Answereda year ago
How many times can you enter Thailand on a 60-day visa exemption with a 30-day extension without being questioned?
I know this is the DTV group but thought I’d ask as no doubt this I’ll apply to plenty in here.
How many times has anybody gone in an out of the country by air on the 60 day visa free with the 1900 thirty day extension without being questioned or denied. I seem to be seeing a lot of people saying they were questioned on the second time and others saying they managed it many more times.
Cheers
How many times has anybody gone in an out of the country by air on the 60 day visa free with the 1900 thirty day extension without being questioned or denied. I seem to be seeing a lot of people saying they were questioned on the second time and others saying they managed it many more times.
Cheers
Answer summary
Many expats report varying experiences with multiple entries into Thailand using the 60-day visa exemption followed by a 30-day extension. There are anecdotal accounts of frequent, successful entries without issues, while others mention being questioned or denied entry on their third attempt. The criteria for questioning largely depend on the discretion of the Immigration Officer at the time of entry, and recent stricter enforcement has been noted. It is advisable to have a proper visa if planning to stay long-term, as repeated entry on visa exemptions could lead to complications.
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Anonymous ******************
You risk being detained or deported from this country without a proper visa. Just because people used to do it in the past, doesn’t mean you can do it now.
Leanne **********
I flew in and out 6 x in one year. It was 45 day when I arrived... I did 2x30 day extensions plus multiple shorter stays within that 12 months.
One exit was for 3 months away.
I was detained, questioned, denied...with a proper exit ticket at 22 days.
My options were book a 1500 ticket HOME, or be sent back on next flight to Singapore...where I had been for 2 weeks....flight attendant was sitting in corner of the room w
me.
I opted to purchase one way ticket home, was allowed in, on promise to purchase Ed visa.
I called to cancel flight within an hour of booking... would NOT refund.
My CC insurance investigated. Would NOT refund.
I got ED VISA. Ate the 1500 flight.
One exit was for 3 months away.
I was detained, questioned, denied...with a proper exit ticket at 22 days.
My options were book a 1500 ticket HOME, or be sent back on next flight to Singapore...where I had been for 2 weeks....flight attendant was sitting in corner of the room w
me.
I opted to purchase one way ticket home, was allowed in, on promise to purchase Ed visa.
I called to cancel flight within an hour of booking... would NOT refund.
My CC insurance investigated. Would NOT refund.
I got ED VISA. Ate the 1500 flight.
Leanne **********
@Rich ***
Rich De yes, it was worth it.. it allowed me to stay in Thailand a full year. That said, I was terrified to try to leave/ return, so I didn't leave the full year.
Rich ****
@Leanne *********
I did the same thing. In Chiang Mai but had to bunker down for smoke season. I've got one more extension left.Rich ****
@Leanne *********
How'd the ED visa work out for you? Was it worth it?Marianne ********
Got stopped on my 3rd entry in 2023.
Elías ********
Many people have reportedly done it many times, but that information isn't useful for you. Anybody could be questioned as soon as in their second or third try. They seem to be stricter nowadays.
Anonymous ******************
Pay the fast track entry you’ll have no problems as many times as you want
Anonymous *************
OPAnonymous participant 619 how much is that?
Anonymous ******************
Anonymous participant normally 1500-2500฿ depending on your stamp history
Dany ********
Many people tell you anecdotes from the past where it was possible to spend years on visa exemption with border runs. But things have changed in recent years. a second border run can allready be your end.
Anonymous *************
OP@Dany *******
Im just not seeing the advantage of the DTV over the aforementioned.
Luit *****************
Anonieme deelnemer When you comply to the rules for DTV workcation, it is a cheap way to have a visa for 5 years, as long as you can work remote. For soft power it is a bit different, because the soft power activity will cost you money and time, and allthough at the moment the checks at entry are not very much, you can expect then to be more frequent when DTV is more abused. So you have to decide what is best, visa exempt with paying for fast lane or DTV with paying for soft power activity.
