What are the risks of attempting to enter Thailand on a visa exempt basis too frequently?

Last year in April I was interviewed on my 2nd entry, had 4 trips in 2024. Eventually they let me in, also since my Thai wife was waiting for me in Thailand. For frequent travellers the new rules are painful, before I never had an issue sometimes entering up to 5 times a year.

I think one take away from this story is if you have a risky multi-stamp history don't fly directly into Thailand, but fly to a neighboring country and then fly or cross into Thailand. At least you won't be sent 10,000 km back home.

I’m sick of fake ai stuff that gets everyone arguing. If it’s real, I would lodge a formal complaint at the Thai embassy in London. I would look to recover my out of pocket expenses at the very least.

VIETNAM 🇻🇳

So you already knew that you might be refused this way. But you tried it anyway. One of the consequences of the tightened entry rules in Thailand is that it is a reaction to the abuse of them. Thailand is more than fed up with such practices… Follow the official route and you will be welcomed with open arms instead of having to wait in a small deportation room and the rest you did not like..

How many stays did you actually have prior to this? How many 60day visa exemptions?

Couldn't you fly to Ca.bodia or Vietnam instead?

Silly people do silly things... You're just trying your luck girl and that was really silly!

Omg . Terrible. I go once a year in Jan / Feb . Now they are going back to 30 . I am thinking of changing my mind .

I read somewhere that 180 days per year is the maximum in Thailand with tourist "visa". Right or wrong?

At most airports, when a passenger is denied entry into the country, the ordeal described is similar

The holding area could be a room or otherwise. Have read / heard stories with no proper food. No access to phone. Buying another return ticket. Paying for charges etc

They don’t want us they need us stupid tnucs

Has Geoff bin in?! [ Interrobang ]

I was very nearly denied yesterday, I think. I am so sorry about your experience. Thailand really means business on this vacation travel crackdown they're doing.

Why are so many people saying this is fake? I literally know someone who went through this same situation recently! In fact, the immigration is very strict now and they aren’t even allowing safe entry at the moment. If you’re doubting this story, try it so you can experience it yourself firsthand lmao

Why would you need to go there so often?If you can only enter twice a year using visa waiver then why not just stick to that?

I swear I will **** myself if I become this brainless when old. A lot of old foreigners who commented don't know what "anonymous posting" mean. It mean that you create an alias to post anonymously from your account. But mods & admins can see who you are. It's sad how so many old foreigners scream "fake" while not knowing that literally half of the post made in this group are anonymous because nobody want to deal with your brainless outburst.

You said it yourself at the start, you took a risk, so you took the risk and lost, stop complaining and do the right thing in future.

Just curious....how many entries & lengths of stay did you have over the last year + ???

Did you have a return ticket? How long was your trip for?

disgusting way to treat tourists , i am retired and also visit thailand more than once a year. maybe its time go where we are more welcome . .

And yet there have been many incidents like this reported here and other groups regarding the multiple entries into Thailand that are allowed each year, and yet you either chose to ignore them, or neglected to count how many days you had accumulated over the year. Many things are changing rapidly with Thai immigration and everyone should be checking the current rules regarding entry nd length of stay allowed.

One thing you did not mention is the dates of your last visits which leaves this very vague and fear mongering. If you have been atleast 2 times this year already then that's your own fault. If not then thats something we need to be aware of as immigration states you can visit 2 times a year and no more

Your own fault your choice and you have to live with the decision you made!

This post is true

Experienced similar on June 17

Refused entry after 7 hours of waiting

Came in 60 tourist

Ext 30 border run 60 tourist

When I went for 30 extension I was only given 7 days

I was told at immigration I would have to do border run so went to Cambodia for five days

Came back to Bangkok and was refused entry

Told if I came back without proper visa I would not be allowed in Thailand ever again

Needless to say I’m on my way back to Canada

Changes are happening

Goodluck everyone 🙏🤗

3300 baht for security? You should have at least demanded a receipt but probably should have refused to pay 🤬

If only western countries did this to people arriving in our countries with no means to support themselves and questionable travel records!

Been coming to Thailand for 45 years the last two visits although still legal. I have received a very different approach from io. both times warning me to do things differently next time or no admission. things have definitely changed and they are looking for the slightest abnormality to refuse me. definitely a different ball game now

well done thai Immigration!

Its all bullshit 😒

I was told the same over a year ago. I was allowed in but was told I needed a retirement visa. I lived there for 30 years mainly on one year visas. Though when I tried entering on a free stamp, that is what I was told. Their loss not mine! I am enjoying other places that welcome me and do not treat me like a criminal on arrival.

Thais have a saying " som nom na" !

