How often can I re-enter Thailand to obtain a 30-day visa exemption, and what are my options for staying longer?

October 25, 2019
5 years ago
Taemin *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi all,

I was on an exemption visa for 3 weeks then switched to a combat visa. It has been a year now. I left the country and came back from Laos after a week, I was given a 30 days exemption visa again.

How often can I leave the country and come back to be granted an exemption? Isn’t there any limitations?

I was thinking to apply for a 60-days tourist visa and extend it for 30 days. But aren’t they going to tell me I had plenty of time to do tourist stuffs while staying in thailand for 1 year and 2 months...?

I am supposed to get a work visa in February 2020, I am just looking for the best way to stay until then.

Thank you
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking guidance on how often they can leave and re-enter Thailand to receive a 30-day visa exemption after having switched from an exemption visa to a combat visa for a year. They express concerns about potential limitations to re-entry exemptions and consider applying for a 60-day tourist visa with a possible extension of 30 days, questioning if their prior long stay affects their eligibility. In the comments, several users clarify the rules regarding visa exemptions and suggest options for extending their stay until they receive a work visa in February 2020.
Ivan ************
You might clarify your passport, your name is Korean but I'm guessing from the 30 day exemption you aren't a South Korean citizen?

If you know you are getting a work visa in February and aren't Korean, extend your current exemption for a further 30 days. Then presuming your current one is the first in 2019 you can do another and that will get you through to next year, maybe enough until you get your work visa, but if not you can do another in early 2020 as the "two" resets on Jan 1.

Alternately try for a 60 day visa somewhere like Vientiane, if it is your first you have good chance with it and if they do reject you you can fall back to a visa exempt entry.

If you did have a Korean passport that would get you 90 days stamp with no visa.
Tod *********
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@Jeremy *******
said you can get TWO 30 day visa exempt entries by land in a calendar year (Jan 1 - Dec 31).

Here's a thought, you're on a 30 day visa exempt entry now, so go get that extended by 30 days at the immigration office for 1900baht, THEN go to a thai consulate in another country and BUY a single entry tourist visa ? That'd get you stamped in for 60 days and you could extend that by 30 more days at the immigration office.

Doing that buys the time you say you need until your'e going to get a 'work visa'.
Bobby ********
How do you mean that you're supposed to get a work visa in 2020? If you give the group as much detail as possible you will get the best advice
Taemin *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
that is exactly right. Thanks for that.

Sorry for not being more precise.
Tod *********
I think they mean they're going to get a job and then get a work permit and a Non-B visa so they can work.

Just like when they say "combat visa" they're probably meaning an education visa based on attending a hand-2-hand combat school.
Jeremy ********
2 land border crossings per year... in theory unlimited visa exemptions via air crossings, however the consensus theory is the I/O’s will frown on it after 3-5 Out/In’s in a row...get an SETV or if you qualify a 6 month METV
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