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Is there a limit to visa-exempt entries in Thailand for US passport holders?
Visa ExemptionImmigration RulesThailand ImmigrationRetirement VisaNon-O VisaVisa RegulationsExpat Life in Thailand
Jan 1, 2025
a year ago
Tracy *********
ORIGINAL POSTERCame through immigration this pm. USA passport. 4th trip visa exempt in one year. Io gave me a warning next time will be a problem. I told him I will be applying for retirement visa. He made a note to my file. Did I get wrong IO or is 4 the limit?
TLDR : Answer Summary
A US passport holder reported receiving a warning during their fourth visa-exempt entry into Thailand within a year, questioning if this was conforming to immigration rules. Experts in the comments clarify that there is no official limit to the number of visa-exempt entries; however, it heavily depends on the discretion of the immigration officer regarding the duration of previous stays and intent of visit. Some suggest obtaining a retirement visa to avoid issues, reaffirming that those perceived to be trying to live long-term through visa exemptions risk being flagged by immigration.
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Lion *****************************
Kindly get a proper Visa and follow the rules like the majority of us...So we do not all suffer Immigration investigations..yet again !!
Lion *****************************
@Dave ********
Over utilising the visa exempt ... it has limited entries permitted in any one period...Tracy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Lion ****************************
correct spelling, utilizingLion *****************************
@Tracy ********
Arrogant.. only if your from the US.... get a life..Reply to
Lion *****************************
Reply
Tracy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Lion ****************************
I have not over utilized the rules. It was a warning not to. Get a life officer!Reply to
Tracy *********
Reply
Dave *********
@Lion ****************************
what rules has he broken?Tracy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Dave ********
thank you. What rules?Reply to
Tracy *********
Reply
Larry ********
Same thing happened to me on my fourth trip and she told me she was putting in my file. I think I made a mistake by telling her that after this trip ,I will not be back till next year and she told me Ishe will write that down in my file.
Kai *********
Get DTV
Jordan *****
@Kai ********
you think everyone qualifies for it?Kai *********
@Jordan ****
yep you need a reasonReply to
Kai *********
Reply
Anthony ******************
It is a bit high. the Calendar resets Jan 1 (Today) You can apply for a DTV.
Nongnuch ********
@Anthony *****************
An Immigration officer does not calculate the number of visa-exempt stays by the calendar yearHe will rather look at the total number of visa-exempt days on the attempted day of entry, and calculate 365 days backwards
So there is NOTHING that “resets” on January 1st
Anthony ******************
I think that is wrong. I have been given this advice by no less then three senior sources. One in Lao one in Bangkok and one in Melbourne. I was informed that the Calendar is reset on Jan 1 each year. I can again seek clarification via the Consulate . It makes sense other wise you would have everyone doing back to back visitations. I get 90 days on each arrival. I am limited to two a calendar year. Last time I had to return to Australia and applied for a working visa as a result
Graham ******
@Anthony *****************
The January reset was for the two land border Visa Exempt entries before the change to 60 days, nothing elseNongnuch ********
that's absolutely correct,
@Graham *****
, and @Anthony *****************
, claiming that he gets a 90-days stay permit on each entry, seems to have used a multi-entry Non-Imm visa type, which get no longer issued since October 2023. So he is wrong on two accountsAnthony ******************
@Nongnuch *******
I hold an APEC card which issues a 90 day visa exempt entry to multiple countries. (Thailand Included)The advice I have provided links to can be found here.
*********************************************************************
Graham ******
@Anthony *****************
that is not an official website and is full of errors or outdated informationAnthony ******************
@Graham *****
That is a concern in itself but there are other sites that say the same thing. So who is correct, Siam Legal? or You?Nongnuch ********
@Anthony *****************
Thaiembassy dot com is a private website, who by their name try to look as if they were a Thai official website. It is run by Siam Legal. A lot of their info is outdated or plainly WRONGNongnuch ********
@Anthony *****************
you see. neither Siam Legal and their website full of errors and false info, nor you, are up to notch. . . . before July 15, 2024, visa-exempt entries across a land border were limited to 2 times per calendar year. And this was THE ONLY "calendar year reset rule", there doesn't exist another one! Siam Legal is known for not updating their website! The limit of 2 visa-exempt entries across a land border was discontinued by July 15th. Matter of fact, or I would not be the admin of my own visa advice group. @Graham *****
is one of the few well informed experts in some Thailand related groups, and you can trust his expertiseAnthony ******************
@Nongnuch *******
Hmm You implied I was lying about my 90 visa exempt entry, indicating to me that you are not well informed. .... I know what visa entitlement I had. Thanks/ I agree it is confusing but many sites talk about a calendar year and limit on the number of entriesNongnuch ********
@Anthony *****************
“You implied I was lying about my 90 visa exempt entry, indicating to me that you are not well informed”there NEVER EVER was a visa-exempt entry that got you stamped in for 90 days. the APEC Business Visa is NOT a visa-exempt entry, it actually is an entry on a valid visa!
