Answered2 years ago
Can I extend my stay in Thailand by doing border runs on a 60-day visa?
I’m here on a 60 day visa on arrival that is about to expire.
If I exit Thailand and come back a few days later will I get another 60 days? Can I keep doing that over and over ?
What other options do I have if I want to stay here long term?
If I exit Thailand and come back a few days later will I get another 60 days? Can I keep doing that over and over ?
What other options do I have if I want to stay here long term?
Answer summary
The user seeks advice on renewing their 60-day visa on arrival by exiting Thailand and returning, and whether this can be done repeatedly without repercussions. Responses indicate that while it may be possible to get a new 60 days after exiting, doing so repeatedly increases the risk of being interrogated or denied entry by immigration authorities. It's advised to explore long-term visa options for extended stays in Thailand, as relying on frequent border runs can lead to complications.
55 repliesnewest first
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Kool *******
As long as you follow a pattern of an actual tourist, and not someone trying to live here long term as a tourist, you'll be fine. That involves staying at least 5-7 days or longer in other countries surrounding Thailand, not the same place everytime either. There are lots of long term tourists that base out of Bangkok, traveling all over South East Asia, for years. As soon as immigration decides you are trying to stay here long term as a tourist they will refuse entry.
David ********
Take the Giant Ibis bus to Siem Reap, enjoy Angkor, then after a week or two come back. Get stamped in for another 60 while having enjoyed Cambodian hospitality. That way it doesn't look like you're doing a border run.
Willem ****
A acquaintance of me get denied entry yesterday comming back from Ireland after being there 3 weeks and before he stayed less then 90 days in Thailand on a 60 days exempt plus extension.
Maximizing your stay with back to back entries will eventually fail. Recently more people got denied entry even after just one stay.
Maximizing your stay with back to back entries will eventually fail. Recently more people got denied entry even after just one stay.
Max **********
OP@Willem ***
Did he have any prior visits before those initial 90 days?Willem ****
@Max *********
No. No history in Thailand.Todd *********
You can exit and come back immediately. Don't need to stay out for a few days. You can keep doing that until someone denies entry. But if you plan to stay longer than a 6-12 months, there are good visa options available. If just being a tourist though, you will be ok
David ***********
Depends on the Immigration officer. Sometimes they will deny you on your 2nd one. It is variable. The minute they realise you are not a tourist they will either warn you or deny you. If staying long term, you need a proper visa.
Todd *********
@David **********
nobody will deny you on second entry. At all
Shin *********
@Todd ********
Apparently an acquaintance of Willem didShin *********
@Todd ********
I guess I wasn't sure the guy stayed in Ireland or Thailand for 3 weeks but even then then it would have been the third time, which may raise some concerns for Thailand's frequenters.Todd *********
@Shin ********
no, they definitely did not. Read carefully and actually understandDavid ***********
@Todd ********
I got heavily questioned on my first entry because I had previously been on a retirement visa. It is going to get even tighter shortly as they try to stem the stream of people trying to get round the rules.Todd *********
@David **********
lol. The rules are built to be worked around. The agencies thrive in plain view. Getting questioned is irrelevant.
That’s officers doing their job. Something about you or your history was off for him. So you got interviewed. Just like any other country. And then, let me guess here, they let you walk in…
Conor *******
They will eventually reject you or begin asking you for more information (proof of funds, onward ticket, length of stay)
Ralph *******
Sooner or later immigration will probably stop you. There’s no set number of times you can do this but if they think you are abusing the visa exemption they will refuse entry.
If you want to stay longer then look at the other visa options, DTV for instance.
If you want to stay longer then look at the other visa options, DTV for instance.
Farang *********
Based on expat news reels on Facebook that the 60 day visa could be dropped although I beleive the tourist authority does not want to drop it. It was never meant to be used in this.way
Todd *********
@Farang ********
it's exactly meant to be used this wayFarang *********
@Todd ********
if you read a number of responses on this page it would appears IOs are raising some eyebrows even at 60+30, 60.Farang *********
@Todd ********
my history is very good. Never over stayed, never abused my visa terms in over 40 years. Right not the first visit. Although when they requested my flight booking they, two of them, seemed concened it was within four days of visa expiry. They caculated it out. Life is a little complicated at the moment and visa exempt is the easy path.Todd *********
@Farang ********
yes, it's not exactly rocket science. And IO's doing their job and due diligence is to be expected in every country. But obviously something about you or your history raised the eyebrow. It's most assuredly not 60+30, 60 that caused the issue. And your FB handle would indicate that it's not your first visit to Thailand.... I have good friends doing border bounces and visa runs since 2019. There are some nuances to learn about which airports, which border points, which consulates and how often, which agencies, when to use FastTrack services etc that one should figure out.Farang *********
@Todd ********
I am a frequant travellor and know exactly how to dress and act. So no issure there. Yes the IO at DMK did raise an eyebrow.Todd *********
@Farang ********
if you read the responses here you will not get any meaningful data. Many people here are the ones who have problems already and seeking solution. Millions of others have no issues, so simply carry on as they always have. There are ZERO eyebrows being raised at border bounces 60+30, 60+30. But obviously some people bring attention to themselves by their look, actions or history. Still many people here for years on border bounces, although the DTV takes some of them of them off that pathway
Max **********
OP@Farang ********
if it’s on Facebook it must be trueFarang *********
@Max *********
no, have yet to see it on Facebook which actually suprises me.
