Can I use multiple passports to extend my stay in Thailand beyond the visa exemption limits?

Jul 24, 2024
5 months ago
Garry *************
ORIGINAL POSTER
A hypothetical . Now the 60 day visa exempt you are allowed to enter Thailand 2x per year under this scheme. Now some people have 2 passports just say 1 British and 1 Australian can they enter 2x under British and 2x under Australian total 240 days.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion centers on the validity and implications of using multiple passports to enter Thailand under the 60-day visa exemption rule. Participants stress that despite the theoretical ability to enter Thailand multiple times with different passports, practical enforcement through biometric tracking (fingerprints and facial recognition) may lead to entry denial after a certain duration due to perceived abuse of visa rules. There's confusion about any stated limits on entries and the community shares experiences highlighting the risks of being flagged by immigration authorities, emphasizing that entries are ultimately at the discretion of immigration officers.
David ********
For those who want to stay in Thailand for up to 5 years, there is now a way. But just remember using this system will likely make you to be requited to pay Thai, tax.

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Andreas *********
I would assume that you will eventually be caught out misusing two passports, when they take your fingerprints at the borders.

A red flag will come up. And in the worst case, you can not only be refused entry, but also could get banned for a couple of years. So better BEWARE of your actions!

And what’s left to say about that little phrase “unlimited visa-exempt entries” ?

The phrase „unlimited visa-exempt entries by air” never held what it promised.

In the past, at a certain point, let’s say on the third attempt of doing a consecutive visa-exempt entry, on all airports you got pulled aside and questioned about your true intentions.

And you got warned that this would be the last time they allow you to enter without a visa that fits your purpose.

So pray tell, why would it have changed to “unlimited 60-days visa-exempt entries”? Based on only ONE report of a Filipino traveller about what he experienced at a Laos land border?

Why would now begin to think, that the phrase “unlimited” actually means unlimited entries by air and by land?

Each entry is still granted upon discretion of the Immigration officer at the border.

If an Immigration officer decides that you have stressed the visa-exempt entry long enough and “misused” it for achieving a longstay, there goes your “unlimited” down shit creek

I don’t want to put Tod Daniels’ assumptions onto a gold scale, but if you ask me, time will tell that your “unlimited entries” can indeed reach a final stage
KJ ********
Wait, how many land versus air entries do you get in 1 year? I'm going to embassy in Laos to get my non b visa, but in case anything goes wrong, I want to make sure I'll get back in? I've already entered twice by air this year 😪. It's so confusing
Keiton *****
I'm pretty sure that wouldn't work since they have your biometrics and they would refer to the same person, but is only my opinion, I might be wrong.
Rob *************
It’s a legality question and as long as you’re using the system without breaking any laws…what’s the problem? U know…like border runs!
Brian *******************
My god..
Brian *******************
Greta *****
You can also obtain a Russian passport and get 90 days visa exemption...No limit to 'creativity'
Peter ********
@Greta ****
and a free 15 years in a “hotel” nesr Moscow airport.
William *********
I have two passports, and I opened a bank account in Thailand with one of them many years ago but stopped using that passport as it was older and more worn out.

Years later and I have mostly used my second passport since then, and when I tried to go into Bangkok Bank on my last visit to Thailand they wouldn’t serve me unless I was stamped into Thailand on the passport I opened the bank account with.

(Stupid policy considering I had both passports with all necessary stamps and proof of ID/Blue Book etc but that’s another story lol)

So naturally on my next visit I tried to use my first passport to enter so I could access my account, and I was immediately flagged, dragged into a room, and threatened with deportation for what they perceived as me trying to do exactly what you just said.

Even after explaining that my only intention was to be able to access my bank account, they refused to recognise my first passport and only stamped me in on my second passport.