Luit *****************
Anonieme deelnemer They just can ask anytime they want, because it is a visa requirement. So when you enter the country and have bad luck they check you, you have to show you have registered for soft power activity. Chances they check are low, say less than 1 percent, but I see more reports. Nobody knows what happens in the future, but it seems logical that checks go up when the visa is more abused. It now exists almost a year, which means more DTV holders might enter without renewing their softpower activity, so the routine checks will show higher abuse rate.
Anonymous *************
OP@Luit ****************
do you know how long you have to prove soft power activities to satisfy them? I don’t have online work I’ve found myself financially stable after some wise investments.Jon **********
Anonymous participant you cannot stay in Thailand long term using visa exempts. The guy above who does it regularly will eventually be stopped and questioned, and told to get an appropriate visa.
Where is this 3800 figure from?
Where is this 3800 figure from?
Elías ********
Participante anónimo no, it's a one time payment.
Marianne ********
Anonymous participant oh, lol, no. It's 10k for sending the initial application.
Extensions done in Thailand are 1900 like the others. But it's currently recommended to just travel out and back in for a new stamp, due to the document-checks if extension is done in country.
Extensions done in Thailand are 1900 like the others. But it's currently recommended to just travel out and back in for a new stamp, due to the document-checks if extension is done in country.
Jon **********
Anonymous participant aha ok. Yeah I did wonder when you were comparing costs.
Anonymous *************
OP@Jon *********
I think I have read some AI miss Information online. I was under the impression the DTV costs 10,000 every 180 day extension.Marianne ********
Anonymous participant just get a multi entry tourist visa instead?
Jon **********
Anonymous participant In theory with the DTV you could stay for 5 years (with 9 border bounces) without worrying about taking the pi55. All for 10k. Doing visa exempts / extensions for same period would cost 38k.
Depends on how long you want to stay in Thailand. You method has the added anxiety that each trip they may refuse entry. If you have a life set up in thailand, a condo, belongings here, a motorbike say, being denied entry becomes unacceptable.
Depends on how long you want to stay in Thailand. You method has the added anxiety that each trip they may refuse entry. If you have a life set up in thailand, a condo, belongings here, a motorbike say, being denied entry becomes unacceptable.
Anonymous *************
OP@Jon *********
the 2 fees for the extensions in a 6 month period as opposed to the DTV cost of *****
for the same period. The plan was to have a gap of say 4 weeks in another asean country before re entering so don’t look like I’m taking the pi55.Dany ********
Anonymer Teilnehmer DTV allows you 5 years of coming and going as much as you want. no limitations (besides the 180 days + extension). visa exemption or tourist visa limits you to a few months per year (no hard limit but often problems with 2+ border runs)
Anna *********
Anonymous participant you won’t get stopped if you have a DTV Visa and you will get stopped if you keep doing exempt on arrival
That’s the benefit of the DTV
That’s the benefit of the DTV
Elías ********
Participante anónimo The advantages of DTV over visa exemption? You can exit and reenter as many times as you want, no questions asked, and you get 180 days upon EACH entry, instead of 60.
Not to mention that some people do need a vista to enter Thailand, even for one day, as they country isn't on the visa exemption list.
Not to mention that some people do need a vista to enter Thailand, even for one day, as they country isn't on the visa exemption list.
Anonymous *************
OP@Elías *******
understand some people don’t get the privilege of visa free , however in my situation its 10,000thb vs 3,800thb.
Greg ********
It is a how long is a bit of string question. Some do it for years and nothing said and others get pulled 2nd time. It is down to the discretion of the Immigration Officer at point of entry.
John **********
Those saying they've done it frequently are either talking historically or are not maximising the time they spend in Thailand Visa exempt. Simple fact is you can no longer expect to get stamped in if your history is not that of a typical tourist. Ultimately it will be down to the immigration officer you stand in front of
Alessandro ***********
@John *********
bingo. Was never an issue until the end of last year, circa.
Dan **********
@John *********
yep understood . I’ve done a couple extensions along the wayDan **********
@John *********
2 years flying in and out for a 2 week stay every month, or sometimes longer. No issuesJohn **********
@Dan *********
that was my point about not maximising time. The question was about using the full 60+30 days repeatedlyDan **********
Multiple times and never been questioned. I think issues arise with land crossings. Flying in and out I’ve never had an issue for 2 years
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