Well done for sharing your experience, I am sure most people that break international laws experience similar in all countries, but some countries you would experience prison and beatings.

Seeing as you knew the new rules and you suspected you would be refused entry, why on God's Green Earth would you fly to Thailand without a visa? 🤔🤔🤔

You will never do that again, will you? ;-)

I would not dream of entering a country without the proper visa or paperwork!! And then to complain that they are not denied entry, laughable really!!

But you stated you knew it was a risk so what did you expect 5⭐️ treatment 🤔

Don't break the law ! Simple .. why so many think they can ?

yup, you get jailed until your same airline flight back from where you came. this is real

I was scheduled to fly Edinburgh to Heathrow, but snow (~1-2cm) prevented that. Upon reaching Heathrow @~4am via bus for my international flight scheduled to leave 2 hr's later and waiting in line to check in with ~20 other customers, we were turned away. A spokesperson for the airline came out flanked by a British police officer, geared up for war, complete with an assault rifle, informed us all flights had been cancelled, and we were ordered to depart the airport. A young mother with two children near me started crying, saying she had no suitable clothing to go with her children outside and no funds for a nearby hotel. The airline spokesperson did not respond to her or anybody else. Several British men were very angry, I feared a fight might erupt.

How many times you been in this year ?

How many times in one year???? I’ve been there 3 times in a year 🤷‍♀️

I don’t believe it worth the hassle try the Philippines or Vietnam. Better value for the money

Most folks are still operating under the old 'globalism' mindset of the last 30 years or so. The winds have shifted and borders worldwide are more strict.

So just curious. I’m British now living in Canada.

So can a British person go and live in Thailand permanently or can only stop on visas.

How many times is too many times? I visit 2-3 times a year for anything from 1 month to 3 months. I’m off to visit for 1 month in a few days having returned from there in February. I only get a tourist visa. I’m worried now

What did she expect, a room at the Hilton?

😂 you lie about you had no knowledge but you state you knew 😂

You got what you deserved and you know it. You took a chance and it didn’t go your way.

I would like to know how many visa on arrivals it takes before they start to give you a problem. Does anyone know the answer to that?

I recently paid for Flights and accommodation for myself and my Thai fiancée to visit the UK for 2 weeks

We own our home and a going business however they denied her application for a tourist visa.

I can't see why you should feel entitled to complain about the way that Thailand treats visitors who abuse their immigration system when your country's attitude to Thai visitors is even more difficult

Sorry but you do appear as a non-tourist. If you are say, a Singaporean, I doubt you get the same treatment.

You come from the other side of the world and as a single female. That plus multiple visits, (I presume in the same year) tells immigration a very different story, no matter what story you try to paint there at the office or here.

You knew the issue was going to happen before you flew.

So what is the problem?

Your issue, your fault.

Take responsibility.

It’s like a strategy which will lead you to take a DTV VISA instead. Tactics

If this profile and story are real and true then the sum is apply for a visa that suits your visit to Thailand

Well I experience the same last year .. except that they did pay for my ticket back. And refused to pay security.. ofc will never do it again : been to Thailand 3 times after that, no problem

Couldn't you of gone to Vietnam instead of going all the way back to England?

As stated , already knew I had too many Thailand stamped on her passport... what made you then try to come in without a different visa or even yet a new passport from your home country .. maybe u were denied because you were already told you'd be blacklisted but tried to be tricky anyways ... everything now is on computers , did u leave out that you may have overstayed your last visit ?

thanks for the storytelling experience...

I've travelled to over 100 countries and never had any issues whatsover, just follow the rules and no problems at all.

This happened to a mate of mine coming back in from Loas. Put in a room and got sent back to UK

3300 baht in cash to security guard? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣.

What were they going to do if you had no money to pay?

No photos or videos of said security guard?

Il n'y a pas de problème si on respecte les lois . Vous le saviez que ça devait arriver. L'immigration Thaïlandaise ne rigole pas . Comme dans la plupart des pays il faut un visa pour rentrer, la Thaïlande est bien sympa de laisser rentrer près de 80 pays sans visa pour visiter le pays. Les visas runs terminé aussi, quand vous devez sortir vous devez demander un visa pour pouvoir revenir.

Definitely real I can vouch. Happened to me last year while renewing my long term visa but they didn't deny me entry. They said that this was the last time I'm able to enter on tourist visa and need to get a long term visa. I luckily showed them that it was already in process and left the country and came back to renew my long term visa. The tourist border crossing days have been over since last year 😆 🤣

Yes. Who was the one who do wrong from the beginning and dont follow the rules?

So you knew the risk but decided to take a chance n it didn't work so why the F are you complaining about it?

