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Can I frequently visit Thailand for short stays on a tourist visa as a US airline pilot?

Dec 17, 2025

a day ago

I'm a airline pilot for a US Company holding a US Passport and i get 10 days off a month which i want to spend in Thailand could this be possible on a tourist visa/visa exemption entry. It would be monthly entry but short stays.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

It's feasible for a US airline pilot to visit Thailand monthly for short stays (around 10 days each visit) using a tourist visa or visa exemption entry. While many users have experienced no problems with such frequent visits, there are suggestions to be aware of potential scrutiny, especially after multiple entries. Recommendations include having return tickets, being prepared to explain your travel pattern to immigration, and possibly considering a multiple-entry tourist visa if concerns arise.

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Andy ******

Short time ok for the Thais ,long time is problem haha 😂😂

4 hours ago

Paul *********

Check if you qualify for LTR visa. Work from Thailand Professional

7 hours ago

Pierre-Paul ********

I can remember talking to a Scottish guy who worked on the oil rigs on a flight to Bangkok who said he used to work a month ( l think it was ), then two weeks in Thailand. This were quite a while back so it could have changed

7 hours ago

David *******

Hi Fed, I think technically you can. But like others have said, maybe after the

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/6th time they might ask you questions. I doubt that there is a visa for 10 days a month, so you fall into a grey area. You could ask your local Thai embassy the story seems perfectly acceptable it’s just wether an immigration officer might think you are here on “business” once a month?

To the group , if he gets 30 days on his first visit what happens when he comes back 20 days later ?

8 hours ago

Federico **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@David ******

yes this is what i'm thinking as well

8 hours ago

Reply to

Federico **********

EmeraldC********

My kids and i live in bkk and my husband lives in vietnam. He travels to see us once a month or so, staying 1-2 weeks each time on visa exemption. No issues so far. We have australian passports. As long as youre a tourist and not living here, that's fine

11 hours ago

Steve *******

Yes, you can come and visit for 10 days as many times as you want.

You don't need a visa.

You don't have to worry about being denied entry.

And you don't have to listen to the uninformed fear mongers.

You're coming here as a tourist and not trying to stay long term by staying 60 days and then leaving for 1-2 days before you come back.

11 hours ago

Ben ********

God everyone’s answers are so annoying,

You can enter on a 60 day visa exemption

Because you only want to stay 10 days you’ll be able to do that every month because in a year you won’t go over the 120 days

You can enter twice a year on visa exemption of 60 days total 60x2 =120 days , there’s extensions but don’t need to talk about that

11 hours ago

Frankie *******

Sorry u r only allowed 3 stays per year in thailand

11 hours ago

Ralph *******

@Frankie ******

No. There is no published limit.

9 hours ago

Reply to

Ralph *******

Tohksic ******

I do the same. Showing company ID automatically negates any questions they may have.

12 hours ago

Per-Arne ***********

I used to do it several times a month ( for years a long time ago )then got an extension of stay based on retirement with yearly extensions and now I moved on to LTR visa. Excellent option if you qualify.

13 hours ago

Bob **********

Yes

15 hours ago

Charly ***************

Ask ur airline

15 hours ago

Miguel **********

Don't they have special exceptions for airline pilots? Just call your embassy in Thailand instead of asking here or ask your company to help fix it

15 hours ago

Todd ********

@Miguel *********

there’s no exemption of any sort. How someone earns money at home has nothing to do with personal leisure traveling abroad

7 hours ago

Reply to

Todd ********

Jay *******

You can do visa exempt until they start questioning you. If they ever do you could then apply for a multiple entry tourist visa(METV). If you're only staying 10 days each time you should be able to make it work

16 hours ago

Wayne ********

Just to be safe why don’t you get a tourist visa multiple entry?

17 hours ago

Ben *******

All I can say is I think you will be fine until you are not. I did it six times in a year, and it was fine. So long as you are holding a return ticket.

17 hours ago

Kevin *********

Because of new immigration rules, I think it might be 2 entries a year via visa exemption (VOA).

Because of your pilot status, you might be eligible to enter more than twice. You can read the entry rules via Thai Immigration website.

17 hours ago

John **********

You will get away with it a few times then you risk being denied entry. For a guardian visa I'm not sure how that would work when you're not actually the guardian as you spend so much time out of Thailand. How old are you?

18 hours ago

Federico **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@John *********

18 hours ago

John **********

@Federico *********

get a 90 day Non-O visa based on retirement outside of Thailand and then extend for 12 months at an immigration office inside Thailand along with a multiple re-entry permit (you'll also need one for the 90 day non-o but can buy at the airport)

18 hours ago

Reply to

John **********

Guy ********

Try DTV you might be able to tailor what you have to fit their requirements, might be a gamble worth taking.

19 hours ago

Doug ********

Lots of good and lots of ba info here. I lived in Thailand 15 years. Many friend who worked oil or construction would fly in every, 15, 30 or 45 days for 7 - 30 days stay (no off days at work site). Never a problem. Also depends on country of passport. A problem if you continuosly stay 30, fly out, and return within a few days for another 30 days.

19 hours ago

VP *********

You can, no issue for short term stay. I was in an out of Thailand about 5 times this year (1week to a month each time) without any issues.

19 hours ago

Jared ********

*this year.

14 hours ago

Jared ********

@VP ********

I went 4 times last year. But the rules have changed.

14 hours ago

VP *********

@Jared *******

I guess it didn't effect me because I didn't stay long enough.

13 hours ago

Jared ********

@VP ********

yeah I've just done two weeks trips... contacted the embassy explained my pattern of travel. They told me only 2 visa exempt allowed per year now.

13 hours ago

Graham ******

@Jared *******

The Embassy is not Immigration, they are telling you the worst case scenario, every case is different and depends upon individual travel histories ;)

13 hours ago

Reply to

Graham ******

Dan *******

Check out the METV , it should work well for your needs. Either that or the DTV. You can go in and out with the visa exempt but they are being more stringent with that because of several problems associated with it. You would face scrutiny but given your profession and reason for visiting , it’s unlikely to be a problem. Just be prepared to answer the immigration officers inquiries and read up on the requirements for entry.

Hotel itinerary and cash on hand are the two big ones.

19 hours ago

Robin *******

You should be fine, but I would on my first 10 day visit, go to an immigration office and explain what you want to do, they will advise you,

19 hours ago

Terry *******

You won’t have a problem,just have a return ticket.I’ve been going regularly for 25 yrs.

20 hours ago

May ******

They mainly seem to be balking around the 150 days total as 180 days triggers tax implications.

You should be fine.

20 hours ago

Ralph *******

It should be ok if they are short stays. You don’t actually say how short though.

21 hours ago

Steve ********

@Ralph ******

He does , read his Original post , he states it clearly .

21 hours ago

Reply to

Steve ********

Paul **********

Expect scrutiny after a few visits. Thailand has been cracking down on repeat entries because it's an activity associated with various crimes. Also, don't expect any favours from your US passport when #47 is pressuring the Thai PM to a peace deal so he can win his precious Nobel Peace Prize when a) Anutin has people and territory to protect and b) the US is threatening punitive tariff regimes affecting Thai manufacturing industry much more severely than they would impact the Cambodian economy.