What are the current visa rules for long-term stays in Thailand after being flagged by immigration?

@Jay *****

Okay thanks. I’m about to do my third border run (with an agency) then get a non O visa.

@Doug ******

I normally use Friendly Thai Visa Service in Bangkok, they have a deal with immigration and guarantees your 60 day stamp. 4k all inclusive (even free meal at the border restaurant). They check your passport before you enter the minivan, if they cannot guarantee your stamp they not let you go

@Jay *****

is it an agency or how can I contact them?

@Jay *****

I’ve used FTV both times and will likely use them once more. They pick me up near Klaeng on the way to Cambodia. Stress free always helps.

@Doug ******

they’re great 👍 I will never use another service

@Jay *****

Jay Wick Yeah, I found an agency who offers exactly the same service (including lunch) for 600 baht cheaper but I’m very hesitant to switch. 🤷

@Doug ******

I rather use the service I know for your makes me satisfied and headache free

@Michael ******

no, no Singapore has a digital arrival card and that’s all it is I travel there every month for the last 4 years. Malaysia has the same. Thailand has the same.

@David ******

weird. I've never rented from a foreigner, but I've had the opportunity. I find that with foreign owned rentals you deal with a lot more suspicion and rarely ever get you deposit back. They are invasive, often having video cameras inside the house that only they have access to. I'd rather rent from a local that can come over and help me out when I need it. They are more friendly, understanding and kind. You know the best way to keep foreign property owners from profiting over locals? Don't let foreigners buy property. I think it is a terrible idea in every country. You are literally selling your country off.

@Daniel ********

I share all your sentiments but building thousands of condos to sell in US dollars GBP or Euros is big business. They don't have housing shortage in Thailand. Plenty of land and always more high rise blocks sprouting skywards

@Todd ********

As in, specifically told that they had stayed too long on tourist entries.

When I say deemed to have stayed too long, I mean stayed too many months on tourist stays. If you are denied at the airport, they may give you the option of going back to wherever you came from or to another neighbouring country.

However, they *can* also direct you to go back to your passport country - and they can put you in the holding cell until you do. All depends on how lucky/unlucky you get, but *generally*, if it does get to that stage, they will likely have given you at least one previous warning and made a record of it ("This time OK, next time get visa").

However, some people don't take the warning/s seriously and end up regretting it.

@Jiji **********

there is no such thing as 'staying too long' on tourist entries. There is no limit. You can be denied entry at any time if the IO's deem your use of the system to be sketchy. If you are denied entry at the airport, you will generally have the choice of your own country or country you arrived from. All you need to do is go sit in your cell, and book a ticket. If you don't have the means to book that ticket, obviously you were not a legit tourist anyway. Reinforcing their decision to deny. And yes, usually a warning (or ten) is given before denial of entry occurs

@Todd ********

Well, yeah, legally there is no limit on paper. But in actuality, imm officers *do* deny people entry based on "you stay too long, get correct visas". You're right that you can be denied if the IOs deem your use of the system to be sketchy. One of the criteria tbey use for making that judgement is the total number of days in TH on visa-exemptions.

They will literally tell people this using those exact words, even though, on the reason for rejection documents, they'll record something like "insufficient funds", even if they *were* shown 20K Baht in cash. Or "no visa", even though many nationalities can enter visa-exempt.

@Jan ******

It depends how many times he entered in the last year or so. There is no limit but if the IO believes you are not a tourist then they have a right to refuse entry or tell you to get a tourist visa next time. Doesn’t mean he’s done something wrong as it’s down to the discretion of the IO.

And the IO has to work under the Thai Immigration Act!!! 😊

@Jan ******

But he hasn’t said that so you are assuming things here 🤷‍♂️

Whom has to abide by the Thai Immigration Act!

@Jeremy *******

who cares about „official limits“? there will be internal immigration guidelines how the officers have to react and things have changed as we can see with the amount of denials this year. there have been other well known guidelines in the past like 90 days out of 180 days, etc.. anyway, just get a proper visa, it can be that easy… people are gaming the system and it would be great if they crack down more on these and make it really strict

@Dany *******

there’s never been a “90 days out of 180” policy.