You knew ahead of time you already used up all of your a lot of time on a tourist visa so why in the frigging world would you fly from the UK to Thailand knowing you're gonna have a problem with immigration and be sent back?

Just sounds like you didn't put any thought into your trip

DUH 🙄

Next time, I imagine you're a come prepared 🤣🤪

Can you please tell us more about your travel history to Thailand in the last two years?

That would be helpful to other tourists.

Why didn’t you get a visa?

Might as well get a preapproval next time England are way far from Thailand 🇹🇭 man man man

Sounds Like a pretty usual prodcedure to me. It still is awful

Wow this is terrible

You abused a country's hospitality once to often. Thailands not the only country that doesn't like people who Abuse the system.

I love thailand very and would never disrespect anything about it but that sounds horrible experience. You didn't follow rules and got removed fair enough .very harsh

Shirtless Sofa keyboard maniacs have at it 😉🤣

Tris happened to me as well

Hard to be sympathetic. But nice for you to share your story

There are no new visa rules or new law. There is no calendar-year reset of the number of touristic entries.

There is no limit of two visa-EXEMPTIONS within a 1-year period, and definitely not within a calendar year. This is simply not true.

Now as far as regarding the EXTENSIONS of visa-exempt entries, it does appear that Immigration is only issuing 7-day extensions if you already got a previous 30-day touristic extension on a previous visa exempt stay permit, within a 1-year period.

At the moment I write this, the 60 days are still in effect. So, the count would be 60 + 30 + 60 + 7 = 157 days of a maximum stay permit within a 1-year period, regardless of whether you arrive by air or land.

There are some reports of touristic 30-days extensions on top of the visa-free 60-days being denied for those having arrived across a land border, while there have been some cases under the same circumstances where an extension was granted.

*** Fact is, entry is subjective and up to the decision of the officer you are standing in front of. They decide if you are a "real tourist" or if they think you are milking the visa-exempt entry program. Your personal experience might vary from it.

There is just no clear directive as far as what's what, there are no official rules, however after a few interviews with Immigration top officers, a few basic patterns have crystallized.

Some people report they have successfully received a 30-days touristic extension on top of second visa-exempt 60 days, but again, your experience might vary from that.

The 7-days extension is a REAL extension. It is not the same as the stamp "application to extension denied, you have seven days to leave the Kingdom". I have already seen the stamp of a 7-days extension, it takes up almost half of a passport page.

Visa-exempt entries are not limited to two entries per year. This is a misconception, and some agents and lawyers spread this information to make profit from panicked people.

Honest agents and Immigration Volunteers are warning you not to believe those alleged news telling you that visa-exempt entries are limited to two per year. It simply is not true!

In the past, visa-exempt entries were limited to two across a land border within one calendar year, however, this rule was discontinued on July 15, 2024.

On the paper, visa-exempt entries by air or across land and sea were “unlimited” after this date.

Attention: the wording “unlimited” is not a fixed rule of Immigration. There are no such rules – again, the officer you stand in front of decides individually if your “personal limit” is used up.

Several visa-exempt entries within a one-year period are possible - like four, five or even more times, in case the pattern shows that you do not try to circumvent the visa-exempt system.

The entry history in your passport and your profile on Immigration’s Central Computer must show that your stays were short holidays - like for only 2-3 weeks.

Some Immigration officers will tell you that the total number of visa-exempt days within a one-year period should not exceed 157 days. It remains unclear, however, as there is no official rule.

The best proof that you are not milking the visa-exemption system is when you can show that you returned to your home country between each stay, or stayed abroad for a long time.

You should always be able to show an onward travel proof, a booked accommodation and – which is VERY important – you show carrying a minimum of 20,000 THB in cash (which can be the equivalent in another currency).

I had a number of stamps already. 😂🤡

im sorry for you. sounds horrible. Did i read correct you can only pay your flight in cash?

I’m guessing that there’s more to this story than she’s letting

Probably trying to shaft the system but got caught

They have denied entry to thousands this year for good reason, if you do t follow the rules, expect to be denied entry. Apply for a METV online, if you are approved for that, you should be fine. If you have had an run ins with the police or have overstayed a few times, then it’s not worth the risk

So you essentially brought this situation upon yourself by pushing the limits of the system and then found the limit and now you are the victim that “doesn’t”want sympathy? Please correct me if I’m wrong.