John ******
@Max *********
like everything is true on Facebook ha ha
John **********
You're not on a visa arrival. I suspect you are on a visa exempt stamp, this gives you 60 days on entry and you can extend it for 30 days at your local immigration office. What you can't do is to keep repeating this process as you will be denied entry sooner rather than later. If you want to live in Thailand buy the appropriate visa
Lynnette *******
@John *********
Also Max McIntyre thinks it's laughable to use correct terminology. Strange people.Lynnette *******
@John *********
I'm surprised Matthew Plymale hasn't ranted at you for saying that. 😉Lynnette *******
You're not on a visa. Or visa on arrival. You entered without a visa for a 60 day entry. Look up long term visa types. .
Matthew *********
@Lynnette ******
y'all people get so hung up this knowing exactly what they meant. Are you people that bored
Simon **********
@Mat****
if I had to guess who was bored, you would be my first choice.
Frank **********
@Matthew ********
wow really. Bringing family into this.Simon **********
@Mat****
make sure you fill the grave back in when you’re done. Dick.Matthew *********
@Simon *********
how can I be bored I am with your motherLynnette *******
@Matthew ********
not "hung up" on it. It makes a difference to accurate advice to say if you have a visa, NO visa, or are on a passport that receives visa on arrival of 15 days. You may prefer using the wrong words, that's up to you. No need to get angry and defensive.Lynnette *******
@Max *********
you carry on asking for advice after giving wrong info. Up to you. It's funny how so many guys prefer to use incorrect wording and defend it so angrily. 🤷Max **********
OP@Lynnette ******
Instead of providing useful information you just pointed the mistake in “terminology” which doesn’t make any difference in my legal status. You understood perfectly and didn’t get misled but your urge to correct someone is too much. That’s definitely laughable 🤣Lynnette *******
@Matthew ********
laugh at people using correct terminology so mistakes aren't made? Very strange attitude. But if being wrong and misleading people pleases you, that's your choice.Matthew *********
@Lynnette ******
I don't get angry I just laugh at your type
John *********
@Matthew ********
so far, I have refrained from being a fb spelling freak. It has been challenging though.Matthew *********
@John ********
I find it amusing that, initially, many kids were using abbreviated words, similar to a court reporter. Even now, I often struggle to decipher those shortened words.Max **********
OP@Matthew ********
The urge to correct people 👮♂️Matthew *********
@Max *********
it's bad as the fb Nazi spelling freaks.
Brandon ************
Yes you will get a new 60 days.
You can probably do it 1 time until they start interrogating you and warning you to get a visa. After that you're at a very high risk of being denied entry.
You cannot live in Thailand without a proper long-term visa.
You can probably do it 1 time until they start interrogating you and warning you to get a visa. After that you're at a very high risk of being denied entry.
You cannot live in Thailand without a proper long-term visa.
James ************
@Brandon ***********
i would leave for work for 4-6 weeks then come back for 2-4 weeks for over 2 years. No issues. But got a proper visa after. Him leaving for a day or 2 might be the red flag they look for. Idk.Brandon ************
@James ***********
everything has changed in recent months. And the immigration officers aren't stupid. Even people leaving for 3-4 months are getting pulled up nowJames ************
@Brandon ***********
i just came in last week without a visa lol. 2nd time this year. Working on visa now. I guess I've been luckyMax **********
OP@Brandon ***********
someone told me it’s unlimited times by air and twice by land border. Is that true?
Shaughn ***********
@Max *********
it’s sort of true, however in reality the IO’s at the airports in particular look at people’s recent history in Thailand over the past year. If you do more than 180 days in a past 365 day period then expect to be pulled aside and questioned
Von ***********
@Max *********
it is at the sole discretion of the Thai Immigration Officer you present to at the Immigration arrival hall.You can be lucky or not, the IO can look at your passport and work out what you have been doing easy enough and decide to flag you and not allow you re-entry.
I personally was in Thailand 3 times last year, 1st time was for a month and left, came back mid year stayed for 6 weeks and then back end of year for 5 weeks, was mindful that I may have been pushing my chances, but then again I was not staying for maximum visa exempt period.
Ant ***********
Tai **********
@Max *********
yes, until an immigration officer says otherwise.Brandon ************
@Max *********
there used be a limit of 2 by land but that ended when visa exempt increased to 60 days. There is no legal limit to either one now. But that absolutely does not mean unlimited. Every entry is at the discretion of the immigration officer and they have gotten MUCH more strict since it increased to 60 days. They now feel 60 days is enough time to be a tourist, especially with the 30 day extension. They frown on trying to get more than 90 days without a visa and you'll run into problems sooner rather than later. Many people experiencing issues on the very first time when leaving and returning.
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