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What are the current rules for visa runs and border crossings in Thailand?

Visa rulesThai immigrationVisa exemptionsBorder crossingsVisa runsNon-O visaVisa durationSamui border
Dec 4, 2025
2 days ago
Rob ******
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around the rules and experiences related to visa runs in Thailand, particularly at land borders and the implications of visa exemptions. Comments express skepticism about the official status of a shared visa information post, discuss the logistics of border crossings, and highlight confusion about how long one must leave Thailand to re-enter after a visa run. There's also mention of updates on visa regulations and experiences with extending visa exemptions.
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Kevin *********
Where was this notice displayed?
2 days ago
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Tom *****
@Kevin ********
 probablement koh samui
2 days ago
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Graham ******
@Tom ****
 yes but where specifically?
2 days ago
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Graham ******
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Phil ******
@Rob *****
 just to add and update you as theres a bit more happening. This is from the Thai Visa Service that border bounce are currently suspended

****************************
2 days ago
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Charles *******
The never ending story of Visas in Thailand …..🙄🙄🙄
2 days ago
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Nick ************
@Charles ******
 it's been the same for years but now they are enforcing it which is a good thing. Only difference is 7 day extension instead of 30.
2 days ago
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Nick ************
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Mick ********
@John *******
2 days ago
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GiftedF*******
So does this mean we can only come in twice a year on a visa exempt entry? Or are they referring to you getting your visa exempt entry extended only twice a year? It’s not really clear.
2 days ago
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Pierre *********
GiftedFish5406 That is what I understand. So I would be very careful to use BKK as a hub from now.
2 days ago
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Sue **********
GiftedFish5406 It says as for 2026 2 visa free entrys allowed a year each one 60 days. Thats all it says, no mentioning about extensions or boder runs
2 days ago
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Patrick *********
GiftedFish5406 it means you can only come twice in 1 year on a visa exempt. First exempt you will get a 30 day extension and the second exempt you will only get 7 days extension in Thailand. After that you will be refused or get a visa.
2 days ago
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Denis *****
@Patrick ********
 May I ask what if I don't apply for any extension during my stay? For example, can I visit Thailand 4 times in 2026, and each time I only stay 2 weeks and return to my home country?
2 days ago
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Shaughn ***********
@Denis ****
 the immigration officers will screen you on a case by base basis, taking into account how close you are to being in country for 150 or so days in past 12 months to determine your travel intention. They are screening for illegal workers and potential scammers.
2 days ago
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Patrick *********
@Denis ****
 after you have come into Thailand 2 times in 2026 you will need to get a visa the 3rd time I think. People with more knowledge might know if I am correct or not.
2 days ago
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Patrick *********
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Kitty ************
so technically possible to stay in Thailand for 240 days a year. 2 entries and 2 extensions.
2 days ago
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Frank **********
@Kitty ***********
 obviously your math skills are lacking.
2 days ago
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John **********
If does indeed reset on Jan 1 and if timed right could potentially be 314 days ex:
*********
60+30+60+7 x 2 = 314
2 days ago
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Gustav *************
30 day extention first time, second extention in same year only 7 days.
2 days ago
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Nickna******
@John *********
 this is not the same as 240 days per year
2 days ago
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Kitty ************
@John *********
 you're a genius.
2 days ago
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John **********
Likely wouldn't work
2 days ago
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Todd *********
@John *********
 it is the way the rules read there though… reset Jan 1…
2 days ago
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Todd *********
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Todd *********
@Kitty ***********
 2 entries and 2 extensions is either 180 days or 157 days. Depending on the second extension length
2 days ago
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Nickna******
@Kitty ***********
 math ain't mathing.

Extension is 30 days, not 60.
2 days ago
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Nickna******
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Joe ********
Ok so the question I need to ask is

Once you have crossed the boarder for visa runs

An says to leave Thailand

How long do you leave Thailand for ? To be able to enter back and start again
2 days ago
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Lawrence ********
@Joe *******
 Rest of the year unless you get an actual long-term visa. After your second exemption stamp.
2 days ago
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เดแคลน ***********
@Lawrence *******
 thats by landborder. Whether you are allowed back in by air as always is down to the immigration officer at the time but now they really are heavily scrutinising everyone with a history, not just a select few they think might be dodgy so the chances are slim to none
2 days ago
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Michael *******
@เดแคลน **********
 which by definition means, you may not even get to board a flight as airline will have to pick up cost of returning you should you be denied entry to Thailand…..
2 days ago
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Lavender ********
@Michael ******
 Airlines don’t pick up any costs. You have to purchase a return ticket or pay a fee to use the return ticket you had but at a closer date.
2 days ago
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Michael *******
Lavender Smiles so why do they bother checking must have changed I guess I have had my eligibilty to travel scrutinized numerous times at checkin maybe I look suspicious.🤨
2 days ago
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Michael *******
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Deiter ********
It kinda looks very unofficial, like something that a travel agency would have displayed.
2 days ago
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Joseph ****
@Deiter *******
 Yep, all the fretting and parsing in the comments here is pointless. This is NOT an official notice.
2 days ago
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Mario *********
Or an hotel, guesthouse.
2 days ago
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Mario *********
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Colin **********
This is common on land borders and for visa exempt. It has a reference to Samui which is not a land border its new in that sense.
2 days ago
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J **************
What is a “visa exception”?

