What are the experiences of entering Thailand multiple times within a year on a Canadian passport?

Oct 16, 2023
a year ago
El *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi all,

Does anyone have experiences to report good or bad with entering Thailand either by land or air for the 4th time this year? I realize it depends on the individual officer at the border etc but I'm just trying to get an idea of how likely I am to be accepted/refused. I'm a Canadian traveling on a Canadian passport.

More info: Have been taking an extended holiday after not being able to travel for 3 years during covid time. Entered initially at BKK by air, then went out at Satun by land, then went a few days to Singapore and came back to Krabi by air.

I'm wondering if I'm risking getting refused and it's better to do another trip across the border via Satun, or just to take a little two week trip or so to Penang or something similar, but then I'm worried if I risk being refused at the airport coming back in. Not intending to stay in Thailand past that, planning to leave in early Jan to head back home to Canada. Thanks for any info!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The author seeks insights from others on their experiences entering Thailand multiple times in a year, especially as a Canadian citizen. They express concern about potential refusals at the border, based on their previous travel patterns. Responses highlight that border control focuses more on the duration of stay rather than the number of entries. Suggestions include obtaining a METV for easier travel.
Roberto *********
Why don't you just get an METV? This will give you up to nine months without hassle?
El *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
seems like a huge pain to apply for, I looked at going to get a tourist visa at neigboring embassies however you need an appointment at all of them now, and i guess fixers take them all then try to sell them back to you? just seems like a giant pain in the ass vs. just being able to go and apply
Roberto *********
@El ****
A huge pain to apply for? And yet you're happy to border bounce perpetually hoping to God you're not going to get refused entry and get a black mark on your immigration record? Your call I guess.
Tony *********
It's anyone's guess
El *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
fair enough lol, that makes sense
Brandon ************
It has more to do with how much time you've been in Thailand than how many times you've entered. If you enter and then get an extension for the maximum time then leave and return and get an extension and they see you keep leaving for a short amount of time then returning for maximum time, you're not fooling them at all and they know you're trying to live in Thailand.
El *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
Thank you, that makes sense. Do they typically just outright refuse you at the border, or to just say, ok last one? I'm not looking to stay past that then, I've just been decompressing after a few hard covid years. Thank you for any info!
Brandon ************
@El ****
no way to say. They could pull you out of line and hassle you for 1-2 hours before letting you in, or they could deny entry. Or they could let you in without any of that.
John **********
@El ****
entirely up to the immigration officer you stand in front of on the day. If you haven't used the 2 allowed land entries yet this year I'd recommend that you use a border run company. They will check your history and won't take you unless they can get you back in again
El *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
Thank you that's good to know.
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