What are the current visa exemption rules for long-term stays in Thailand for tourists?

You will have to get used to that. It seems the Thai government doesn't want expats using free on arrival visas for living in Thailand. However nothing is being done about Indian nationals using Thai beaches as toilets.

Just tightening up but if you are not the quote sort of person they are targeting them you should be ok. But take advice and apply for a visa

I just got stopped 10 minute interview. I was let in visa next time was advised

Its simple….. get a visa!!

A 6 month multi entry is easy to apply for, costs £150 and saves any hassle!

Easy to just get a visa and not worry.

Hi mate I’m from Australia I entered 6 times last year and I feel very lucky I got in last time it’s open to the discretion of the immigration officer you get I’ve applied for the DTV visa I’m not prepared to risk it again and the lady who let me thesis the same

I only stay one month and fly home but now it’s a big risk

 maximum 2 border runs runs allowed now

Pretty sure the rules have not actually changed, they’re just been more strictly enforced. From what I understand it’s to deter, or put an end, or try to put an end, to those who for all intents and purposes live here but do so using out and in ‘border runs’ all the time rather than get the correct visa.

Really dont see why thats an issue, now they starting to get ridiculous

Get a visa. Is than a problem for you?

Why do people find it so hard to just get a proper visa instead of trying to live here on free entry stamps?

There are no new "visa rules" and there is no new law.

There is no “reset” when a new calendar year begins.

There is no limit of two visa-exemptions within a 1-year period, and definitely not within a calendar. This is simply not true.

What has changed, mandated from above, is the strict scrutinizing of your number of visa-exempt entries and the thorough check on "visa runners" (actually they meant to say "back-to-back border runners").The new approach taken by border officials is intended to ensure that the option to do a "visa run" is not abused.

Now as far as regarding extensions on visa-exempt entries, it does appear that the Immigration offices are indeed only issuing 7-day extensions if you already got one previous 30-day extension on any visa exempt entry

It is totally up to the discretion of the immigration officer you are in front of when you apply for the extension and they will tell you if you can get the 30-days extension, or if you only get the 7-days extension.

Fact is right now it is totally subjective and up to the officer you are standing in front of when you go to stamp into the country, for them to decide if you're a "real tourist" or if they think you're milking the visa exempt entry program.

There is just no clear directive as far as what's what, however from a few interviews with Immigration top officers, a few basic patterns have crystallized.

Some people with a 30-days extension already on a previous visa exempt entry reported getting another 30-days extension without any issue, however some have reported they only got a 7-days extension issued. Your experience might vary from that.

The 7-day extension is a REAL extension. It is not the same as the stamp "application for extension denied, you have 7 days to leave the Kingdom" even if for some people it looks like the “7-days grace period”.

I have already seen the stamp of a 7-days extension, it takes up half of a passport page.

Visa-exempt entries themselves are not limited, even though some believe that unlimited visa-free entries are possible by air. It is irrelevant if you enter via a land border or by air.

Visa-exempt entries are not limited to two entries per year. This is not correct.

This is a misconception, and some agents and lawyers spread this information to make profit from panicked people.

Many agents and Immigration Volunteers are warning you should not believe those alleged news telling you that visa-exempt entries are limited to two per year. It simply is not true.

In the past, visa-exempt entries were limited to two across land borders, this old rule was discontinued on July 15th, 2024.

On the paper, visa-exempt entries by air or across land and sea were “unlimited” after this date. LET ME EXPLAIN: this wording “unlimited” is not a fixed rule of Immigration – THEY decide when your “personal limit” is up.

On a few conditions, but always at the individual discretion of the border official, multiple visa-exempt entries are possible - like four, five or even more times, if you do not milk the system.

The entry history in your passport and your profile on Immigration’s Central Computer must prove that your stays were short-term holidays (like only 2-4 weeks).

Some Immigration officers will tell you the total number of visa-exempt days should not exceed 150 days, some will tell you the limit is 157 days. It remains unclear – because there is no official rule, there is no official limit. There are only guidelines on how to treat repeated entries.

Your best proof that you are not milking the visa-free system is when you can show that you returned to your home country between each visa-exempt stay, or stayed abroad for a long time. And when you always are able to show an onward travel proof

ATTENTION: an “onwardticket” can be scolded upon by Immigration and you can be accused of showing a faked ticket, denied entry and being forced to buy a ticket back to your origin.

The new approach was to prohibit "visa runs," where you only entered a neighboring country briefly and then immediately re-entered.

You must be able to prove your short holiday at the Immigration counter—for example, with proof of onward travel or a return journey, such as a flight ticket. A border official would then rather consider you being a "genuine" tourist based on short holiday trips within a year. They expect to see on their Central Computer that you never maximized any of these visa-exempt holidays.

What is crystal-clear: "per year" means "within a one-year period”.

Some people still say it means “calendar year”, yet this does not make much sense. We have received many confirmations after January 1st, 2026, that nothing “had reset in the new calendar year”. The count is based on a rolling year.

Those who want to play safe should obtain a single-entry tourist visa in advance for stays of up to 60 days, with the option to extend for 30 more days.

For people who like to spend half a year in South East Asia and who like to make Thailand the hub for other travels, the 6-months multi-entry Tourist Visa is the recommended choice

It's only 9th February and your doing 2nd trip for this year already maybe rang bells at Immigration