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Can I return to Thailand on visa exemption after a long COVID extension?

Visa Exemption COVID Extension Thailand Immigration Rules Visa Types Return Ticket Requirements

Nov 22, 2022

2 years ago

Richard ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi I spent long time on covid extension in Thailand ( French passport) I leaved 3 months ago , can I come back now on visa exemption for 45 days + 30 days extension ?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user inquires about returning to Thailand on visa exemption after leaving three months ago, mentioning previously extended stay due to COVID. Comments provide insights on the 180-day rule regarding the total time spent in Thailand over the past year, the necessity of having a return or onward ticket, and reference to specific embassy guidelines for French nationals.

Richard ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

On the French thai embassy website they say not more than 90 days during the last 180 days

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Nuttree *******

You always can comeback to Thailand 🇹🇭 Khun Richard

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Richard ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Nuttree ******

thanks Zafe but immigration have rules

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Richard ********

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Bobby ********

There's no written 180 day rule, and there is no rule for a RETURN ticket. Your airline might ask for an ONWARD ticket out of the country - you will need to check with the airline you are flying with. How long were you in Thailand on covid extensions is more the question to consider.

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Michael ********

its on the IATA rules thats why airlines are problems

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Brandon ************

oddly enough there are a few embassies that use the wording "return" on their websites. I'm not sure that would ever be enforced but I feel like if an immigration officer was really reaching for a reason they could pull that out of their ....

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Brandon ************

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Olivier ************

if you have spent less than 180 minus 45 days ( 135 days ) in thailand over the course of the last 12 months there won't be any issue . they might ask for your return ticket which has to be no later than 45 days after your arrival date .

shall a 30 days extension put you over the 180 days limit the extension might be denied and you would be given at best a 7 days extension to put your affairs in order and leave the country .

this is from my personal experience having a lchat with an immigration officer at the border .

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Graham ******

@Olivier ***********

That 180 day rule is a myth

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Olivier ************

bro .

they counted the days front of me at poipet last week . see my reply to Todd above.

I thought as well it was a myth . just turns out it's enforced when they feel like it .

too many remote workers staying in thailand over covid who try to stick around explained to me the immigration officer

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Graham ******

@Olivier ***********

That washow that particular Immigration Officer demonstrated to you that he thinks you are cheating the system, he would be unable to show you such a law/rule

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Olivier ************

ok.

so it's not in thai immigration rules book ? interesting to know

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Olivier ************

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Todd *********

@Olivier ***********

there won’t be any issue at all

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Olivier ************

between covid extension and some bavk and forth on visa waiver 30 days I ended up at the Cambodian border trying to get in on a visa waiver

last week with 175 days spent in thailand over the last 12 months.

been pulled aside and grilled by immigration. ( I had over 20k in cash , flight out of Thailand 3 weeks later , proof I had income coming from oversea . that wasnot enough.

thankfully I managed to get a copy my thai marriage certificate otherwise I would have been sent back to Cambodia. and they let me in but been told to get a non 0 ASAP...

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Todd *********

@Olivier ***********

being ‘grilled’ by immigration happens often. My gf has been here 3 years. 6 months Covid amnesty and all 13 Covid extensions. Spent 3 days in Malaysia and returned, no questions asked. Immigration has a job to do, and each location/border point seems to handle things a bit differently

If married, you simply need to go through the process and get your Non-O and marriage extension.

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Olivier ************

yep I agree . depends on the officer on the day 8 guess.

fact is that 180 days rule can he applied if they want .

I was dressed properly. they did it even check if I was carrying 20k in cash which I was.

completely agree. I need to get my non o sorted. just wad easy to get in and out on a 30 days visa waiver .

hoping you don't run in any issues with your next border crossing 🙏🙏.

seem they are tightening things at the moment . or I just got very unlucky.

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Todd *********

@Olivier ***********

not sure what the ‘180 day rule’ is? Not aware of any such limitation in Thailand.

The marriage visa should be easy to get for you and makes movement very easy.

The challenge is that for a non-married couple with one partner over 50, there is no real ability to acquire a visa that fits. There are thousands doing visa runs and border bounces for years and years, sometimes it works out fine. If it ever becomes an issue, we will adjust accordingly 🙂

Always more than one way to skin a cat lol

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Todd *********

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