How many visa exempt entries can I use at land borders in Thailand within a calendar year?

May 29, 2024
5 months ago
Jimmy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
How many times can I use visa waiver in a year at land entry ? I already have one at airport.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
In Thailand, you can use a visa exemption at a land border a maximum of two times per calendar year, and each entry typically grants you 30 days. While there is no limit on the number of entries using visa waivers (available only to select countries), the common practice is to utilize the visa exempt entry, which is capped at two times yearly for land entries. It's advisable to keep in mind that your eligibility can depend on your home country and other regulations in effect from Thai immigration officers.
Mark *************************
Your first visa exempt do not count when you first enter the country. In layman's term, you can do 2 border runs in a calendar year.

1. Come in with a visa exempt via air or even land border (usually 30 days depending on country)

2. Extend at immigration (30 days)

3. Do a land border run (30 days)

4. Extend at immigration (30 days)

5. Do a land border run (30 days)

6. Extend at immigration (30 days)

7. Time to leave. (You could come in by air again)

Of course, all this if the immigration officers you meet go easy on your ass.
Mark *************************
@Richard *******
you have done 2 land border runs this year, on February and April, so you cannot legally do more land border runs. You can do it by air though, but your entry entirely depends on the immigration officer at the airport.
Brandon ************
@Mark ************************
that's incorrect. Your first one absolutely counts if you entered by land. You can only enter visa exempt at a land border 2 times per calendar year.
Mark *************************
@Brandon ***********
I failed to mention that Im from a neighbouring country and it applies to people from neighbouring countries.
Brandon ************
@Mark ************************
that's visa waiver not visa exempt. That's a different entry process and doesn't have the limit
Mark *************************
@Brandon ***********
So you can border bounce with an initial visa waiver for unlimited amount of times?
Brandon ************
@Mark ************************
visa waiver doesn't have an entry limit but that doesn't mean you can do it forever. But there's not a lot of countries eligible for visa waiver. It's the countries listed here as bilateral agreement.
Mark *************************
@Brandon ***********
Malaysia is listed under Visa Exemption and Bilateral Agreement, so it depends on what you are given at the border? Also, after an initial visa waiver, when you do a land border bounce (assuming it is not to your home country) will you be given a visa exempt or another visa waiver on reentry?
Brandon ************
@Mark ************************
you can ask for which one you want.
Mark *************************
@Brandon ***********
if that is the case, I as a malaysian would definitely get an initial visa waiver, keep border bouncing and requesting for a visa waiver till I eventually stopped.
Brandon ************
@Mark ************************
just know that visa waiver is not eligible for an extension.
Bob **********
2
Tha****
Im a Sri Lankan on a tour in thailand, I have two months visa, Is it possible for me to extend the visa for another month or two ?
Brandon ************
@Tha****
people from Sri Lanka are not eligible for a 30 day tourist extension.
Tha****
@Brandon ***********
Any options that we can shift to malaysia/singapure and return back to thailand ?
Brandon ************
@Tha****
you would need to apply for a new visa at a Thai embassy or consulate.
Tha****
@Brandon ***********
Can it be done while im staying in malaysia or singapure? Or need to return back to SL
Brandon ************
@Tha****
you need to figure that out yourself by checking the Thai embassy and consulate
Stuart *********
Interesting you use the term visa waiver. It’s specifically implies you are from a select group of countries. Without knowing your passport country it’s impossible to tell whether you’re using the right terminology or not.
Jimmy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
visa waiver means the same as visa exempt
Stuart *********
@Jimmy ********
Absolutely a completely different entry scheme. Visa waiver is based on a bilateral agreement.
Jimmy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
You are a travel agent ? Or just intensly interested in Thai visa issues?
Stuart *********
@Jimmy ********
I am not a travel agent. I volunteer at my local immigration office to help others with their visa issues as well as answer questions on the visa FB Visa forums.
Nongnuch ********
@Jimmy ********
no, it doesn't mean the same. Only a handful countries get the visa "waived" for a 14, 60 or 90 days stay, due to a bilateral agreement with Thailand. All others are doing an "exempt entry" which only gives you 30 days atm
Stuart *********
@Nongnuch *******
14, 30 or 90 days depending on country.
Nongnuch ********
@Stuart ********
ah, correct. I missed the 14
Stuart *********
Technically there are no limits by land sea or air for a visa waiver entry. As
@Bra****
mentioned there is a limit of 2 land border entries for a visa exempt entry.
Richard ********
@Stuart ********
some agent says there is no limit to land border bounces
Brandon ************
@Richard *******
There isn't, if you have a visa or if you're using something other than visa exempt. Otherwise there is a written rule stating 2 times per year at a land border with visa exempt.
Phil ******
@Jimmy ********
2 times as long as you look ok to the immi officer.
Brandon ************
"Visa Waiver" means bilateral agreement and is only available to a much smaller list of countries. There is no limit to how many times you can enter using visa waiver.

Visa exempt is much more common. This gives you 30 days when you stamp into Thailand and is available to a large list of countries. This is only possible 2 times per year at a land border.
Reggy ********
@Brandon ***********
thanks, I'm from the Netherlands, how many times can I go to Thailand on a visa exemption on a yearly basis? I normally stay in Thailand less than 30 days, flying back and forth to the Netherlands. Thanks in advance.
Brandon ************
@Reggy *******
there's no limit written into law. You can do it until the passport control officers feel that you're abusing the system.
Reggy ********
@Brandon ***********
thanks for the swift reply. I'm just wondering what "abusing the system" means for them. Just a rhetorical question.
Brandon ************
@Reggy *******
that's likely a different answer for each officer
Declan **********
You can get 2 visa exemption entries per calendar year using a land border.
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