What are the implications of spending more than 180 days in Thailand on visa exemptions?

The mentioning of „not more than 180 days within a 365-days period“ still gets mentioned on some Thai embassies and consulates websites.

However, embassies are subsidies of the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whilst Thai Immigration is a subsidy of the Ministry of Interior.

These different ministries interpret the rules differently.

An Immigration officer is has the right to use his own discretion and can actually allow you to enter, even if you have already spent more than 180 days within the recent one-year period . . . but from then on it is a matter of good luck

Yes, I saw that 180 day per year ruling on a Thai visa website. Some of the usual doubting Chang drinkers, were refusing to believe it.

Anything more then 6 months on visa exempt & your taking a risk.After 6 months it would work out cheaper to just get a dtv then doing bounces & extensions

180 days p.a. max has been the norm since long ago. Totally correct.

If they’re there for education (MuayThai) then get an education visa!

This group: "get a visa"

Also this group: "a visa means absolutely nothing"

Thanks for the info, all entries seem to be tightening up, and as we all know, the Thais make up the rules and change them seemingly day by day. I have finally got my Non O, but of course they will change the rules next year...

Common sense

I live in Koh Samui with a Non Immigrant O Visa with multiple entry. Paper work glitch means mine didn’t get renewed for the second year but the rest of my family’s did. I had two trips already planes that gave me enough time on Visa exempt to get back to the US so I could apply from there. Got in no problem after my 1st trip. On my second trip before returning g home I was pulled from the line and questioned for 30 minutes. They were not goi g to let me in. I showed them that I had a return flight to the US and they finally let me in. People that abuse the system make it more difficult for those of us that have proper Visas, but end up in my position. Tell your kids to get a proper Visa. They can get an Education Visa for Muy Thai.

Why would u take a girlfriend to thailand

Even with a valid METV, Thai immigration officers have the final say on entry. If there travel history suggests repeated long stays, they may suspect visa misuse (e.g. living in Thailand rather than genuine tourism) and can deny entry at their discretion rven if the visa hasn’t expired. They still have to abide by the entry and # of days in Thailand rule whether granted METV.

Unfortunately as a mother I understand your concern but this is happening alot and yes they have tourist visa but are not tourist. Many are staying here long term and have insufficient funds. lack health insurance etc and some trying to work, the reason for the 'grilling'

Having a visa does not give anyone a right of entry, that right is reserved to the immigration officer they stand in front of. They have obviously been living inside Thailand on tourist entries and Thai immigration has been cracking down on this abuse of tourist entries. They were lucky to get in this time, the chances of getting in next time are slim to none.

Your son could get a DTV with the gym if they support that and his girlfriend an ED visa BUT they will both have to wait until their Multiple Entry Tourist Visas expire before they can apply

Sounds like it is because it's closer to 180 days in Thailand in 6 months which is seen as living in Thailand

ED Visa is an easy solution for a year or multiple…

Having a tourist visa doesn't mean anything. Visa exempt is tourist entry. Tourist visa is tourist entry. They're calling out people abusing tourist entries, so that visa won't make any difference.

Why didn't they get a DTV if they're doing Muay Thai? That would make much more sense. But now they'll have to wait until their current visa runs out to apply.