heard of it. You can stay longer than that before entry problems start. Normally you can reach double that amount without any issue, or even get beyond if you're lucky.

2 years ago

Tony ********

@Bart *************

there was a rule up until Fri this week on the Thai Gov MFA site, that visitors entitled to visa exemption could stay no more than 90 days in 180 under the scheme. Thats why airport immigration give people a hard time with 3 or more stamps and others with more sometimes don't get a comment. The 30 day extensions probably didnt count as there extension stays not excemption stays.

2 years ago

Bart **************

@Tony *******

ah, then that explains it. I do know of a few embassies also posting the rule but it was unrealistically strict so I never took that seriously. I think the norm is still that up to 180 days you're in principle okay. Including extensions that is.

2 years ago

Bart **************

@Graham *****

sure, but they both deal with the policy. One is the official informer and the other the executor. In the end it's MFA policy.

But agreed, you can't trust that the two are always aligned. Hence why I didn't take those warnings too seriously.

2 years ago

Graham ******

@Bart *************

The MFA controls the Embassies but not Immigration who decide whether to give you an entry stamp or not

2 years ago

Joe *******

@Bart *************

typo , my bad.

****

/24 was arrival date. Plan on getting retirement visa in Jan . Did not want to have any issues when I applied. Comment after yours says should have applied for 60 days and then got 30 days extension. Why I was thinking 90 days.

2 years ago

Bart **************

@Joe ******

well 90 consecutive days is true. For that you'd indeed have to get a tourist visa and then extend. In your case you can go to Laos and back without problem, and then also extend to get 120 days. Exiting again, you can get more. It'll stop at some point and you don't know upfront when that is, but at 60 or 90 days isn't likely, neither is at 120.

2 years ago