Moral of the story, having two passports doesn’t matter, your fingerprints and your face are the same and you’ll get flagged.
Wally *****************************
You can fly in from your country as many times as you want.
Frank-Steven ***********
@Wally ****************************
In theory: yes. In fact, the respective Thai law (the Thai Immigration Act of 1979) does not contain any hard limit on how many times or how much time per year one can spend on a tourist visa or visa exempt. That does not mean, however, that immigration officers will actually let you in unlimited and indefinitely. At some point, they will assume that you are not a tourist anymore and that you either don't have sufficient funds (Section 12.2) and / or that you must be working illegally while in Thailand (Section 12.3). Of course that is an unproven stretch at that point, but your options to appeal are limited and lengthy. Thus in effect, there is some sort of soft limitation and people have been stopped and sent back.
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Keiton *****
@Wally ****************************
But careful cause they are a bit more strict now , I just came from KL yesterday and they set me aside , asked few questions and required me to buy a return ticket and prove it , otherwise they were rejecting me. And I only have 2 stamps this year, both by plane, so just make sure you have your return ticket in case they ask.
Wally *****************************
@Keiton ****
Thanks In South Africa you are not allowed to fly to Thailand if you do not have a return ticket
Keiton *****
@Wally ****************************
Oh that's cool, in that case no changes for you .
Nick **********
@Wally ****************************
"There is no official limit" is not the same as "can fly in as many times as you want"

Different meaning.
Wally *****************************
@Nick *********
clever man
Rob *******
@Wally ****************************
No you cant. you can fly in as many times as the immigration officer decides
Wally *****************************
@Rob ******
sorry clever man Im talking the law..
Nongnuch ********
@Wally ****************************
there is no law that says that you can fly to Thailand from your country for an unlimited number of times. Read Brandon's replies to the threadstarter
Wally *****************************
Nongnuch ********
@Wally ****************************
this site you posted, thaiembassy dot com, is NO official Thai government website! They are full of BS. They post a LOAD of crap and wrong info on their pages! They are NOT up-to-date
Wally *****************************
@Nongnuch *******
thank you Mr Know ir all
Wally *****************************
Rob *******
@Wally ****************************
Your own incorrect & misinterprated version of the law 👍🏻
Wally *****************************
Wally *****************************
@Rob ******
fly to my home 4+ tomes a year for more than 10 years. Stop degrading Thai officials. One man going to do what? Put me back on a flight on his word
Nick ************
@Wally ****************************
and next time you might get refused entry.
Wally *****************************
Nick ************
@Wally ****************************
immigration is the law.
Sue **********
@Garry ************
could you please tell me/us where it says that with the "new" visa exemption you can only enter 2x a year? Thank you.
@Tony ********
may I ask you as well where it says that land border/visaruns are no more limited? TIA
Tony *********
@Sue *********
I read it here
Andy ************
Absolutely you can do that! Don't forget to change your facial biometrics and fingerprints before you do it! 😂.
John **********
Passports contain biometrics. Thai immigration uses biometrics. They can tell you are one person with two passports
Colin *******
@John *********
passports are linked in any case on immigration databases. Do you honestly think the world's immigration services are just bunnies playing cops and robbers?
Tony *********
Where does it say you can only enter 2x a year with the new 60 day visa exemption.

When they made it unlimited across land borders
Nongnuch ********
@Tony ********
I reckon the "unlimited 60-days visa-exempt entries" a week ago, was a misinterpretation
David *******
@Tony ********
it doesn’t
Tony *********
@David ******
So what's the OP talking about them spreading misinformation? 555
David *******
Aake **********
It doesn't matter how many sessions you have, the rules apply regardless. Fingerprints and facial photographs identify the person in question. There will probably be many questions at IM if you try to enter the country with different passports
Pete *******
@Aake *********
Not at all, I have 3 different passports and travel on them all the time. Never an issue with immigration in any country I’ve visited.
Kevin **********
@Pete ******
you can use 2 or 3 passports but there is only 1 you, they have clearly demonstrated that and discussed the fact with me at Thai immigration. I have 2 passports…..
Pete *******
@Kevin *********
not my experience
Kevin **********
@Pete ******
regardless, they know you are you, the fingerprints, dob, photo and name don’t lie. I guarantee there is only one of you in the Thai immi system. They rarely mentioned it to me as well but have asked a couple of questions. It’s no issue, but there’s only one @Peter Power, luckily.
Bob *********
Doesn't matter how many passports, unless you have 2 sets of finger prints, they will red flag you after 6 months
Kimberley *****************************
@Bob ********
surely they are using fingerprints for criminal activity not for what the above has mentioned
Brandon ************
The question is irrelevant as there is no "2x per year."

