How Many Times Can I Enter and Leave Thailand in a 12 Month Period?

Dec 22, 2024
3 days ago
Gary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
How many times can I enter and leave Thailand in a 12 month period?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
There is no officially set limit on how many times a person can enter and leave Thailand in a 12-month period. The frequency of entries largely depends on the discretion of the immigration officers and the type of visa held. Tourists using visa-exempt entries may face scrutiny if they appear to be living in Thailand rather than visiting as tourists. While some users report being able to enter multiple times without issues, others note that excessive border runs can lead to questioning or denial of entry. Additionally, the 180-day rule cited by some is considered a myth, as there are no official regulations enforcing it. Essentially, travelers should be prepared for immigration officers to evaluate their travel history and intentions.
Kelvin ******
Ask this question at passport control and you will know :-)
Greta *****
Maximum of 365. If you get in and out every day
Man *****
@Greta ****
how about twice every day?
Greta *****
@Man ****
That's not allowed
Sab *****
If you stay 2x the max days, expect to be questioned the 3rd time. Happened to me and many others.
Endre ********
I got a warning at the airport when I arrived the 3 time this year after my 2 border runs to Laos 😢
Asahi ******
@Endre *******
what was the warning ?
Endre ********
@Asahi *****
they put a notification in the computer that without a proper visa they not let you in the country next time at least you most be in a other country for 6 months before they let you in on visa exemption again
Dave *********
@Endre *******
that’s completely untrue, don’t know where you got that from. Every entry to Thailand is at the judgement of the IO
Endre ********
@Dave ********
it was the immigration officer who gave it to me in October don't write it's untrue because you don't know anything you must be stupid if you think io don't put a notification in the computer
Dave *********
@Endre *******
have you ever seen this notification in the computer?
Endre ********
Not in the computer only see him typing when I was in the room
Daniel ******
With Multiple Entry Visa unlimited!
Tin **********
180day
Gary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tin *********
yes but how many entries are permitted in the 180 days
Tin **********
@Gary *******
2 land air unlimit
Sab *****
@Gary *******
i recommend no more than 2 especially if you stayed 30 days or more per entry.
Simon *******
Don't forget the visa exemption is supposed to be changing in the new year if it happens, you will have to apply on line for a 60 exemption before you arrive it's called the ETA
Baz *********
Until the immigration officer you are dealing with on the day of entry decides you are no longer a genuine tourist and then refuses to grant entry..

Good luck 👍
John ************
Untill you are stopped by immigration.
Patrick ********
No limit
Phil ******
@Gary *******
depends on your Visa and the IO
Jay *******
Technically you are not supposed to exceed 180 days in a 365 day year cycle. However some people say they are rarely rejected going beyond that
Gary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jay ******
not looking for maximum days I can stay. Maximum number of entries
Santana *********
@Jay ******
The 180 days is a local tax issue.
Steve *******
@Jay ******
Technically that's Incorrect. There's NO 180 days in 365 days rule!
Brandon ************
@Jay ******
there is no 180 day rule. Technically or not. That's a myth
Jay *******
Rodney ********
@Brandon ***********
how do you know this

Just dreaming
Brandon ************
@Rodney *******
because no government agency has ever published a rule that says this. That's how rules work. They're published to be in force.
Rodney ********
@Brandon ***********
so in other words it's your rule applies

You know nothing
Cissi *********
@Rodney *******
Brandon knows a lot! And like he writes it's a myth. It likely comes from the fact that if you stay more than 180 days in ANY country you are considered to be a tax resident in that country.
Brandon ************
@Rodney *******
in other words it's whatever each individual immigration officer decides. That's what we always say because that's what the law says. There is no 180 day rule. It's until they decide to not let you in.
Brian *********
Whilst on business I one came 9 times without an issue - but that was a few years back not sure if it changed. The visa rules change like the wind in this country - it’s a huge industry.
Cissi *********
If you stay 2-3 days each time, probably 20+ times... if you try to live in Thailand on visa exempt, just doing border bounces, you will get stopped sooner or later. There are no rule/law that regulates this. Also there are no specific for a calender year and no reset at new year. The IO check the combined travel history in your passport and if it looks like you're trying to live in Thailand without a visa, you will eventually be denied entry. If your travel history shows that you are a genuine tourist, there's no need to worry or count entries.
Rene ******
@Cissi ********
20+ ? They might think you're a smuggler or whatsoever
Cissi *********
@Rene *****
that is possible of course!
Gary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Cissi ********
I'm there for 3 weeks. I have a friend in Laos and a friend across the river in Thailand. Literally 5km apart
Todd *********
@Gary *******
for a 3 week vacation, you have absolutely no worried. Come and go as you wish
Luit *****************
@Todd ********
unless of course they find the frequent travel suspicious.
Cissi *********
@Gary *******
that should not be any problem, bouncing back and forth during your 3 weeks.
Gary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Nate ******
I saw video on YouTube today , one guy was arrested for many visa on approval entries. In Thailand
Rene ******
@Nate *****
you have a link? In your account is the "watched"-list
Luit *****************
@Nate *****
Is visa on approval a new type of visa?
Phil *******
Depends on what visa you have. . . With the right visa as many as you want or at least until your passport is full of stamps.
Todd *********
@Phil ******
there is no limits
Phil *******
@Todd ********
Depends. On the visa
Todd *********
@Phil ******
they are talking about visa exempt entries.’
James *******
As many times as you want that's not your country
Nelson ****
Legally ?
Xjwhudkwhry ********
Only you can tell us, after you try ;)
Matt **********
Just depends how long you stay here per visit. After a 60 day and 30 day extension visa, they start to pay a bit more attention to you. I was stuck at Suvarnabhumi Immigration for an hour yesterday getting things sorted. General rule to follow is that you need to be outside of Thailand more days that you’re inside Thailand.
Rene ******
@Matt *********
so you flew back in after 60+30 and got already roasted?
Matt **********
@Rene *****
yeah, after i explained to them my dad holds a thai elite visa, they gave me another 60+30 lol
Ryan **********
@Rene *****
yeah that seems strange. My best friend stayed here for 8 months via visa runs before deciding to get a job and a work visa.
Михайло ********
@Matt *********
that's why I advise to use agent's assistance before crossing the border in Suvarnabhumi Airport - to avoid any troubles you described
Amos **********
With Dtv visa, no limit
Gary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Amos *********
dtv? What is this abbreviated from?

