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Can I frequently visit Thailand for short stays on a tourist visa as a US airline pilot?
Dec 17, 2025
4 months ago
Federico **********
ORIGINAL POSTERI'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.
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 😂😂
Paul *********
Check if you qualify for LTR visa. Work from Thailand Professional
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
David *******
Hi Fed, I think technically you can. But like others have said, maybe after the
To the group , if he gets 30 days on his first visit what happens when he comes back 20 days later ?
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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 ?
Federico **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@David ******
yes this is what i'm thinking as wellReply to
Federico **********
Reply
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
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.
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.
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
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
Frankie *******
Sorry u r only allowed 3 stays per year in thailand
Ralph *******
@Frankie ******
No. There is no published limit.Reply to
Ralph *******
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Tohksic ******
I do the same. Showing company ID automatically negates any questions they may have.
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.
Bob **********
Yes
Charly ***************
Ask ur airline
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
Todd ********
@Miguel *********
there’s no exemption of any sort. How someone earns money at home has nothing to do with personal leisure traveling abroadReply to
Todd ********
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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
Wayne ********
Just to be safe why don’t you get a tourist visa multiple entry?
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.
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.
Because of your pilot status, you might be eligible to enter more than twice. You can read the entry rules via Thai Immigration website.
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?
Federico **********
ORIGINAL POSTERJohn **********
@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)Reply to
John **********
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Guy ********
Try DTV you might be able to tailor what you have to fit their requirements, might be a gamble worth taking.
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.
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.
Jared ********
*this year.
Jared ********
@VP ********
I went 4 times last year. But the rules have changed.VP *********
@Jared *******
I guess it didn't effect me because I didn't stay long enough.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.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 ;)Reply to
Graham ******
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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.
Hotel itinerary and cash on hand are the two big ones.
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,
Terry *******
You won’t have a problem,just have a return ticket.I’ve been going regularly for 25 yrs.
May ******
They mainly seem to be balking around the 150 days total as 180 days triggers tax implications.
You should be fine.
You should be fine.
Ralph *******
It should be ok if they are short stays. You don’t actually say how short though.
Steve ********
@Ralph ******
He does , read his Original post , he states it clearly .Reply to
Steve ********
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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.
Dennis **********
No problem , a friend works 2 weeks on 2 weeks off and spends the time off in Thailand so he goes 12 times a year
Marshal *******
Yes We can , We on the same boat . I do it every month , no question asked . Just have ur Crew cred
Dan *******
Great response. Thank you for helping Federico
Reply to
Dan *******
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Mitchell *******
I would bet you should have no issue with that setup. Pretty easy to tell you are not trying to live visa free.
If you are planning to stay with a local every time, you would need to know their address, and they would need to file appropriate forms to be fully legal. Not always checked for though. Booking a hotel for your first 2 nights would get around that issue usually, as the hotel does it for you automatically.
If you are planning to stay with a local every time, you would need to know their address, and they would need to file appropriate forms to be fully legal. Not always checked for though. Booking a hotel for your first 2 nights would get around that issue usually, as the hotel does it for you automatically.
Nairit *******
Get a tourist visa multiple entries or buy the Thai privilege card costs 20k USD excluding service fees for 5 years
Upadhyay *********
Get a multiple entry tourist visa
Todd *********
@Upadhyay ********
Absolutely useless in this case. Not neededJared ********
@Todd ********
literally what the thai embassy told me when I asked them about going 4 times a year to visit my partner. Get an METV.Todd *********
@Jared *******
if that’s what you feel you need to do, go right ahead. It’s only your time and money.Jared ********
@Todd ********
It's like $200... and it's not complicated. I mean if you literally ask the government and that's the advice they give me am I going to ignore that?Reply to
Jared ********
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Dan *******
As is yours.
