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Have early DTV holders had negative experiences with immigration officers over multiple entry stamps?

Jan 16, 2026
3 months ago
Question for early DTV holders who have spent most of their time in Thailand:

Have any of you had a negative experience with an immigration officer upon arrival because of having many entry stamps on your passport?

I had an unusual experience today at Suvarnabhumi Airport, and it’s the first time this has happened to me. Until now, I’ve always said how smoothly things have gone since getting my DTV.

Today at the counter, the officer asked where my visa was and she (the IO), said I didn’t have one — I had to point it out in my passport. After that, she avoided eye contact and seemed visibly annoyed, speaking quietly in Thai in a complaining tone. When I said “sorry?” she ignored me.

She also hesitated for quite a while before stamping my passport, though she eventually did. My impression was that she might have been unhappy about the number of stamps I have with the DTV.

For context:

I spent most of 2025 in Thailand, but I left the country several times (from one week to one month each time). I have 4 entry stamps from 2025, and I also went to Immigration once to report my stay.

I’m sharing this because I’m not sure where this reaction came from. My understanding was that with the DTV you can stay most of the year, as long as you exit the country or report your stay as required.

So I’m wondering:

Has anyone else experienced something similar?

Or was this simply bad luck with an unhappy officer?

Thanks for sharing your experiences.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
An expat shared a concerning experience at Suvarnabhumi Airport, where an immigration officer initially questioned the validity of their DTV visa due to multiple entry stamps in their passport. Despite ultimately being let through, the incident raised questions about potential biases from immigration staff regarding frequent travelers. The post invites others in the expat community to share their experiences with immigration officers, particularly in relation to having multiple entry stamps, and whether such issues are common.
DTV VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
WhiteRa********
Next time simply present your printed out E-Visa along with your passport before they even ask.

If you have re-entry permit for (relevant for non DTV) then present your passport open on the page your existing permit/visa is.

Definitely invest a few $$ in laminating an A5 or passport sized coloured print out of your DTV visa and could even paper clip it to a page in your passport.

Would solve any potential issues.

Should the Thai Government ideally have issued a nice little laminated A5 card like sticker for you?- in an ideal world yes!
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Ian **********
So you didn't have print out for the IO to scan? You just pointed to previous entry stamps? How rude! No wonder she wasn't happy
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Adam *****************
Being a total nerd, I have an A5 laminated version of my Visa which I hand over with my passport. Never any probs at BKK
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Benjamin *********
No. Except if you went to problematic countries
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Kevin ******
Mummy she looked at me funny
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Anonymous ******************
Nope just stamped me in and asked no questions, i have tons of previous thailand stamps / other visas as well, so much fear mongering on here, we have a legit visa so dont worry
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Jari **********
What is your home country?
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Milan ********
They are sick and tired of all of the foreigners
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Jari **********
@Milan *******
At least for tourists from certain countries.
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Jari **********
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แดนนี่ ***********
Nope

Nothing negative at all

Everything completely smooth

And I constantly leave the country

Over and over

Almost every other week
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Winston ************
Your post does not make much sense. I'm assuming you mean you did NOT have a print out of your DTV? If I'm right then BINGO! Do whatever you want, but I've always preached that a print out has ALWAYS gotten me in with ZERO questions asked. Over 10 entries so far through BKK and DMK with zero questions asked.
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Andrew *******
@Winston ***********
agreed that was probably the issue, but like most IO around the world they should scold you or confront you directly instead of mumbling passive aggressive things under their breath.
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Andrew *******
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Nick *******
‘My impression….’ More scaremongering nonsense from an anonymous poster. It’s a multi entry visa - I have lost count of how many stamps I have. Never had a problem.
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Michael ****************
So let me get this straight…. Anon post for 1…. She looked at you a certain way but then stamped you. So you’re on here to figure out why she looked at you a certain way…. It didn’t go smooth but they didn’t deny you and didn’t make you leave… it didn’t go smooth because of how she looked at you? My question is what are trying to get out of this post??? HTF do we know why she “looked” at you???
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Nick *******
@Michael ***************
it’s ridiculous, scaremongering BS
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Christopher ***********
@Nick ******
He needs to retire from his trolling career.
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Christopher ***********
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Carrie ****
1. A lot of people are misunderstanding your post by the way it is written. It's written as if "I said I didn't have one" instead of "the IO said I didn't have one". I had to re-read a few times to understand that the IO pointed to your passport and SHE said you didn't have a visa.

2. I had the same experience with a female IO except I'm on a Non B visa. I've lived in Thailand for over a decade and have been in/out a lot. With a Non B, I've NEVER had any IO ask me if I've a visa because it's in their system so they can already see it.

I recently went on vacation and came back to Bangkok on the 1st of Jan. For the first time ever, the female IO not only asked if I have a visa, she didn't even bother to see that I've a visa and proper re-entry permit that she would've seen if she'd bother to simply look at her computer and my passport.

I now avoid any counters with a female IO.
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Anonymous ******************
@Carrie ***
same, my only issue was with a female IO. Wtf.
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Anonymous ******************
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Anonymous ******************
Sounds like you failed to show your DTV and only handed her your passport. Always present Passport + DTV. Make sure to have proof of accommodation, proof of sufficient funds, outbound flight ticket ready as well just in case they ask.
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Khun ******
No problems.
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Tapan ********
In trailing 12 months ie before applying for DTV, I had spent approx 7 months in Thailand.

DTV was granted and faced no issues at immigration while entering Thailand with DTV.
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David *******
You are overthinking this you sensitive little buttercup. Toughen up, be strong, post using your name instead of trying to create dissent and/or disharmony amongst DTV holders.
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Will ************
Always print a copy of your Evisa.
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Pierre **************
Difficult question ! 4 time entry with visa exemption in 2025 total 160 days ... never problem ...

Last week a friend first entry since April 2025 ... a lot of questions ... said next time have visa ... he don't understand why ... so ... I would say bad luck ...
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Toni *******
I dont see anything odd in your post however? You didnt show her your visa which meant for her she did to do some digging in the computer system, delaying the queue for all the other people? Maybe she just saw you as a difficult person, there are big signs saying prepare documents beforehand. Thats to make things go smoothly, its a busy airport, imagine everyone having to talk with the IO because no dococuments prepared
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Pete *******
Your reading to much into it, simple case of loss of face….
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Anonymous ******************
So you have one of the older dtv visa stickers? Maybe she missed it. No big deal. Maybe she had a bad day. You still got stamped in so no worries
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Ho ******
Yes, it's probably best in these cases to just let things go! Sabai sabai!
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Ho ******
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Toni *******
You said you dont have a visa, and pointed what in your passport? 😅 i lived here 100% last year (i came first time with dtv 31.8.2024 and been here ever since), did 3 sameday borderruns, never any questions as i handed them passport and dtv.
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Toni *******
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