What are the entry rules for tourist visa exemptions in Thailand?

Sometimes it just depends on the immigration officer at time of entry

Ministry of Foreign Affairs : "Furthermore, foreigners who enter the Kingdom under this Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme may re-enter and stay in Thailand for a cumulative duration of stay of not exceeding 90 days within any 6-month period from the date of first entry."

But : just because it is on their website, you can't trust that this is the law or how it is implemented...

Example : they also write about the visa exempt : "However, please make sure that you are in possession of a passport valid for at least 6 months, a round-trip air ticket, and adequate finances equivalent to at least 10,000 Baht per person or 20,000 Baht per family. Otherwise, you may be inconvenienced upon entry into the country."

Though they write that, any onward ticket will do, doesn't have to be a round-trip air ticket.

No such rule exist. It’s up to the immigration officer. It’s all case by case. I am an American and have been in Thailand 14 months, i recently left to Laos for 20 minutes in November and went to Laos in December for 5 days. So five days outside of Thailand in 14 months is not a long time to be out of country. With my history I doubt Thailand will let me stay any longer on tourist visas. 99.9% I will denied if I try again. I am married to a Thai so will be getting a proper year long extension now.

As stated...a tourist visa entirely different than the "visa exempt" entry...

"visa exempt" is NOT a visa...

many problems can arise with the confusion of the two..

as many as the confusion with a border "bounce" and a border "visa run" ..

Both "confusions" are directly linked.

Purely at the discretion of the immigration officer. If he/she thinks a person is spending too much time in the country to qualify as a "tourist" they could be denied

You'd need to know they persons history as to why they got rejected. They could've had covid extensions and been here excessive amount of time over the last couple years. Could be dodgy in some other way and raised red flags with immigration. Could've been told this is the last time they'll be let in and they ignored it. Or any number of other reasons.

These is no explicit rule on entry's, but it is commonly reported that at around 6 months (especially back to back visits) people get questioned by immigration. Have the 3 entry requirements and you should be let in. They will normally give you a warning rather than outright rejecting you. After that enter at your own risk, as that warning will likely pop up on their computer the next time you try and enter.

There's no such thing as a 45 day tourist visa for anyone. It's a visa exempt entry. 🙃 Each visa exempt entry may only be extended once. Cost of 1900 thb at residing immigration office.

As always, one is always at the discretion of the officer in front of you.

There is no official limit, it all depends on your recent history ad how the Immigration Officer sees that. If he/she has reason to think you are abusing tourist entries then be prepared for a tough time. Your relative's 45 day entry stamp is not a Visa but a Visa Exempt entry. You can only do 2 Visa Exempt entries by land border in a calendar year, that is a true limit. You areonly allowed one tourist extension per entry stamp unless you qualify for a different extension such as married to a Thai or parent to a Thai child. You cannot stay and get a Tourist Visa as they are only issued outside the country bu Embassies or Consulates.

Pre Covid there was a limit of 2 land border crossings per year, I think. Unlimited crossing by air. I did back-to-back extensions for years (2 or 3). Advice given to me by an immigration officer is to stay in the other country for a couple of weeks. So at the time I would go wherever spend a few weeks and come back with a fresh new visa, I never had problems.

I have heard of people getting denied entry so it is best to have a plan B.