"It's better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than open it and remove all doubt,"
"It's better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than open it and remove all doubt,"
Jared ********
@Todd ********
You actually seem like someone who thinks they're smarter than everyone else. What's the source of your apparently gold standard advice?Todd *********
@Jared *******
you seem to have all the answers you need. And you seem like an infantile prick. So be off with you. 👋Jared ********
@Todd ********
so you've got no source and result to insults.. who were you calling infantile?Reply to
Jared ********
Reply
Chester *******
The main issue will be how long in between the visits and if you go back to your home country after leaving
Donald **********
I used to do it with visa-exempt, frequently but not monthly. A couple of times I was asked how long the visit would be for and when I replied ‘maybe two weeks’ I was waved through with no further comment.
Todd ********
I’m a flight attendant /us citz been flying to Thailand 25 years for short stays each time until i got a retirement visa. It seems like they are after those that get extentions on visa exempt stays Even 10 days for 12 months is only 120 days. Seem flagged at 150 days.
Pauley **********
@Todd *******
how long is your retirement visa and what the requirements?Reply to
Pauley **********
Reply
Wannikea *********
Not a problem
Steve ******
I think you will be fine. If they ask you at immigration why you have been entering so much, simply tell them you’re a pilot and you like to spend your 10 days holiday in Thailand . And just be clean shaven dressed appropriately and I think you will be fine.
John *********
@Steve *****
all airline crew have to pass through a dedicated channel at immigration, no need to tell them you are a pilot 👩✈️ unless you are not on official duty and in uniform.John *********
Good answer 👌
Sean *********
@John ********
technically true but thats the GD line. Ive used it many times. This pilot is not entering on GD (which FYI the Thai AIP allows 60 days stay)Reply to
Sean *********
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Ronnie ****************
👏👏👏👏
Federico **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Steve *****
Thank you steveReply to
Federico **********
Reply
Cary ********
Thais change things every day.
Paul ***************
Not sure if you can do that 12 times a year .
Federico **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Paul **************
my children and wife are on Education visa and i can get a guardian visa but the first visa is a 90 day single entry until the yearly visa is givenFederico **********
ORIGINAL POSTERgood idea thank you i'll look into it
Zasha ********
@Federico *********
my husband is a US citizen retired FBI he got is Non-B visa for 1 year at Washington for $100 only why dont you do that ;Reply to
Zasha ********
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Nigel **************
Yes it should be possible, until an IO says it isn't any more. 😅😅😅😅
Jared ********
@Nigel *************
I recently emailed the thai embassy about this and their reply was limited of 2 visa exempt entries for the year and told me to get an metv.Nigel **************
Yeah but he is only staying 10 days at a time not 60 or 90.
Reply to
Nigel **************
Reply
Federico **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Nigel *************
Thank youBradley ***********
I read that it’s not amount of times you enter Thailand, the issue is I don’t think you can exceed over like 180 days in a year. One they see that many days you might get flagged
Reply to
Bradley ***********
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Paul ****************
Yes you can
Federico **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Paul ***************
Thank you PaulReply to
Federico **********
Reply
Phil ********
Nobody knows which Country you're from so nobody can answer.
JP **********
@Phil *******
I’m going to guess U.S. since he has a U.S. passport.Wayne ********
@Phil *******
can you read English? If not, you’re excused.Dan *******
And year you feel the need to snarly reply.
Robin *******
@Phil *******
come on Phil ease up on the day drinkingDave *********
Read the post again smart arse! US citizen.
Nick *******
@Dave ********
Irony is not your strong point smart arse. 🤣🤦Dave *********
@Nick ******
you w⚓️Reply to
Dave *********
Reply
Todd ********
@Phil *******
…er holding a US Passport(as written ) is a good clue 🤨 less me guess. US CITIZENPhil ********
@Todd *******
Err, you're a bit slow to the party. OP has edited it.
My message 6 hours ago, his edit 4 hours ago.
Todd ********
@Phil *******
if being on FB ****
is your idea of a party. No thanks. I guess ill never be a top contributor like you …but hell i’ll have fun in Thailand in other ways. Happy holidaysReply to
Todd ********
Reply
Nick *******
@Todd *******
Think he was being ironic, you’re American so you don’t get it 🤣🤦.Reply to
Nick *******
Reply
Federico **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Phil *******
US CitizenBobby ********
@Federico *********
yes you canReply to
Bobby ********
Reply
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