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What are the differences between tourist visas and visa exemptions for long stays in Thailand?

Tourist VisaVisa ExemptionVisa RunsBorder Run StrategyMulti-Entry VisaThai Immigration Rules
Oct 24, 2023
a year ago
Joseph *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hey guys :) I've just got a few questions i'm unsure with.

1. Does the tourist visa offer a longer stay than just getting stamped in with no visa at the gate?

2. If you spent 6-8 months in thailand doing tourist visa runs, could you theoretically start the process again in the next calander year?

3. What's the best stratagy for a border run, perhaps visiting a town nearby so the visa run doesnt take 14 hours from bangkok? And whats the best visa run stratagy for flying, perhaps malaysia or vietnam for a few days/weeks?

4. Is the multi entry visa limited to 2 border runs per year? or does that only apply to the other visa/non visa holders?

Thanks for anyone who can answer any of these questions <3
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion covers several important questions about staying in Thailand on tourist visas and visa exemptions. A tourist visa allows a stay of 60 days, which can be extended by an additional 30 days, compared to a visa exemption that permits only 30 days. It is also noted that while individuals can perform visa runs, excessive border crossings can attract immigration scrutiny, and it's advised to consider applying for long-term visas to avoid complications. The multi-entry visa does not limit land border crossings.
Cliff *********
These questions are asked daily. Why not do some homework and read the posts yourself? Then you can drill down on the specifics you need.
a year ago
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Frank **********
Time for you to try and get a long term visa or go home for about a year.
a year ago
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Todd *********
@Frank *********
 the voice of inexperience.
a year ago
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Todd *********
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Stuart *********
Trying to stay long term with tourist visas or exempt entries isn’t going to work for long. At some point you will be pulled aside and questioned about your intentions and possibly flatly denied entry.

No one can predict when that might be as it’s up to the individual officer you hand your passport to. Some manage
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/6 entries with no issue. Many are stopped at less.
a year ago
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Wayne *********
Tourist visa is 60 days plus can extend for another 30 days.

Trying to live and do border runs or flights in and out can eventually catch the attention of an Immigration officer and you get stopped and question. No one can really say how long you can get away with doing it, some get stopped much quicker than others, some dont get stopped like me i flew in and out every 2 weeks on visa exempt for years but i always had return tickets which could be why I wasn’t stopped
a year ago
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Joseph *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Wa***
 do you think if you left thailand for like 3 months then a new calander year ticked over, do you reckon you could theoretically repeat the process of another multi entry visa?
a year ago
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John **********
@Joseph ******
 you can only get a multi entry tourist visa in your home country so you'd have to go back there to apply. You'd need to talk to the embassy in your home country to see what interval they will accept
a year ago
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Joseph *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 thanks for your reply, cant you just apply for it online at
************************
? I thought it was only certain countries that had to apply for it at the embassy
a year ago
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John **********
@Joseph ******
 depending where you are you can use the e-visa system, there are two issues with regards the multi entry tourist visa.

1. You can only apply for it in your home country (or a country in which you have residence)

2. You can only apply for a visa in the country you are physically in. If that country uses the e-visa system then yes you can use it but you need to show where you are.

I didn't actually say you need to apply at the embassy but rather ask them their position on issuing multiple multiple entry tourist visas. Some of the embassies nearby Thailand have now stopped issuing multiple (single entry) visas, it's one and you're done.
a year ago
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Joseph *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
 gotchya, i think what i'm hoping for is to try and visa run my way through atleast 6-8 months in thailand, go back home for a break, and perhaps re apply for another one 6 months or so later if i feel the urge to go on another long thailand trip. Cheers for the info!
a year ago
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John **********
@Joseph ******
 if you want to come for 6-8 months the multi entry tourist visa is the way to go, gets you up to 9 months if used carefully. And if you then spend 6 months back home I don't think you'd have any problem getting another one
a year ago
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David ********
@John *********
 please explain as I'm looking at 8 mths myself and the multi only gives me 6 mths with 2 border bounces as required
a year ago
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John **********
@David *******
 you can do a final border bounce the day before it expires and get a final 60 days which can be extended by 30 days
a year ago
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Graham ******
@Joseph ******
 Yes you can but it gets forwarded to your "home" Embassy/Consulate for approval if your home country supports the eVisa
a year ago
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Stuart *********
@Joseph ******
 The online system routes the application to the relevant embassy. If they have rules about how many applications you can have in a year they’ll reject a further application. Each sets their own rules so impossible to say how yours would call it.
a year ago
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Stuart *********
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Wayne *********
@Joseph ******
 yes with visa its much better than visa exempt
a year ago
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Joseph *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Wayne ********
 thanks a lot mate
a year ago
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Joseph *******
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Stuart *********
1. A tourist visa will give you 60 days on entry. A visa exempt will give you 30. Both (for most nationalities) are extendable once for 30 days at a local immigration office.

2. Two land border crossings are allowed in a calendar year for visa exempt entries.

3. Flying out then in there’s no real strategy. If you can find the right flights get on the next one back. No time limit.

4. Multi entry visa is not limited to any amount of land border crossings. You can do one every day if you so choose.
a year ago
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Ashley **********
@Stuart ********
 does it matter which you do first? Like, could you come on a tourist visa (60 days), and then extend once (30 days), and then come in visa exempt and extend once (60 days) and then do the 2 land border crossings (60 days)? So essentially buying you 210 days?
a year ago
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Stuart *********
@Ashley *********
 As
@Bra****
 says the order doesn’t matter. Whether you could get 210 days is debatable. In theory it’s possible but you are at the hands of a Thai immigration officer as to whether they would allow.
a year ago
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Brandon ************
@Ashley *********
 the order doesn't matter
a year ago
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Ashley **********
@Brandon ***********
 I was just thinking that the tourist visa would need to be first since you can't apply for a tourist visa from inside the Thailand. But I'm still learning so I could be totally confused! 😉
a year ago
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Stuart *********
@Ashley *********
 You can’t get a tourist visa inside of Thailand but you can apply for one from a nearby embassy or consulate (for many nationalities at least).
a year ago
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Ashley **********
@Stuart ********
 thank you!
a year ago
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Ashley **********
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Joseph *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
 amazing, thanks man
a year ago
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Joseph *******
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Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
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