@Stéfan *******

the dude is out of his mind

@Stéfan *******

there was. its even on many embassies websites and wasnt removed. if it was enforced or

not was a different story. and not all immigration guidelines are publicly available.

@Dany *******

but still no official limits…all the rest of your diatribe is just fake fear mongering news

@Jeremy *******

all your comments that are the same every day on every post about no limits have almost zero value and don't help anyone, it's like "officially there are no prostitutes in Pattaya, it's a family destination".

Cut the crap and get straight to the point with the info you know is true and only write in follow-ups : it's up to the IO and there are internal guidelines.

You seem liketo be on a mantra dude

@Jeremy *******

People like Mr Nomad have no awareness regarding the challenges of other travelers, financial or otherwise. He just wants Thailand to fill up with wealthy Caucasians and perceives all others as unworthy.

@Jeremy *******

that's fair. You're missed by some of us though. Hope you're well.

@Dâu *******

I’m great no problems at all

@Todd ********

if you are flagged it will tell IO to question you.

@Michael *******

it’s still up to the individual I/O who wields the power of the stamp in what they want to do at that moment in time

No it's not they are government employees whom have to abide by the Thai Immigration Act!

@Jeremy *******

personal experience land and air and checked with IO friend in Krabi, if you are flagged you are flagged

@Michael *******

it’s still at the I/O’s discretion

@Michael *******

yes, and he/she may or may not do so. And may or may not grant entry. At which point you contact an agency or arrange to fly in. Or reach out to a guy like Tod D and ask specific advice for your situation. Very helpful

@John *********

absolutely, specially if you have been applying for an extension.

@Oswald ******

hmmm 8 years to finish the Air Force Academy which is only

A 4 year school in which you get your commission,…something ain’t adding up here…especially in the 1960’s when they would have booted straight to Nam and not let you stay in school

@Oswald ******

Looking for the attention you missed in childhood Oswald?

@Oswald ******

it's a dump is it Ozzie? I wonder why you are here lurking then. Seems your days are done. Certainly appears to be the case from your profile mugshot

Yep but there IS the right visa for everyone so stop trying to abuse the tourist visa exempt if you live here. Seems reasonable. 👍

@Mark *********

if that was the case, this conversation would not be occurring. And obviously anyone effectively using the tourist exemption scheme for any period of time is simply taking advantage of the system in place. That's how it works. Seems very reasonable

@Todd ********

yet when folks find themselves suddenly stuck outside of the country they expect to live in, then it becomes very unreasonable and we get posts like this.🤣

@Mark *********

Oh Mark. Warnings have ALWAYS been happening. The 'warning' is very common. My best friend here was given same 'warning' 3 years and 12 entries ago. And clearly the third entry won't be the reason for denial. As thousands do it and there is no limit. If they think you are trying to work/working or can't show you are able to support yourself or up to dubious activity... you will have a problem. Otherwise no. And has your 'friend' ever heard of border bounce agencies? Cmon man

@Todd ********

brother I’m sure you want the world to stay the same it has the last 60 years but it hasn’t and won’t. 👍 I’ve know several other people who actually didn’t make it through, watch here long enough and you’ll see them too.

Get the right fucking visa and stop being a baby and it won’t be a problem.

@Mark *********

lol, you are sure are you?! Good lord man. Lots has changed. And the DTV makes long term stay more easy than ever doesn't it? There has ALWAYS been people who don't make it through. There is always gonna be lineups at the overstay counter. It's the same everywhere. If there was a right visa for everybody, this page wouldn't be getting many visits would it?

@Todd ********

every answer in the forum can be had with Google.

I stay to try and help others. There is a right visa for everyone. 👍😂 That’s why I came here first on an METV and then bought a privilege visa to live. It’s all really simple honestly.