You can however get a 90-days “admitted until” stamp when entering on a 90-days single entry Non-imm-o visa type
You are trying to make us believe in a barstool story, when you wrote: “I get 90 days on each arrival”
My criticism is on the claim of “each arrival”
Getting stamped in for 90 days on “each arrival” was possible on the 365-days multi entry Non-Imm visa types (family and retirement). These visa types, however got discontinued by October 2023.
Only on a single entry 90-days Non-Imm visa type, you will get stamped in for 90 days, but never on “each arrival”. On “each arrival” you will only get stamped in for 90 days, after you have been issued a new (!!) 90-days SE Non-Imm visa
On a SE Tourist Visa you will get stamped in for 60 days
(maybe you confuse the visa validity of the tourist visa with the length of the stay permit. The validity is 90 days, however the stamp you will receive upon entry is for 60 days)
Anthony ******************
@Nongnuch *******
I suggest you write to Siam Legal it is their web site.Graham ******
@Anthony *****************
things changed in July, I bet some of these websites stay say it's 30 days tooNongnuch ********
@Graham *****
I proved him WRONG. Yet, stubborn people will always be stubborn people, no matter what, and they are known for refusing to learn something new
On an APEC Business Card, he can enter, gets stamped in for 90 days, and the need of a visa is "waived".
He should have mentioned the APEC card right by the beginning of this fruitless discussion. It would have avoided a lot of misunderstanding.
However he kept calling his entries on the APEC Card “visa-exempt” entries. And that’s technically spoken the wrong wording. I am a Thai visa adviser, and I am used to the correct termination
He did NOT enter on the visa exemption scheme, this is a completely different process.
Technically speaking, I was absolutely correct when I disputed his claims.
I always try not to sound pedantic, but this stubborn guy literally forced me to use pedantry
Nongnuch ********
@Anthony *****************
there NEVER was a visa-exempt entry that got you stamped in for 90 days. . . . . . This was possible until last year on 365-days multi entry non-Imm visa types (family and retirement) but all these visa types got discontinued by October 2023. All that grants you ONE SINGLE TIME 90-days stay permit stamp, are the single entry 90-days Non-Imm visa typesNongnuch ********
@Anthony *****************
go open your own thread if you need information on the APEC Business Visa 😂😎 and stop using Google 😎Nongnuch ********
@Anthony *****************
well, then you may call it "Business Card Entry" however, when experts here in the groups mention a "visa exempt entry", they mean the 60-days stay permit when arriving WITHOUT a visa, The APEC Business Card is a special issue in visa advice groups, and since you missed to mention it and called it "visa-exempt entry", no wonder you have been misunderstood. We do not mix a "visa-exemption" up with other RARE commodities outside of the E-visa online system. You may call your APEC a "visa-exempt" but then you will be misunderstood by many people, that's a factAnthony ******************
@Nongnuch *******
That is your limited thinking Mate suggest you stay off the substance abuse.Nongnuch ********
@Anthony *****************
i don't drink and I don't smoke, maybe that's why my advice is accurateAnthony ******************
@Nongnuch *******
I do not need it I am well informed on that issue thanks. It is you that is misinformed. I just stated the facts.Nongnuch ********
@Anthony *****************
you call yourself "well informed" ? 😂😂 I am gonna post that in my group and let the readers decide where to stuff your info (it is the place where the sun never shines onto)Nongnuch ********
@Anthony *****************
😂😂do you hold an APEC Business Card? No, you don't. Now you are getting funny, trying to dig out something to prove me wrong! 😂 You are sidetracking, you have left the topic we were about. Stick with the topic, matey 😂😄 The topic was tourist visa, Non-imm-visa and visa-exempt. NOBODY here wrote about the APEC visaAnthony ******************
@Nongnuch *******
Again I have an APEC Card it entitles me to a 90 visa exempt stay Multiple Countries) . I have used it a number of times, I should know, so you not that well informed are you. APEC Rules have not changed.Nongnuch ********
@Anthony *****************
There NEVER EVER was a visa-exempt entry that got you stamped in for 90 days. The APEC Business Visa does not grant you a visa-exempt entry, it actually is an entry on a valid visa!Graham ******
@Anthony *****************
on the calendar year reset - meReply to
Graham ******
Reply
Andy ************
It's nothing to do with number of entries. I know several FIFO workers who enter Thailand every three weeks on visa-exempt. However they stay only a week, and then they're gone again. Those they are looking for are those who are trying to live in Thailand on a series of tourism stamps. Eventually you'll be denied entry, and get a black mark on your immigration record. Advice is simple:- Get a proper visa
Alan *********
@Andy ***********
Again , depends on the IO. I know 1 FIFO worker that had to apply for an educational visa because the IO said no moreReply to
Alan *********
Reply
Luit *****************
Since you suggest yourself you will get a retirement visa, I think you are wrong indeed to get in with visa exemption, which is for short term tourists, and not for people living in Thailand.