Cheers
Alian *************
@Gary *******
Destination Thailand Visa
Gary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Alian *************
@Gary *******
To apply for a Destination Thailand Visa (DTV), you'll need to provide the following documents:

Passport: A valid passport with at least six months remaining validity and at least one empty visa page

Photo: A recent color photo with a white background, taken within the last six months

Visa application form: A completed visa application form

Financial evidence: Bank statements or a sponsorship letter showing a balance of at least 500,000 THB in the last 3–6 months

Proof of current location: Documents confirming your current location

Purpose of visit: Supporting documents that align with your intended purpose of stay

Employment: A letter of employment confirming your position, work status, and salary

Business license: If you're self-employed, a business license or business registration
Cissi *********
@Alian ************
you should have stopped with "Purpose of visit: supporting docs that align with your purpose of stay." Then it would describe any DTV-application. (Employment and business licence is not for any of the soft power options.)
Jordan *****
They granted us Visa exemptions without mentioning how many days we can spend there as tourists. I usually do 4 months a year (easier now with the 60 day stamps) and it seems to work, but some people get trouble at the border even after a second visit because some random guard does not believe they are “genuine tourists” as it you could measure such a thing.
Bonnie *********
@Jordan ****
Why not get a legal visa, then no problem.
Gary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bonnie ********
I'm there for 3 weeks total. Happy to get the right visa for the time I'm there & Max entries. But which one allows this???
Bonnie *********
@Gary *******
It's best to read the information found on the Thai Embassy website for your passport country. After that, if you need more information, provide salient information instead of having people guess at what you need or are asking.
Gary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bonnie ********
I stated how many times can I enter in a 12 month period. Majority of replies are length of maximum stay. You were no different but proceeded to argue as well. People don't read anyway. They only respond what they choose. Meanwhile I've already got the answer from an admin. Enjoy your arguments
Bonnie *********
@Gary *******
Dude, you didn't say you were coming for a short period. Holy crap, it wasn't an argument, it was a suggestion.

Funny how you don't whine at any of the men basically asking/telling you the same.
Gary ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bonnie ********
Oh you're one of them.
Jordan *****
I see no reason to apply for a visa if I can get two visa exempt entries a year. If they want us to apply for visas they should specify how many days a year we can stay visa exempt.
Elías ********
@Jordan ****
Immigration officers can tell out genuine tourists and fake ones... Not that I care, it's not my job, but if somebody has been living for 6 years on back to back visa bounces, it's pretty clear they're not a tourist at all.
Luit *****************
@Jordan ****
Do you call 4 months each year in the same country short touristic use?

That is what visa exempt is made for...

For longer touristic stay there is METV.

When a second stay is back to back at first stay, it is perfectly understandable that it is not seen as touristic use, especially when you leave the country exactly at the end of 60 days, and stay the whole time at the same address.

I agree it is not always possible to distinguish geruïneerd tourists from people who just want to live in Thailand, but I don't think that immigration officers deny very much real tourists.
Михайло ********
Unlimited! That's true. Welcome to Thailand
Jordan *****
@Михайло *******
Unlimited is Cambodia/Vietnam in theory and in practice. In Thailand only on paper, but in practice they deny them left and right. The bars in Cambodia are full of people in this situation
Михайло ********
Hans *************
@Jordan ****
full of girls 🤣
Михайло ********
@Hans ************
really? I have never been in Cambodia (
Hans *************
@Михайло *******
yes, I've been there more than 20 times, also last year...
Михайло ********
@Hans ************
I am a bit gealous))) about such a great opportunity!!!! Unfortunately, I have no right to travel so often ((( my government restricts getting a new passport((((
ລາວນາທຶນ *******
Normaly 3 Times by land

All time you want by fly, only one moment immigration can ask you why
Jordan *****
@ລາວນາທຶນ ******
where did you get the number from?
Graham ******
@Jordan ****
thin air, there is no such limit or any other (see Brandon's reply above)
Михайло ********
Rob *******
As above^

There is no set limit. Solely down to the discretion of the immigration officer you’re standing infront of.
Jordan *****
@Rob ******
I was lucky enough never have to deal with them, but how does this actually work? Does the guard at the booth call a supervisor who then takes a final decision?
David ********
@Jordan ****
they once took me to the side office and asked me why I had to keep coming back. I told them I fell in love with someone and they were happy with the answer.
Louis ********
@Jordan ****
no, this is up to the officer him/herself. Law allows

them to be more or less strict if circumstances require this (eg you are
*****
plus and have plenty of regular visa exemption stamps. That can raise question as retired people living in Thailand require a paid visa for instance (and pay tax ;-).
Brandon ************
As many times as they let you
James ********
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