But times are changing and people have been getting stopped more lately. I have friends living here on every visa you can find. But if you think you can just skirt by visa exempt, it can and will catch up to you. Just get the right visa. Easy 👍

@Mark *********

as can every wrong answer be found on Google. Which again is why the forum exists and has a strong following. Privilege visa is great if you don't qualify for LTR and it's the easiest visa out there. Which is awesome. But it's beyond the means of many. Yes, it was all quite simple for me also. But we both recognize that is not the case for many. Times are always changing. It's utterly useless to keep going back to this. Welcome to this century. As i know many people here skirting the edges of the system or encountering difficulties (in each of the 3 countries i live in + my own) there are patterns and changes in immigration policy and enforcement everywhere. Thailand is a bit unique and has many complexities that people encounter. Not so easy at all for many

@Todd ********

people just have PTSD and are scarred for life over a warning..it happens get over it

@Mark *********

there is no official limit on entrances via air or land…I know people back in the day that had 3 or more of the dreaded Red Stamp and still came in all the time…in Thailand just sabai sabai

@Padma's *****

but does the IO know if you have a return ticket?

@Nelson *****

I’ve been asked once how long I’m staying

@Padma's *****

they won't need to ask now that the TDAC is required

@เดแคลน **********

but there is no official policy on the number of times…the I/O’s can and will make up their mind based off your individual “border arrivals” history…some will say no limits entrance some will say too many denied..it’s as clear as mud…good luck

@Jeremy *******

mate, you are totally right! Ive seen it hundreds of times! There is no real rule about visa runs, and actually they cant decline you( o ly if you are on a black list), but they try hard with the other rules ( 20k baht cash, flught out ticket, booking of staying). Thats how people have been sent back from the border.

@Jeremy *******

you are just repeating what I said with more words... Reading comprehension isnt your strong suit is it 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

@เดแคลน **********

there is no limitations on air sea or land entrances

@Jeremy *******

yeah understanding basic English really isn't up your Alley. Show me where I said or indicated that there was a limit...

@เดแคลน **********

there isn’t any at all so go out and back as many timed as you like

@Jeremy *******

God you're fucking dumb. A loaf of bread has better comprehension of the English language than you

@เดแคลน **********

show me where it says limitations in either Thai or English

@Jeremy *******

show me where I said there was limitations dumbarse

@เดแคลน **********

you’re such an abusive simp

@Jeremy *******

why, because I have the ability to actually conprehend written English and you don't?

@เดแคลน **********

it’s not about the ability to understand or even write English it’s about tone in which you write…one would think with a person using Thai articles you would have embraced the sabai sabai Thai lifestyle…but hence I was wrong and you’re just a kปนt

@เดแคลน **********

I’m still going to be me and you’re still going to be you…and your profile pic tells me you’re a simp

@Jeremy *******

cmon man that's uncalled for

@Sylvester ********

if you understand Thai you would see what he write about me…then you would change your mind

@Jeremy *******

Again you get what you give "c*nt". I do find it hilarious you think you're insulting me by calling me a simp though... I honestly couldn't care if you think or believe I'm a simp 🤷 I have someone who loves me dearly, you have your pillow you cry into every night, we are not the same.

@เดแคลน **********

yes we aren’t the same…you pay someone to stay with you 🤣🤣

@Jeremy *******

what's even more hilarious than you thinking I'm a simp is you thinking I'm paying for my wife to be with me or that I ever paid for her to be with me 🤣🤣🤣🤣

@เดแคลน **********

you really don’t understand payments and how vague of a word it is…but yet you go straight to the most despondent meaning of it…if you pay the rent you’re paying for her to stay…if you pay for holidays you’re paying her to stay…if you buy food you’re paying her to stay..:but yet you went straight to the gutter meaning which shows me everything about you

