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What are the implications of 'comments' in the Thai immigration system and how can they affect future entries?

Thai Immigration Visa Comments Visa Regulations Border Control Visa Runs Tourist Visa ED Visa Exemptions Long-term Visa Travel Advice

Apr 19, 2025

5 days ago

Cucina *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

🇹🇭 Has anyone experienced “comments” in the Thai immigration system?

Some travelers have reported receiving shorter stays or facing stricter questioning at the border after entering Thailand multiple times within a short period. In certain cases, visa agencies later confirmed that a “comment” (internal note) had been added to the traveler's immigration profile.

These comments are not visible and not officially communicated, but immigration officers can see them when scanning the passport. They may be triggered by recurring patterns such as:

Frequent entries and exits within a short timeframe

Short stays outside Thailand between entries

Behavior that resembles visa runs or long-term stays without the proper visa

This raises questions about how such comments might affect future entries or visa applications, and whether they can be viewed or removed.

Some common suggestions include:

Applying for an ED visa, which is possible if at least 45 days remain on the current permission to stay

If only 20 days remain, it may be too late to apply from within Thailand — applying from Cambodia might be safer

Using the e-Visa system, if applicable

Waiting a few months before returning, to allow the situation in the system to “cool off”

Any experiences or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

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TLDR : Answer Summary

This post discusses the phenomenon of "comments" in the Thai immigration system, which are internal notes that may affect a traveler's profile based on their entry and exit patterns. Some travelers report shorter stays or stricter questioning after repeated entries within a short timeframe. While immigration officers can see these comments, they are not officially communicated. Suggestions for mitigating the effects of these comments include applying for an ED visa, using the e-Visa system, or waiting extended periods before re-entering Thailand. Commenters share personal experiences and advice regarding the risks associated with frequent border crossings.

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Jordan *****

I will give an advice as someone who spends 4-5 months a year in Thailand on tourist visas, or exemptions, and who at one time had an ED visa (which has not attracted any attention from immigration). Don’t attempt more than two trips a year without a long term visa, 4-5 months is possible, but more is risky.

4 days ago

Robert *********

@Jordan ****

i do 6 months a year ,25+ years .multiple entry tourist

Never had a issue .

They see me go home 6 months a year every year .

When people start playing the system it's quite obvious to the officers ..

3 days ago

Cucina *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Jordan ****

Thanks for sharing your experience! It's true that frequent trips on tourist visas or exemptions can raise red flags, especially if done repeatedly. Your advice about transitioning to a long-term visa after a couple of trips makes sense to avoid complications. It’s always better to plan ahead and ensure your visa matches your intended length of stay to avoid any issues with immigration. Unfortunately, in this case, there’s already a comment in the system, and perhaps next time it would be better to have a visa in hand that isn't a visa on arrival

4 days ago

Henrik *****

International conventions regard travels shorter than 3 month as tourist, longer is more doubtful, if can be classified as tourist.

Remember that Immigration Officers may work long hours 6 days a week, and have less than 14 days holiday every year, so can be hard to understand that other people have several months of holiday, and not appear to be a wealthy person by apperance.

3 days ago

Jordan *****

@Cucina ****

they would make it a lot easier for them and for everyone else if they gave a fixed number of days per year that you can spend in the country as a tourist. How the policy stands now it is absolutely irrational since some people get punished for nothing while serial border hoppers are still allowed to operate with impunity

4 days ago

Jordan *****

@Cucina ****

i don’t plan on getting a long term visa, as far as I am concerned 4 months should not cause any problems. I usually spend 2-3 months outside the country anyway. A lot of Thai tourism is people coming back. If they were to start systematically denying entry to people like me they would really screw up. On the other hand I am not surprised that they deny border runners. I have not done a single border run since 2001 when I first visited the country

4 days ago

Reply to

Jordan *****

Daniele ***********

How do I know if I have a "comment"? Probably yes, met so many idiots at immigration counters

4 days ago

Michael ********

Yes i was flagged before after too many visa runs (price of oil went down so not much work) just went and got long term visa

4 days ago

Cucina *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Michael *******

Thanks for sharing your experience! Could you share what type of long-term visa you applied for, and if you think taking a break from entry could help cool off the situation before returning? Also, do you recommend applying for the ED visa (for example from Cambodia) or perhaps using the e-Visa system in this scenario?

4 days ago

Henrik *****

For the ED-visa you have to actually study, and to attend classes, and not be travelling.

3 days ago

Michael ********

@Cucina ****

I dont think taking a break will help much, I got two passports and could still use one and went to use the other one after 18 months and still got pulled over,

4 days ago

Reply to

Michael ********

Brandon ************

Comments don't really matter. If you are a serial border bouncer, the officer can see that themselves, they don't need a comment to see it. Comments would be more along the lines of you already received a warning for something, so next time you'll actually be denied entry.

And no one gets a shorter stay based on where they enter or notes in the system. There is no way to receive a shorter stay. You receive the stamp that you qualify for period. They can't arbitrarily decide to give you 30 days instead of 60 day for exempt for example. They either give you the full stamp or they deny you entry.

5 days ago

Cucina *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Brandon ***********

Thank you for the response. It was a 30-day stamp, I assure you. There was no prior warning.

4 days ago

Rene ******

@Brandon ***********

somebody couldnt extend because in the system was written "at arrival he showed return ticket for day 59", so comments can matter

(He was able to extend at Samui though)

5 days ago

Henrik *****

More likely to be 2 visaruns back to back, that lead to the restriction.

All Immigration officers are allowed to ask all the questions they like, without it being “suspecious”.

When entering visa excempt of tourist visa there is a requirement to be able to show that you intent to leave Thailand within the granted period, so also nothing odious about that neither.

Some tourist often misunderstand a onward ticket as to be a returnticket.

3 days ago

Cucina *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Rene *****

Thanks for sharing this! It seems like comments in the system can indeed impact the extension process, like the case you mentioned with the return ticket. It's good to know that the person was still able to extend at Samui

4 days ago

Jim ********

@Rene *****

this is not a Visa it’s a Visa exemption. If you want to be in Thailand for a long period get a Visa.

4 days ago

Brandon ************

@Rene *****

I wouldn't rely on anything you hear from Koh Phangnan or Koh Samui in regards to normal situations. Both of those immigration offices are rogue offices that don't follow many guidelines of Thai immigration. They're 2 of the only 3 offices in Thailand that don't allow tourists to apply for extensions until it's almost out of time. They just do what they want and they're allowed to do so. There are many, many reports of people that have been warned at immigration, showed a ticket out, and have absolutely no issue getting an extension in Bangkok, or anywhere else.

5 days ago

Reply to

Brandon ************

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