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

Thai Visa RulesVisa TypesEntry RequirementsImmigration AdviceExpat GuideTourist Visa
Jun 19, 2025
a month 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 individual seeking advice is uncertain about the visa requirements for their upcoming trip to Thailand, specifically regarding a short stay of 30 days. They were informed that they might need a proper visa due to previous entry issues but received conflicting advice that a visa may not be necessary for such a brief visit. They have two main questions: whether having an appointment with a visa agent in Thailand would help with entry and what their options are if they are refused entry at immigration.
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Sean *********
If your doing 3 months get a tourist visa (60 + 30days via immigration) for your long stay. You get in home country before fly. 30 day other holiday get your visa on arrival. Shouldn't be a problem
23 days ago
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Frode *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sean ********
 This is my main passport history. Been using the online tourist visa that you pay for. This is why I'm so confused what "propper" visa is. I have never intended to live in Thailand.
23 days ago
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Sean *********
@Frode ********
 definitely confusing,
23 days ago
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Sean *********
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Mike ******
Go to Vietnam. Everything is simple there. Thailand delights in overcomplicating things - it's a power trip. It's why tourism is fast disappearing here, so they introduce another hurdle - tdac.
24 days ago
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Tony *************
@Mike *****
 you are so right I left Thailand because my 60 days was up and I wanted to visit Laos. I’ve never been there spent four days there came back and they denied me entry even though I showed them a copy of my ticket leaving Thailand in four weeks time and photos of my house in Thailand et cetera. I just didn’t give a monkeys. Had to fly to England that night.
23 days ago
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Tony *************
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Marianne ********
Høres ut som du burde skaffe deg et turistvisum neste gang.

Hakket bedre enn visumfritak.

Avtaler med agenter er helt uten relevans og immigrasjon offiserene vil ikke bry seg om det i det hele tatt.
25 days ago
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Frode *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Marianne *******
 Men jeg har primært brukt turist visa og ikke visa fritak.
25 days ago
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Marianne ********
@Frode ********
 Kanskje et multi-entry turistvisum hvis periodene faller innenfor 6mnd.
25 days ago
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Marianne ********
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Todd **********
PI you can go..
25 days ago
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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
25 days ago
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Graham ******
Why can't you just get a Tourist Visa to cover your 30 days? Also carry
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B cash, your flight ticket out of Thailand and proof of accomodation when entering.
25 days ago
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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.
25 days ago
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Graham ******
You've been told to get the correct visa so for a 30 day stay a Tourist Visa is the correct visa
25 days ago
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Graham ******
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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 that makes sense anyway from immigration, nice people.
25 days ago
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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.
25 days ago
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Tony *************
@Brandon ***********
 was you refused entry then?
25 days ago
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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.
25 days ago
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Tony *************
@Brandon ***********
 and yet they keep saying. They want more tourist.
25 days ago
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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.
25 days ago
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Brandon ************
@Tony ************
 tourists are not trying to live in Thailand. Tourists visit and then go elsewhere
25 days ago
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Brandon ************
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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 month ago
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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
25 days ago
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Aaron *********
@Jordan ****
 Does that mean for ASEAN it’s fine however many times? I’ve never heard about any problems from my country Malaysia getting into Thailand officially since we share a border and we are also currently the largest tourist percentage at the moment
25 days ago
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Jeremy ********
@Jordan ****
 I never said unlimited…please stop fabricating words I did not write

I said there is no official limit…that is it
25 days ago
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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
25 days ago
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Jeremy ********
@Jordan ****
 it’s not the same you just fabricate false words creating false news
25 days ago
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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
25 days ago
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Jordan *****
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John **********
A tourist visa is better than trying visa exempt but is not a guarantee of entry.
25 days ago
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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
25 days ago
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John **********
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Ruud ******************
Buy a visa which covers you need and you will have no problem at all
a month ago
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Frode *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ruud *****************
 As far as I know, buying
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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.
25 days ago
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John *******
@Frode ********
 why do you think a tourist visa is looked at like a visa exemption?
25 days ago
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Frode *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John ******
 I read a few places that they not accept Online Tourist Visa as well if having to many entry pr year. I used this many times in the past as well. Only use exemption after they changed to 60 days. Before always 60 days online tourist visa. And only used 1x land border crossing by air pr year, to stay 90 days.

My history is every year, for 5 years about 90 days stay in January to April. And randomly a 4-6 week stay in October. Most with Online Tourist Visa. So I'm confused when they stated I need propper visa next time. Had me sign a paper note written in Thai.
25 days ago
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Frode *********
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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 month ago
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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.
25 days ago
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Graham ******
@Frode ********
 You get your visa to enter Thailand not enter with the "promise" that you'll get a visa
25 days ago
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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.
25 days ago
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Brandon ************
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