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How long can I stay in Thailand with tourist permits by leaving and re-entering?
Jul 7, 2023
3 years ago
Jorge *****
ORIGINAL POSTERI know it depends of the imigration officer, but i want to have an idea about how much time aproxly can i spend in thailand with tourists permits leaving and re-entering.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The duration you can spend in Thailand with tourist permits largely depends on the discretion of the immigration officer. There is no strict rule like the 180 days in a year commonly suggested, but after prolonged stays—typically around the 6-month mark—issues may arise. Expats have shared experiences of successfully using tourist visas and extensions for up to 222 days. Strategies like obtaining a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) can maximize your stay, allowing for nearly nine months with effective planning. However, entering Thailand multiple times on tourist visas without returning home may trigger scrutiny from immigration, requiring proof of onward travel and sufficient funds.
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Frank **********
If you dress like some of the foreigners I have seen at immigration, they may not let you in. I'm talking 50 baht flip flop and a beat up old tank top looking like they crawled out of a cave. 5555
Kool *******
When you reach a year of using tourist entries, and have never returned to your home country, and don't show a pattern of actually being a tourist when you visit other countries, they will become highly concerned about you needing an actual long term visa, and can start enforcing entry details, like having bt20,000, and an onward flight out of Thailand, and be fully aware that they know all about the websites that sell fake plane tickets, like onwardtravel, and other such sites. They get very serious after you pass the one year mark, and can refuse you entry even if you have an actual tourist visa.
Jorge *****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Kool ******
i have reached more than one year but splited in a period of almost 10 yearsJorge *****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Kool ******
365 days inside the same year with tourists entries?Reply to
Jorge *****
Reply
Roberto *********
If you qualify for a METV you can legitimately get almost nine months in the country with two strategic border bounces. All above board. It's the longest tourist stay you can get without having to worry about immigration officer mood swings
Roberto *********
@Jorge ****
Multiple Entry Tourist VisaJorge *****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Roberto ********
what is metv?Reply to
Jorge *****
Reply
Alistair **********
Using back to back visa exemptions/tourist visas the 6 month mark is a reasonable guide for when you might start encountering issues. You will probably be warned first rather than being outright rejected. Something like get the right visa next time or this is last time for a while, etc.
If you're just wanting to holiday frequently or you're a FIFO worker, etc, you've probably got a lot more leeway. As you don't look like someone trying to live in Thailand on tourist visas.
If you're just wanting to holiday frequently or you're a FIFO worker, etc, you've probably got a lot more leeway. As you don't look like someone trying to live in Thailand on tourist visas.
Jorge *****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Alistair *********
the last time i emtered (starting a 3th month, the imogration started to ask me how long i was goimg to stay and if i was going to come back.Is it better to choose a man in imigration queue?
Alistair **********
If you're looking for the best way to maximise your stay here. Then look into getting a METV which can give you up to 270 days if timed perfectly.
Reply to
Alistair **********
Reply
John *******
You already answered your own question keep going back until the IO says no
Mike ********
I’m back in uk after 222 days in thailand, 60 day tr Evisa and 2x border bounces and 3 extensions,.
John **********
@Mike *******
that doesn't add upMike ********
@John *********
arrived nov 25th 2022, departed 4th July 2023,. Benefitted off the 45 day first extension and another before it finished in march, all adds up to 222 days in total, I lost a few days here and there by border bouncing early a couple of times,.John **********
@Mike *******
are you confusing terminology? The 45 days was an entry stamp not an extension.Mike ********
@John *********
sorry, I think I had a 45 day border bounce in Mae sot, all legit, it was a bit of juggling match as to when to do what, dates wise to tie in with travel/flight dates etc,.Reply to
Mike ********
Reply
Jorge *****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Mike *******
all that in the same year?Mike ********
@Jorge ****
see below,.post, no issues on any extensions or bounces,I was advised to get a retirement visa by immigration to make things easier on my return to thailand next time,.Reply to
Mike ********
Reply
John *********
Guaranteed 30+30 extension. Go out come back do it again. After that you can depending on several things, none of them technical, up to the discretion of the immigration officer :-)
Brandon ************
@John ********
I'd say this is very correct "IF" they don't have a covid extension, education visa or volunteer visa in their passport.John *********
@Brandon ***********
Brandon. I'm no expert on the technicalities of Thai visas. My missus sorts all that because her Thai is far superior to mine but I've managed to come and go for a while now and can discern a question from someone who wants to know how long a bloke can holiday in Thailand without too many formalities and a bloke who wants bureaucratic details.Reply to
John *********
Reply
Brandon ************
I'll say this. There's no 180 days within a year rule that many places say is a rule.
BUT some immigration officers do use this as their method of judging if someone has been spending too much time without the proper visa.
BUT some immigration officers do use this as their method of judging if someone has been spending too much time without the proper visa.
Brandon ************
Fly out and in and get your 2-3 entries. Then use land border bounce agencies to get your 2 allowed land border visa exempt entries to get an extra 120 days. After that you're done being allowed in for the most part.
Jorge *****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
why mix fly and land? Is not easier everything by land?Brandon ************
@Jorge ****
you're only allowed to enter 2 times visa exempt at a land border. The land border agencies will guarantee that you can leave and re-enter. So best to get the easy ones when you don't expect to get questioned by immigration done at the airport and then let the land border agencies handle the sketchy entries. If you do the land entries first you lose the ability to do that.Jorge *****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
other thing, if i am denied one time entering my myself, can i come other day and request again the entrance?Brandon ************
@Jorge ****
if you're denied at a land border you'll be told you cannot enter by land and will have to go to the airport and fly to Thailand. But your odds of entering at the airport with a denied entry stamp in your passport might not be very good.Jorge *****
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
ok perfect, only two land per calendar year.How much is usually the cost for that? Is it in cambodia? Do i have to pay visa for cambodia too? Any agency is good?
Brandon ************
@Jorge ****
the agencies usually go to Laos as the land borders with Cambodia are very unfriendly and can cause issues. I'm not sure of the cost. Maybe 5000+Reply to
Brandon ************
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