@Jeremy *******

you should take a look in the mirror, you're the one who took what I said to the gutter through your own thought process, not me. Our entire relationship has been equal and thats exactly what i meant by what i said. We both buy the groceries, we both pay to take our family on holiday, we both take each other on dates, and we both pay the mortgages. It's very clear why youre in a "complicated" relationship crying into your pillow every night. I'm done with your pathetic attempts at inflating your ego. Have a nice event kปนt

@เดแคลน **********

you to KPNT…but I doubt every world you just wrote…you’re the only one taking me not the other way around

@เดแคลน **********

yeah yeah yeah and now you’re making up words that I called you…please show me where I called you a C

@Jeremy *******

"it's complicated", yup! Salty, alone and jealous of healthy relationships. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

@เดแคลน **********

this all the same diatribe that simps say to massage their egos 🤣🤣🤣🤣

@Jeremy *******

why? because I have a very healthy loving relationship with my wife after 10 years whereas you're clearly a salty lonely jealous man with no one who loves you? I'll take being simp for my wife of 10 years over being alone and salty any day of the week

@Jeremy *******

there was a question mark there for a reason. Last time I came in the immigration officer said they're now cracking down on anyone staying more than 180 days a year

@Wolf *********

if you stay more than 180 days you become a tax resident at that point

@Jeremy *******

sorry you are wrong. Though not written they have turned many people back.

My wife came in ( third exempt entry) last year with a very strong warning.

They actually denied her entry, I had gone through, I went back and talked our way out of a bad situation.

We were told next time get a proper visa if you are coming so often.

It depends on the visa official, I was flagged through, my wife wasn’t.

@Andrew ******

I used 5 times last year, had no issues, no one questioned 😅

@Andrew ******

yes I was pulled aside and told next time to Thailand No Visa No entry

@Stuart *********

yes, well we are now in the process of doing our retirement visa. Once we get that we will do our LTR visa, no more visa exemption entries for us.

@Andrew ******

so to summarize, you were questioned by immigration officers doing their job well and once again both granted entry to the Kingdom right?

@Andrew ******

he’s right and he’s wrong. I’ve been down this track with immigration. There is no limit it’s at the discretion of the immigration officer. What they’re looking for is people trying to live in Thailand with a visa exemption. If you’re travelling in and out regularly over a year or more they can turn you down. They know tourists come spend a couple of weeks or months then go to other Asian countries then often return to Thailand. They can see that in your passport. But if you’d travelling back and forth from your home country every few months then it’s an indication you’re living between the two countries. They can refuse you entry. I was doing that from July 22 until September 23 back and forth then came back to live. On the prior trip I’d set up a bank account with 800,000 baht and had an email from my immigration agent detailing the cost and process for a retirement visa. The immigration officer looked at my passport and asked me why I was coming and going because it appeared I wasn’t a tourist. I explained, showed him my bank book balance and email. He said nothing and stamped my passport through. If I hadn’t had that set up I’d have told him my plans and would be happy to get a visa next time if that was required. You got to think it through, that immigration officer has a lot of power at that point and he can turn you away or work with you as long as you respect him and show respect for the Thai laws.

@Brenton *****

I agree with you completely. If you are staying here they want you to get the proper long stay visa. They do look at your track record, specifically for that calendar year.

We are now in the process of getting our Retirement (Non-O) visa.

@Andrew ******

if you keep coming here without getting the right visa expecting to get visa exempts and you get turned around thats your fault and problem.

@Andrew ******

curious, did you both queue up together so we're served by the same IO?

@Nelson *****

no we were in different lines.

I actually went back and spoke to the supervisor ( they let me in through a side gate) after she was denied entry and after a lot of arguing they let her in. I said “you can’t let me in and not my wife- so they let her in with a warning”

@Andrew ******

that's an unfortunate situation to be in. Glad it worked out.

@Andrew ******

still no officially written policy for entrances via land or air…you just had a bad experience

@Jeremy *******

perhaps nothing written. But it’s happening, I have read this a few time in the last couple of months. I think they are cracking down.

