Does using a tourist visa for a border run count towards the 2 border run exemptions in Thailand?

@Kim ********

but what about people on bilateral agreements/visa waiver. They don't have a visa. Are they subject to the same ruling?

@Nigel ********

Nigel I can't answer that

@Kim ********

Let me answer it for you 😊 what Brendon wrote was "The limit of 2 is only for entries without a visa." Now Brendan knows his onions and is correct in most instances, but this time he's slipped up. Visa Exempt is not the only method of entering Thailand without a visa, there is also visa waiver open to countries who have a bi-lateral agreement with Thailand. These countries are not subject to the 2 land border entries rule. That is only for visa exempt. Why does it matter? Well Branden is normally correct in his advice and writes with some authority. People have confidence in his answer. Rightly so. However, being human, he can also make a mistake. Not a huge mistake, but, imagine if some friendly Russian wants to remain in thailand and wants to do yet another border run. They're (mostly) on visa waiver (although they can get visa exempt, just to confuse things), s/he would find Brendan's advice misleading. Hope that clears things up.

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

ok. Sure. But what about visa waiver. I don't think they fall under that ruling.

Or do they?

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

Not grey. They are not limited to two entries due to the bilateral agreement.

@Stuart ********

They grey area is those countries that can enter visa exempt or visa waiver. I'm not sure why that even exists and how one affects the other.

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

visa waiver is between Thailand and selected countries and then they have a bilateral agreements with other countries, eg, Brazilians can enter Thailand for 90 days and Thais can enter Brazil for 90 days. Visa exempt is offered on a unilateral basis over 50 countries ( I forget the actual number) without the same courtesy in return eg British get 30 days visa exempt while Thais need a visa. So, no grey area. Hope this helps. 💕

@Nigel ********

there is a grey area. There are a few countries that can receive both visa exempt and visa waiver.

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

well, it's not really grey though is it, they either get one or the other. If they get visa exempt they're subject to visa exempt rules. If they get visa waiver then they're subject to waiver rules. I don't know who chooses which one they get.

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

Hong Kong, Laos, Macau, Mongolia, Russia & Vietnam all get 30 days based on a bilateral agreement with Thailand. Up until today those entering with the ผผ.30 stamp could not get an extension. However as from today they can get a 30 day extension just as a visa exempt entrant would.

@Stuart ********

so from today Vietnamese passport holders when enter Thailand can get a 30 day extension?

@Ashley ****

yes

@Stuart ********

thank you vey much. I was trying to have my visa exempt extended last month but the officers said Vietnamese passport holders could only get a 7 day extension. Thank you for your info!

@Ashley ****

In your passport do you have a stamp that says “visa class” ผผ.30 or ผ.30. Easier for you to type pp.30 or p.30. Vietnam passport holders could in theory have either.

@Stuart ********

I currently have ผผ.30

@Ashley ****

Yes. That’s not visa exempt. That’s a visa waiver. A subtle difference but meant you were not limited to two land border entries in a calendar year, but couldn’t extend. The 7 day extension you mentioned is not an extension but a denial of one.

As of September 30th that restriction was lifted. You can get one extension of 30 days per entry.

@Stuart ********

appreciate the clarification

@Ashley ****

Changed as of September 30th.

@Stuart ********

so there's really no reason to ever use visa exempt for those countries that can use both

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

Not as of now.