Answered2 years ago
Is it possible to visit Thailand multiple times under the Visa Exemption Scheme for UK Nationals while initially obtaining a Tourist Visa?
I'm not sure about everybody else's experience, but each time I email the Thai Embassy London, they never answer my questions & I come away still lacking the answers. Their phone service is not answered which is more frustrating.
I asked this, if anyone can answer it:
Please can you answer if it's possible to come to Thailand this way?
Purchase a Single Entry Tourist Visa from the Thai Embassy for £30. Flights are booked from the UK for November 2024 and return home to the UK in May 2025. We'll stay in Thailand for 60 days then take a return flight to another country.
We'll fly back into Thailand after 2 weeks, and start our 60 days again under the Visa Exemption Scheme for UK Nationals. We'll then take another return flight to another country for 2 weeks towards the end of our 60 days.
We'll fly back into Thailand for our final 60 days under the Visa Exemption Scheme for UK Nationals. We'll then be flying back home to the UK before the end of those last 60 days.
I asked this, if anyone can answer it:
Please can you answer if it's possible to come to Thailand this way?
Purchase a Single Entry Tourist Visa from the Thai Embassy for £30. Flights are booked from the UK for November 2024 and return home to the UK in May 2025. We'll stay in Thailand for 60 days then take a return flight to another country.
We'll fly back into Thailand after 2 weeks, and start our 60 days again under the Visa Exemption Scheme for UK Nationals. We'll then take another return flight to another country for 2 weeks towards the end of our 60 days.
We'll fly back into Thailand for our final 60 days under the Visa Exemption Scheme for UK Nationals. We'll then be flying back home to the UK before the end of those last 60 days.
Answer summary
The user inquired about the feasibility of traveling to Thailand multiple times using the visa exemption scheme, specifically whether it would be legal for a UK national to enter Thailand three times within six months, with planned stays of 60 days each. Community responses indicated that this approach is generally permitted, with warnings possible after excessive use of exemptions. Additionally, there was discussion on the necessity of applying for a tourist visa, with many suggesting it may not be needed given the duration of planned stays and the number of entries. Overall, the consensus is that multiple entries are allowed but may depend on the discretion of immigration officers.
53 repliesnewest first
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Scott ********
Same as Canberra
Cassius **********
People come to Thailand on more than 2 visa exemptions a year. I know the website says that but it doesn't reflect the reality of what people are doing all the time here.
The general rule (written or not) has in recent years been 2 visa exemptions via land border a year, and unlimited visa exemptions by air BUT you'll always be at the mercy of the immigration officer and can be turned away if you're thought to be abusing the visa exemption scheme.
The general rule (written or not) has in recent years been 2 visa exemptions via land border a year, and unlimited visa exemptions by air BUT you'll always be at the mercy of the immigration officer and can be turned away if you're thought to be abusing the visa exemption scheme.
Gary *******
@Cassius *********
but if you do a land visa run when come back into Thailand you not get 60 days entrance only 30 days as if you fly out and then fly back to Thailand you get 60 days exemptionCassius **********
@Gary ******
I've not heard anything about only getting 30 days at a land border ?Brandon ************
@Cassius *********
the written rule was 2 by land per year, no written limit by air. Now it's no written limit for either.
Chris *******
Why do you need the single entry visa. Sounds like you will leave after 60 days so don’t need any sort of visa. If you go for a single entry visa that would be good for 90 days but you would need your airline tickets when you apply
Michelle *********
OP@Chris ******
because you're only allowed 2 free visa exemption visits per year. We'll enter 3 times over 6 months
Kool *******
@Michelle ********
that two entries was only for land border crossings, and it ended July 15th of this year. There are no limits as long as you are following a pattern of being a tourist, which your plan does.Chris *******
@Michelle ********
I’m looking at the rules and can’t see where it stipulates only 2 timesMichelle *********
OP@Chris ******
what did you take this off? I got mine off the embassy pageMichelle *********
OP@Chris ******
stayed on their website. Born UK and Thailand ones. I'll have a look again and copy it in
Ronald *********
I e-mailed the Thailand London embassy, and received an answer to my query within two days by e-mail.
Michelle *********
OP@Ronald ********
they replied many times but have never answered the question lol
John ********
@Michelle ********
probably couldn’t understand what you are asking
Declan **********
@Ronald ********
in my experinece they are very hit and miss, sometimes you'll get a reply sometimes you won't.
Jamie ******
No need to apply for a visa ..now you can get 60 days on entry with another 30 day extention if required
Michelle *********
OP@Jamie *****
but only twice a year
Nigel **************
@Michelle ********
no that is not correct either. It is up to the IO u meet on arrival. No limit on only 2 but 3 or 4 could be a problemMichelle *********
OP@Nigel *************
You said no limit but then 3 or 4 may be a problem? Which one is it lol? Our max entry will be 3 times.Henrik *****
That requirement ended
****
2024.Henrik *****
In fact the removal of the 2-entry-rule, has made it more complex, since now the is no guideline anymore.
It is always up to the discretion of the Immigration Officer you hand your passport to, if you are allow entry or not.
It is always up to the discretion of the Immigration Officer you hand your passport to, if you are allow entry or not.
Michelle *********
OP@Henrik ****
so the twice per year is now several times instead?
