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Do I need a visa for a 30-day trip to Thailand, and what happens if I’m denied entry?

Visa Requirements Entry Regulations Tourist Visa Travel Plans Immigration Issues Border Runs

Jun 19, 2025

a day ago

Frode *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I was told on last entry that next time I arrive I need a propper visa.  But got a bit conflicting information, when I asked that my next trip will only be for 30 days before return to Norway. Then I was told no I don't need for this short trip.

I stay 60-90 days in vinter months, and 30 days in September/October.

I have 2 questions: 

Will they give entry if you have appointments with visa agent in Thailand? Even just short time. As I'm not sure I can trust the statement that I can enter if only staying 30 days.

Second question: If refused entry, can I just book a flight to Philippines and stay there instead for the duration I had plan in Thailand? I really don't want to have to travel back to Norway just to book new trip.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The inquiry revolves around whether a visa is required for a short, 30-day trip to Thailand, following conflicting advice about previous entries. The user expresses concern about being refused entry and seeks clarification about booking a flight to another country, such as the Philippines, if denied access to Thailand. Comments highlight the importance of obtaining a proper visa, the potential consequences of being denied entry, and confirm the necessity of meeting other entry requirements, like having sufficient funds and proof of onward travel.

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Todd **********

PI you can go..

19 hours ago

Bob **********

Yes the IO felt like your trying to live in Thailand on FREE exempt stamps you should apply for a tourist visa on the e visa system doesn’t matter if you stay 2 weeks they want to see a visa

21 hours ago

Graham ******

Why can't you just get a Tourist Visa to cover your 30 days? Also carry

*****

B cash, your flight ticket out of Thailand and proof of accomodation when entering.

a day ago

Frode *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Graham *****

I hear that Tourist Visa bought online is looked at like visa exemption. And I always carry 20k and have accommodation documentation. From my uncle that lives there or hotel. I only read that many are getting denied entry atm that have been doing border runs.

a day ago

Reply to

Frode *********

Tony *************

You can fly to wherever you want to go with a dismissive wave of the back of the hand from immigration and fuck off farang you’re not welcome. And chances are you’ll get bugger all explanation. Or one makes sense anyway from immigration nice people.

a day ago

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

@Tony ************

you do not get to choose where you will fly. They choose for you. Either back where you came from or your passport country.

a day ago

Tony *************

@Brandon ***********

was you refused entry then?

21 hours ago

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

@Tony ************

No, but I've read many, many reports of people who were and they are all the same. The person is taken to the lockup room and held there until they purchase a ticket back to where immigration tells them to. Whether that is back to where they came from, or back to their passport country. They are not given a choice of where to purchase the ticket to go. They are not given their passport. Their passport is given to the airline when they board the flight and they don't get it back until the plane lands.

21 hours ago

Tony *************

@Brandon ***********

and yet they keep saying. They want more tourist.

20 hours ago

Lynnette *******

@Tony ************

of course they want more tourists. But people with no visa trying to live in Thailand using exempt entries and border bounces aren't genuine tourists.

17 hours ago

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

@Tony ************

tourists are not trying to live in Thailand. Tourists visit and then go elsewhere

20 hours ago

Reply to

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

Jeremy ********

There is no official limit on stamping into Thailand via air land or sea

You just experienced a bad travel encounter but we’re still stamped in

a day ago

Jordan *****

@Jeremy *******

at Poipet the police said two months ago they are not stamping in anyone from outside of ASEAN countries more than twice a year and I never saw any official Thai document that says the rules changed to allow unlimited land entries.

Also people keep being told the same thing even at Nong Khai

a day ago

Jeremy ********

@Jordan ****

I never said unlimited…please stop fabricating words I did not write

I said there is no official limit…that is it

21 hours ago

Jordan *****

@Jeremy *******

no official limit is the same as unlimited entries if they want to stamp you in, so I don’t know why you get offended for some meanigless word, Jesus Christ

21 hours ago

Jeremy ********

@Jordan ****

it’s not the same you just fabricate false words creating false news

20 hours ago

Jordan *****

@Jeremy *******

unlimited is the same as no official limit on entries, no difference in meaning, so I did not “put words in your mouth”, or create “false news”. Go grab a dictionary if you can’t understand simple words

20 hours ago

Reply to

Jordan *****

John **********

A tourist visa is better than trying visa exempt but is not a guarantee of entry.

21 hours ago

John **********

@Jordan ****

there is an official document removing the 2 land entries per year rule but that is not the same as unlimited. Land entries are now treated in the same way as entries by air, every entry is at the discretion of the immigration officer you stand in front of

21 hours ago

Reply to

John **********

Ruud ******************

Buy a visa which covers you need and you will have no problem at all

a day ago

Frode *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Ruud *****************

As far as I know, buying

*****

days Tourist Visa, single and multi entry, online is looked at like a visa exemption. I have zero plan atm to stay all year, or move to Thailand. So that eliminating rest of the visa that requires transfer

*******

k to bank.

a day ago

Reply to

Frode *********

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

What does appointment with a visa agent mean? That has nothing to do with you getting into Thailand or not.

If you're denied entry you'll be sent back to where you came from 80% of the time. Back to your passport country 19% of the time. Or to anywhere you choose 1% of the time.

a day ago

Frode *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Brandon ***********

I was told I needed to get a "propper" visa next time. Although I don't know what that actually means, because a 60 days tourist visa (online) + 30 days extension covers all my need. And second trip just a

*****

days visa. So if they want to force me to have a different visa, can I fix it throu agent. Last trip I did a trip to Vietnam instead of immigration because I wanted to look how it was to change from Thailand to Vietnam. I guess they think I'm doing border bounce just for extra extension. Last year I did same to Malaysia. Both Malaysia and Vietnam is off my list. Unless they want to force DLT or Retirement visa on me.

a day ago

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

@Chris **********

Dozens of people are being denied entry daily for exactly that reason. After they switch visa exempt to 60 days, they no longer like people using it often. And they are denying a LOT of people because of it.

21 hours ago

Reply to

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

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Will I be denied entry into Thailand after a recent long visit and subsequent short stay?

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