Previously visa exempt was limited to 2x per year at a land border and no limit by air. Now the land border provision appears to be gone as well.

Regardless of that, you cannot stay long term in Thailand on short term stays. They see your entire history when they take your fingerprints and after you've spent so many months in Thailand and leave and return continuously, you'll be stopped and questioned about what you think you are doing. At that point you'll likely either be warned to get a long term visa and allowed to enter one more time, or you'll be denied entry for abusing tourist entries while trying to live in Thailand.
Darragh ********
@Brandon ***********
According to the Royal Thai Embassy in London, the maximum of two visa-exempt entries still applies as before. However, I’m uncertain about the level of enforcement. This recent 60-day visa exemption is relatively new, and it remains to be seen whether it’s limited to twice per calendar year.

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Brandon ************
@Darragh *******
there is not and has never been a limit of 2 visa exempt entries. London and one embassy in Australia have put on this in their website but it's not a policy or a law. Embassies do not get to decide how many times you can enter Thailand. Embassies are under the MFA who also doesn't decide that. It's the immigration department who makes that decision and they are a completely different government agency. The two agencies don't even communicate with each other.
Darragh ********
@Brandon ***********
Oh, that’s comforting news. I appreciate your insight into the complexities of coordinating different government agencies in Thailand.
Patrick ********
@Brandon ***********
The problem includes me the visa is sometimes not clear and many people just guess this causes confusion..
Kieran *******
@Brandon ***********
hey, are you sure they’ve lifted the 2x land crossing rule?
Jørgen ********
@Kieran ******
Have just seen 2x per year on the thai embassy website of uk and Australia. Trust these a litte more than some fb-experts ;)
Lisa *******
@Jørgen *******
can we still come in on 60 days and extend inside the country? By 30 or
*****
days?
Brandon ************
@Lisa ******
You will receive a 60 day visa exempt stamp if you come without a visa. You can apply one time for a 30 day extension per entry.
Lisa *******
@Brandon ***********
so maximum of 90 days then?
Lisa *******
But if you leave and come back you get a fresh 60 !
Brandon ************
@Jørgen *******
there is not and has never been a limit of 2 visa exempt entries. London and one embassy in Australia have put on this in their website but it's not a policy or a law. Embassies do not get to decide how many times you can enter Thailand. Embassies are under the MFA who also doesn't decide that. It's the immigration department who makes that decision and they are a completely different government agency. The two agencies don't even communicate with each other.
Brandon ************
@Kieran ******
no. There was a report last week that someone was told the limit was gone at a land border and they got their 3rd entry. But I haven't seen additional reports. I'd wait and see on that
Nongnuch ********
@Brandon ***********
I reckon the "unlimited 60-days visa-exempt entries" was a misinterpretation
Braulio *********
@Brandon ***********
Why do people try to stay long term in Thailand on short term visa? Games are unnecessary....
Prince******
@Braulio ********
certain long term visas force rubbish health insurance (has to be thai company and my international insurance much better) and onerous cash deposit requirements (eg. I’d rather my 800k baht was invested in stocks); since I only want to stay <180 days per year, 2-3 visits, visa exempt/short-term visas seem better for me. Other people’s mileage may vary, this is just for my situation, everyone same same but different! 😝
David ********
@Prince******
Multi Entry Thai Visa. (METV) Provides entry for 6 months.
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