Answered3 years ago

How many times can a US citizen extend their visa exempt stay in Thailand before needing a visa run?

Visa Extension US Visa Exempt Thailand Immigration Tourist Visa Visa Run Visa Regulations in Thailand

John ********

asked Aug 9, 2023

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Question about visa extensions. I'm visa exempt from the US. I thought I could only get one extension for a total of 60 days before having to do a visa run. But I read a post on here where someone was doing a run to get another "90 days." 

How many times can I extend for a total of how many days before having to do a run?

Answer summary

A US citizen can initially enter Thailand visa exempt for 30 days and can extend that stay for an additional 30 days, totaling 60 days before needing to leave. After that, one option to extend further is to execute a visa run, which involves exiting and re-entering Thailand, allowing another 30 days. Alternatively, obtaining a tourist visa prior to entry grants an initial stay of 60 days, extendable by 30 days in Thailand, totaling 90 days. While anecdotal concerns about maintaining a limit of 6 months in Thailand per year arise, there are no official rules regarding maximum total days allowed for tourists; this varies by individual circumstances and immigration officer discretion.

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Chris ******

Can anyone explain if there's a limit on total days allowed in the country each calendar year? I heard 6 months.. is this true?

3 years ago

Brown ********

@Chris *****

I've been told it's the case if they are all visa exempt entries but then told also it's not in the rule book but immigration officers will use it to deny entry which is bollocks.

3 years ago

Geoff **********

@Brown *******

even if you have a visa your admission into Thailand is always at the discretion of the individual IO officer so they can refuse you entry (its the same in most if not all countries of the world)

3 years ago

Aaron ******

@Chris *****

it is a grey area based on the total situation and the specific border agent you talk to.

One is not supposed to “live” in Thailand on visa exempt or tourist visas. But clearly there are those who do.

So there is no specific amount of time in the kingdom that sets them off. On paper there is no rule/law about how long on can stay in the Kingdom as a “tourist”.

In practice it varies a lot.

We have heard stories of people who did loads of covid extensions that now face issues when they enter even if they have been outside the Kingdom for months.

The “6 month rule” is something that some mention for those who are nomadic but spend significant time in the kingdom. Basically those who make Thailand their home base but spend about half their time outside the country.

And IMO it is a good way to look at it if you are not living in Thailand. But spending 6 months every year in Thailand might still get the attention of the immigration agent. I’ve heard stories from those who had that happen.

If someone truly wants to live in Thailand they really need to find better visas. Being on tourist or exempt will always be a risk.

And as we saw with covid extensions and education/volunteer visas (in regards to Elite visa application issues at least) even the “right” visa can be an issue retroactively if they think you abused the system to live in Thailand.

Loads of grey areas and each person has to decide how much they want to play in them.

IMO outside of work, marriage, retirement, and maybe the Elite long term “living” in Thailand will always be a grey area.

3 years ago

Chris ******

@Aaron *****

thank you for the thorough explanation

3 years ago

Stuart *********

@Chris *****

its sometimes spouted by immigration officers that that’s the case but there is no rule on number of days.

3 years ago

Dave ******

Get a tourist visa in the US for 60 days, then can extend 30 days in Thailand for a total of 90 days.

3 years ago

Stuart *********

If you entered exempt you got 30 days and can extend that once for 30 days.

A border bounce where you just exit and re-enter Thailand would give you another 30+30 days.

A visa run would be where someone goes to a nearby consulate and buys a tourist visa, and that would give them 60+30 days. Perhaps this os where you saw the 90 days mentioned.

Alternatively a few countries like Brazil and Chile and so get 90 days on entry with no visa. If they bounce they get a further 90 days.

3 years ago