Obviously not an official post
2 days ago
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Kevin ********
Jit tried to burn the house down last night pissed left a pot going on the stove luckily Tommy was awake saved the day.
2 days ago
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Todd *********
@J *************
 clearly has never travelled
2 days ago
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Stephen *********
@Von **********
 it is Visa exemption.
2 days ago
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Von ***********
@Stephen ********
 and yet ANOTHER 😏😏😏😏 that didn’t BOTHER to read the other replies.
2 days ago
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Von ***********
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Steve **********
It was the only mistake in the whole notice. 😆
2 days ago
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Kim *********
@Von **********
 certainly not! They talk about visa EXEMPTION entries
2 days ago
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Von ***********
@Kim ********
 ahhh another that didn’t bother to read the other replies. 😏😏😏😏
2 days ago
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Kim *********
@Von **********
 sorry - read them too late 😔
2 days ago
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Kim *********
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Jim ********
@Von **********
 No they don’t, they mean exemption
2 days ago
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Von ***********
@Jim *******
 yes I read the other replies! Clearly you didn’t bother. Nice one.😏😏😏😏
2 days ago
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Von ***********
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Phil ******
@J *************
 when entering Visa Exempt means you have no visa and it applies for people deemed 93 countries. You are stamped in fr 60 days
2 days ago
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J **************
@Phil *****
 it says exception
2 days ago
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Phil ******
@J *************
 typo comeon I do them too
2 days ago
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Kevin ********
@J *************
 its a mistake by them it should read exempt see things like this all the time on menu's signs etc English is not their first language.
2 days ago
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J **************
@Kevin *******
 why should you believe what it says
2 days ago
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Kevin ********
@J *************
 why shouldn't I?
a day ago
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Todd *********
@Kevin *******
 their.😂
2 days ago
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Kevin ********
@Todd ********
 thanks corrected it.
2 days ago
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Todd *********
@Kevin *******
 haha, beauty man. Sometimes it even auto-corrects it. Might not have been you.
2 days ago
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Kevin ********
@Todd ********
 yes auto correct has got me a few times.
2 days ago
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Kevin ********
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Phil ******
@Von **********
 nope
2 days ago
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Von ***********
@Phil *****
 I just re-read it, yes it they meant Exemption… which most want an EXTENSION of, my bad.
2 days ago
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Phil ******
@Von **********
 there's a bit more happening here. This announcement came in last week.
****************************
2 days ago
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Da **********
@Phil *****
 I guess it’s just me that’s confused by the writing of this flyer. Is it a 30 day or 60 day visa when first arriving?
2 days ago
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Phil ******
@Da *********
 in this case your stamped in without a visa for 60-days. 93 countries can do this
2 days ago
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Von ***********
@Phil *****
 cool. Doesn’t affect me, on Non-O and 12 mth extension.

Good to know what is happening though just the same.
2 days ago
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Phil ******
@Von **********
 me either. I did years ago and am still on their mailing list
2 days ago
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Phil ******
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Todd *********
@J *************
 exemption
2 days ago
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Wayne ********
@J *************
 I think they’re talking about Visa exempt because it mentions 60 days which is a visa exempt entry
2 days ago
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Lawrence ********
@Von **********
 No! They mean exemption. Visa Exemption.
2 days ago
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J **************
@Von **********
 how can you take seriously anything with the that kind of error ?
2 days ago
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Todd ********
@J *************
 youve never read Thai road signs in English?? Break the law you still get a ticket. “My friend you “clearly thinks everyone in Thailand writes perfect English 🤨🤨🤨
2 days ago
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J **************
@Todd *******
 it’s not an official

Notice ! Where does it state its point of origin ? .
2 days ago
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Todd ********
@J *************
 maybe the local immigration staff was tired of the dumb “i didnt know that “ look so an advisory sign was made. Imagine them dealing with this everyday…..just like the constant same visa questions posted on fb.
2 days ago
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J **************
@Todd *******
 we don’t know who wrote it
2 days ago
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J **************
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Farang *********
@J *************
 very easy, we all do it from time to time. After all the number of times I have seen people spell colour as color.
2 days ago
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Wayne ********
@William ********
 exemption, not exception
2 days ago
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Bob **********
@William ********
 why are they using the word visa a exempt stamp is not a visa
2 days ago
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Stephen *********
@William ********
 exemption not exception
2 days ago
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William *********
@Stephen ********
 yeah.. that 🙂
2 days ago
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Reply to
William *********
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Jon *****
@William ********
 Visa exemption
2 days ago
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Reply to
Jon *****
Reply
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