I am looking to leave Thailand 23/2 and my visa ends 21/2. (No flights to my destination before). Is it ok to overstay 2 days?
I will be returning to Thailand 1/3.
Thanks
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is considering overstaying their visa by two days, as their visa expires on February 21st and their flight is on February 23rd. Many commenters advise against this, stressing the potential repercussions such as fines (500-1000 baht per day), difficulties with future visa applications (like the Elite Visa or STV), and serious legal consequences if stopped by authorities. Some suggest extending the visa before expiry as a safer option. However, a few argue that minor overstays are commonly overlooked, albeit noting it still represents a legal violation.
I love the border agent wannabe comments😂 you'll get pulled aside at airport immigration to pay the fine, it's generally a busy place and the overstay will have no bearing on future visits, for instance IO Monti Reiman said you can't get an STV and I'm here this time on an STV and I have a few overstays including one that resulted in a 1 year ban from the country. Remember though technically you'll be breaking the law for a couple of days so don't shine a light on yourself.
I’m on STV too. Came in November 2020 and everyone was giving me visa advice but had no idea what the visa was as there was only 200 issued at the time 😂 I understand ur frustrations
Overstaying for 2 days is not a problem. You will pay 1k baht upon departure with a red stamp which will not prevent you from coming back. I have had at least 5 of these stamps since 2010 and it's never an issue. Getting raided on 2 days overstay is extremely rare, I have never heard of it. There are thousands of people who choose the few days overstay instead of the annoying trip for 1.9k baht and if it was an issue you would heard stories here which I have never read. The fear mongering is from people who try to patronize you, do not listen to such people.
Overstaying your date in your passport is breaking the law.
Many times on here people ask is it ok to overstay - 1, 2, 5 days etc. The fine at the immigration exit desk is 500 baht per day of overstay. Some immigration officers will waive the fine if it is only 1 day, but you’ll still get a red stamp in your passport.
HoweVer if you are stopped inside the country for any reason - like at a police check point - even on your way to airport or border crossing then be prepared for a whole lot of trouble.
The police may arrest you as you have broken the law. If they do you’ll be fined in court and then sent to the nearest Immigration Detention Centre, where you will be kept until you buy a one way ticket back to your home country. If you don’t have the funds for that you will be kept there until you find some means of raising those funds. Once you have your ticket, you will be deported and blacklisted from entering the country for up to 5 years.
Sounds dramatic but it sometimes happens. 500 baht a day sounds cheaper than 1900 baht at a local immigration office but in the overall scheme of things it is never wise to overstay.
Try to go to the immigration before your visa expired a couple days before, if they refused to give you the Covid extension, they will give you 7 days to leave the country. And that 7 days will help you to extend your stay until your flight. Is this a good plan?
There's no big issue with a day or two overstay. Many people do this rather that waste a day at immigration. It's 500 baht a day. If it's only one day the fine is waived. You get a stamp in your passport but it doesn't affect any future visits.
It is not good practice to overstay your visa in any country. It will be stamped on your passport and recorded online these days. You could be fine or you could come back and pick the wrong immigration official coming back and have issues it’s up to you what you choose to do
You do not want to overstay. Certain types of visas will become unavailable to you such as Elite Visa, STV, etc. Also, if you get picked up by the police the consequences are serious even for a one day overstay. If you can go to immigration and extend. The 1,900 baht is well worth the piece of mind and potential issues in the future.
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