@Andrew ******

you have PTSD and are scared for life from your bad experience at immigration…there is no official limit on entrances via air or land

@Jeremy *******

there is no official limit but they are paying more attention to frequent visitors using the visa exemption.

@Nongnuch *******

You said, "After two visa-exempt stays of 60+30 days, you will be refused entry." You state this as a fact. Is this the case every time? I haven't lived in Thailand in a couple years so maybe the new rules explicitly state this but I hadn't heard of this.

@Nongnuch *******

lol - i just proved you stupid AND a liar. Now that's a good boy to fix your text. You are welcome for the correction. Appalling lack of knowledge shown here.

@Todd ********

you are really thick, thicker than a brick. I just checked the London Embassy website. There is no proof of 20,000 THB needed for applications to a tourist visa single or multiple entry. In Germany, the proof is required. So you are correct if you just said: It depends on specific country and specific embassy if the proof is asked for or not

@Larry *****

actually it's not a fact, but we receive more and more reports that Immigration is taking a hard stance against people who try repeated visa-exmpt entries . . I am taking your criticism as being profounded, so I changed & softened the text accordingly in so that you will "most probably get refused entry after you have maxxed out the past 6 months with visa-exempt stay permits and their 30-days extensions"

@Nongnuch *******

in all fairness, you are simply not being honest. You know your last is pure bs as well as we do

@Todd ********

I happen to know a lot more about these topics than you

@Nongnuch *******

then why are you lying? Clearly you know less than you think. Now fix your post. Nobody needs a bullshitter

@Todd ********

I just checked the London Embassy website. There is no proof of 20,000 THB needed for applications to a tourist visa single or multiple entry. In Germany, the proof is required. So you are correct if you just said: It depends on specific country and specific embassy if the proof is asked for or not

@Todd ********

so now please prove me wrong

@Todd ********

OPEN your EYES! Application to Tourist Visa (single or multiple) using E-Visa System of the Royal Thai General Consulate Frankfurt. . . . Requirement of 20,000 THB just added a fewdays ago . . . . Do you need any other proofs, you d......k ? Because I doubt if the admins allow me linking the consulate webpage

@Nongnuch *******

So maybe they will change the 60 days on arrival to 30 days like before and for a 60 days visa you need to show the 20 000 baht?

@Yasmin **********

I don't like to draw speculations, rather follow the flow and go day-by-day. Who knows what's on the mind of people who come up with new laws and proposals for new laws every week ? 😉

@Nongnuch *******

the only reason this current thread exists is because of your idiotic speculations. Now go to bed.

@Larry *****

it is not a fact but more and more people are being told they need to get the right visa for their intenions

@Yasmin **********

OK, that's what I thought. I just don't like crazy misinformation floating about.

@Larry *****

From what i read online they make it more difficult to live in Thailand on border runs. And i think it is because of the DTV where you need to have a minimum amount on your bank account

@Kenneth **********

I believe 96 countries are on the list

@Sylvia *******

is Philippines on list?

@Graham *****

yes I am from Denmark so I get 60 days I usually stay 90 days and get a 30 day extension at the emigration Office for 1,900 Bath.

Thank you for info

@Sylvia *******

this is incorrect they receive 60 days visa exempt, nothing has changed.

@Chris ******

apologies

@Yasmin **********

so right now we all get 60 days upon arrival in Thailand ?

@Ken****

well it is down to the discretion of the immigration officer to decide. They can give the maximum on exempt on arrival, or they can give less if they so decide, depending on how they feel in the circumstances. Always worth a check to see what you get at the time and not just surmise you will get the maximum available for your passport.

@Stan *********

lol, cmon man. False

@Stan *********

Fake news

@Stan *********

that is totally false. If you are from a country, that gets 60 day visa exempt they will give you 60 days that is a policy. It’s not up to the discretion of the immigration officer if you are visa exempt. Never heard of anyone being stamped in for less than what the current Visa exempt stay allows. 30 days or 60 days. 

@Kenneth **********

if you are from on of the countries that get the 60 days bij arrival yes