Graham ******
For future reference the best way to contact the RTE London is messaging them from their Facebook page
@https://www.faceboo*******************
John **********
I'm not sure why you would expect an embassy in the UK to answer a question that they are not able to answer
Michelle *********
OP@John *********
because it's the Thailand embassy who issue our visas?!John **********
@Michelle ********
if you had asked a question about the visa itself they could answer but you didn't. You asked about a whole travel itinerary including border crossing, you're expecting way to much from them.John **********
@Michelle ********
I understand the relevance to you but not something the embassy would have any knowledge ofMichelle *********
OP@John *********
I asked for each separate period as each entry is relevant, of courseKool *******
@Michelle ********
do not bother buying a tourist visa before you enter the country. It is a waste of money. You get a 60 day visa exempt entry each time you enter the country. Your plan follows a normal pattern of being a tourist, as lots of people base out of Thailand when visiting other countries. You are not crossing the border and immediately returning, and, you are not getting the 30 day extensions you could get. You are following a normal tourist pattern, and as long as you have a ticket booked for your next excursion into the next country, not the same one each time, immigration won't care. Your plan is good, except buying a single entry tourist visa. That is a waste of money.Michelle *********
OP@Nigel *************
I can't help it lol because we don't want to be rejected from entering Thailand on visits 2 or 3 as ultimately we're flying from Bangkok back to the UK in May so kinda need to be there lolMichelle *********
OP@Henrik ****
the 6 month multiple entries visaMichelle *********
OP@Kool ******
I know. I was just curious. Should we get the 6 month visa or is it not needed with leaving the country at both 60 day intervals?Nigel **************
@Michelle ********
what 6 month tourist visa? You do not need any kind of visa with your plan. Stop getting all worked up about Visas.Henrik *****
Which 6 month tourist visa ?
Kool *******
@Michelle ********
you didn't ask about that. You mentioned buying a single entry tourist visa, which is a waste of money.Michelle *********
OP@Kool ******
so what is the purpose of the 6 month tourist visa then lol?Brandon ************
What you are proposing is legal, and you probably won't have any issues with it. At worst you'd be warned on the 3rd time entering that it's your last time as you are nearing abuse of the free entries. But normally that doesn't start happening until someone has been in Thailand for about 180 days.
Honestly there's not even a benefit to applying for a tourist visa for the first trip. Just book your first flight out of Thailand before you travel that way if you are asked for proof of leaving Thailand you have it already.
Honestly there's not even a benefit to applying for a tourist visa for the first trip. Just book your first flight out of Thailand before you travel that way if you are asked for proof of leaving Thailand you have it already.
Michelle *********
OPThank you everybody for your help!
Michelle *********
OP@Brandon ***********
even if it is a return flight back to Thailand after 2 weeks? Also will it matter that the flight home to the UK is 6 months later?
Baz *********
I don't see a problem with your itinerary..
As long as you are leaving each time before your 60 days expires you will receive another 60 excemption entry each time you enter Thailand.
As long as you have proof of a flight to exit Thailand within 60 days it doesn't matter to the Thai immigration doesn't care where you are going as long as you are leaving the country.
As long as you are leaving each time before your 60 days expires you will receive another 60 excemption entry each time you enter Thailand.
As long as you have proof of a flight to exit Thailand within 60 days it doesn't matter to the Thai immigration doesn't care where you are going as long as you are leaving the country.
Brandon ************
@Michelle ********
you don't use your return flight back to the UK. You use your next flight out of Thailand as proof you are leaving. There is no requirement to be out of Thailand for any amount of time before you return. You can return the same day if you want.
Nigel **************
@Michelle ********
yes he did but you didn't seem to understandHenrik *****
@Brandon ***********
did answer you question.As long as you go out of Thailand within 60 days, it doesn’t matter how long, you can cross a border out of Thailand, and cross back into Thailand immidiately.
You should use the option to extend every visa excempt entry with 30 days at a Immigration Office, for 1900 baht.
Then fewer bordercrossings, and you will save money.
Michelle *********
OP@Brandon ***********
Brandon Thurkettle I do appreciate that you replied to me but you didn't answer the actual questions I asked.Baz *********
Brandon ************
@Michelle ********
I've answered 3 times now so I'm done.Michelle *********
OP@Brandon ***********
you are not allowed to stay more than 60 days at a time unless you extend by 30 days at a Thai immigration office. So you do have to cross the border or leave the country if you don't extend for 30 days. My question is, since we are going to fly to another country on day 60, does it matter if I do this on a single ticket or a return ticket? Will they be unhappy about a return ticket?Brandon ************
@Michelle ********
THERE IS NO REQUIREMENT TO BE OUT OF THAILAND FOR ANY AMOUNT OF TIMEMichelle *********
OP@Brandon ***********
but does it matter that on day 60, my flight out to say Indonesia for example is a return flight and not a 1 way flight?Brandon ************
@Michelle ********
your question makes no sense. There isn't a limit to how many times you can go to Thailand and there's no requirement to be out of Thailand any amount of time. They just want to see that you'll leave within the correct number of days. Anything after that is irrelevant.Michelle *********
OP@Brandon ***********
I know that. I was saying, even if the flight we book out of Thailand to another country, is a return flight back into Thailand 2 weeks later?The bit about the UK, was will they raise any eyebrows, that our return flight from Thailand, happens 6 months later? Of course, this will tell them that we aim to come back into Thailand
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