Tracy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Luit ****************
wanted to make sure I want to live hereTracy *********
ORIGINAL POSTERSorry I didn’t know you owned this group…
Luit *****************
@Tracy ********
you could have done that also with a retirement visa for 90 days of course, but visa exempt is fine as long as it works, but you should always be prepared you can get stopped when there is a reason to believe you are not a tourist.Tracy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Luit ****************
thank you officer luitLuit *****************
@Tracy ********
I am not a Thai officer, but you must be pretty ignorant thinking visa exemption is the only option to get access to the country for some groups.Thailand has a lot of visa possibilities, I think too much.
When none if those fits your purpose, visa exemption will also not fit, it is as simple as that.
The fact that a lot of people in this group find there pleasure and challenge in trying to enter the country as many times as possible, does not change this.
Tracy *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Luit ****************
don’t you have something better to do? Get a life!Luit *****************
@Tracy ********
What a friendly approach to people reacting at your questions. Please troll somewhere else!Reply to
Luit *****************
Reply
Michael *******
It all depends on your nationality. Some nationals can get scrutinized even with a single TV entry in a year. As long as you are suspected of not being a tourist.
Greta *****
Tell him that he doesn't make the rules, you are!
Kirsten *********
You’re not clear about what you’re doing. 4 visa free trips of a couple weeks at at time at a time over the year or 4 visa free trips to the max time then leaving for 2 nights and returning? If it’s the latter, they are quite likely to conclude that you’re living here and should have a proper visa
Lawrence *******
Reply to
Lawrence *******
Reply
Steven *******
You are just another example of Immigration tightening up.
Alma ***************
Same with us..3 extensions last year before the 60days exempt, then 1 extension to get 90 day, got pulled..told to get dtv..
Sam *****
@Alma **************
but what if you aren’t working and just travelling around all the time? You don’t fit the rules to get that visa. What do you do then?Alma ***************
@Sam ****
it's all about being able to afford it..even if you are not working, like us, but with good amount of money, there are other avenues you can try ..Sam *****
@Alma **************
yeah what are they. Over 50 cashed up.Reply to
Sam *****
Reply
Jared **********
@Sam ****
than you get an elite visa or quite simply they don’t want you long term (under the age of 50)The DTV was a huge improvement but still a lot of people left out to dry
Sam *****
@Jared *********
I am over 50, but don’t want to retire here. We travel other countries as well, just end up in Thailand 3 or 4 times a year because it is our favourite. Have cash also not a problem. What should we do? AdviceNina *****
@Sam ****
you don’t need to actually retire to Thailand to get a retirement visa!Jared **********
@Sam ****
METV is good for 6 months and you can stay almost 9 if maxed, the nee DTV is great if you can get oneAlma ***************
@Sam ****
we did the same thing for years but we tend to stay here maxing up our visas and extending. But with dtv now it's not possible that's why we need to get the dtv..do the same thing and you are set for 5 years.Reply to
Alma ***************
Reply
Arnold **********
It depends on how much time you have spent in the country
Ben *******
Why do people insist or try and test Thai immigration law and then try and attempt it legally. Twenty three times to Thailand and kept within the law including reporting to immigration if I was staying with friends and not a hotel. A clean record will always stand you in the good books when you do it legally.
Frank **********
Yeah. I would leave definitely leave California.
Gordon *******
@Frank *********
Everyone else with any sense is leaving it seemsReply to
Gordon *******
Reply
David *********
4th trip but how long have you been in Thailand that year
Kool *******
As soon as they determine you are trying to stay long term as a tourist, that is the limit.
J.d. *******
@Kool ******
probably the best answer….Andy ********
@Kool ******
that is the best answer to a very complex issue.Reply to
Andy ********
Reply
Paul ***********
There is no limit to entries permitted but at the discretion of the IO same as every country as a non citizen or PR, if they believe you are not complying with your terms of entry they can decline you..
You are flagged in the system now
You are flagged in the system now
Darren *******
Depends on the IO. I entered Thailand probably 10 or 11 times visa exempt last year but majority of my trips were for 2 nights with longest being for 2 weeks.
If you're here for 30-90 days per trip then you have a higher chance of being flagged as they may suspect you of living and/or working in Thailand.
If you're here for 30-90 days per trip then you have a higher chance of being flagged as they may suspect you of living and/or working in Thailand.
Tony *********
He obviously didn't have his daily kratom. 555
Pat *******
@Tony ********
So you must be one of the EXPERTS!!!Jack ****************
@Tony ********
I can't tell from the text are up just teasing or are you a kratom fan?Reply to
Jack ****************
Reply
Randy ********
There is no limit. The limit is set by the immigration officer in front of you. Some don’t care, some take their job serious. I’d suggest a visa next time or an assist company to get you in.
Reply to
Randy ********
Reply
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