Thank you for sharing your story . Can you advise some background on the number of days you have spent in Thailand over the last 12 months

The amount of days is important. I have always followed the exact rules of immigration. I go every winter yet last time i was told to get a visa , yet i went to local immigration centre to ask why they said its up to airport staff

Same thing happened to me in February. Thankfully I was deported back to Vietnam where I had flown from and stayed out for 3 weeks. I sorted a fast track to get track in and a ED visa straight away. It was a horrible experience 😪

True or not .. fake profile does not lend credence to this story. It sure did generate some responses though! Did anyone notice the “OP” has not and will not respond? Maybe the Admins of this group created this? 🤷‍♂️555 — anyway — Frequent visitor here since 2021 .. once or twice per year .. no problems this year. Stayed 86 days, Tourist Visa extended. Still I want and need the DTV and was denied once last year. Hate wasting that $400 USD FEE if denied.. but will try again soon. I totally qualify with several online easy to prove jobs. Following the rule of The Kingdom is best if people want to have the best experience. Chok dee Krap everyone! #justsayin

As UK citizen you have 0 ( zero ) visa on arrival in your passport

They could have strung me up and I would still not pay 3300B for security. What a scam.

Lesson learned I hope

Same happened to me. locked in a cell until they arranged a pricey flight to Cambodia. Fuck thailand. Never go back.

hopefully next time you will get a proper visa related to your activities in Thailand

Als je vooraf al weet dat het een risico is, waarom dan niet in Engeland een visum aangevraagd??

They wonder why tourists have fallen all my mates is going to Vietnam. Im just lucky I have a retirement visa

There are so many angry foreigners here in Thailand it’s amazing. They have no sympathy for others but they break the law constantly. You all in a great place and have a great life try to relax and give other people a break. You remember what she said there was a room full of people that did the same

Why would we give you sympathy? You knew the risk! And choose to take a chance…. So extremely stupid

People need to post under real name and real verifiable profile before any of that bollacks is believed

From the land of smiles to the land of frowns

Why you dont make a Visa?

What you think for what you need a Visa if you can go in and out in a Country so many Times you want?💩😂

I think Thailand make everything right with the New Border Rules and the Check for that. 👍

I know they are cracking down but that seems a bit hard to believe, as there is about 6 flights plus a day going back to uk ok some has a stop but ,what airline did you fly with????

Thr airlines must be getting hammered over fines as well

Up to $10,000 now per passenger denied entry

You said in the beginning that you many stamps you took a risk

Glad you posted so other people don't repeat your stupidity.

It's part of millionaire Anutin's war on Farangs. His distaste for us is apparent in his infamous, 'dirty foreigners' speech. The last time he had any power, he shut down the girly bars. There will be more reports like this until his message spreads throughout the tourist world and people vote with their feet.

Ide be intrested about number of entrys. as well as if and how many 30 days extentions as when ever ive read about cases of poor innocent tourists being denied entry when u get whole story theres multiple boarder runs and or 30 day extentions .let's have whole story

This group is so toxic sometimes 🤔

I don’t believe your story!

Thats why you pay for VIP. They "talk" to the officers for you and guarantee entry even if you have 100 stamps.

I have empathy for you, Stacey. It must have really shaken you up, and what a disappointment from what you had in mind. It's not what one expects, for sure.

Some may say "you should have known better", but this really is a dramatic change over the past year. I had experienced the first () of your story about 1.5 years ago, at 2:00 AM. Same experience waiting in the "cordoned off area". However, the immigration officer - possibly a higher level manager - did allow me in with a warning that next time I would need a proper visa or be denied.

I was not angry at the time, but a bit unsure what would happen if I had been denied. When I was ultimately allowed in, I was massively grateful for the officer that let me in. I promptly applied for and received a suitable visa since. We must always keep in mind that entry into foreign country is always at the discretion of the immigration officers, and they can deny entry for any reason.

Not enough information. For me this story sound like a lot of 💩 Think someone needs attention and was rejected due to other reasons.

They probably have a monthly quota to fill.. Maybe easier at beginning of the month..Same as the cops

I'm surprised by the amount of newbies in the comments calling this fake. The process she experienced is common and well known. Everything she described match the current process at that airport.

No BS‼️ I have already three friend experience the same ‼️ until questioning f 3 HR i Had Same... I only not experience the night there... But told me sme

Nice AI. I saw this same post a few weeks ago.

There are some really nasty people commenting here. Screaming BS just because they can.

This happened to my son too last Wednesday and he was sent back to Taiwan where he’d been for a few days and he DID HAVE a visa and re entry stamp but they didn’t like the ed visa he was on and so refused also !!!

Joke really !!

Very sad 😔

Sadly I get the feeling that foreigners are no longer welcome to the land of smiles and the slightest thing they can find they will refuse you entry . In the last few months I’ve seen long term friends move on to neighboring countries such as Vietnam and Cambodia the land of smiles is beginning to lose that smile . I wish you well for the future !!

The fake profile isn’t conducive to believing

Probably arrived with no cash but has £28 on a pre paid debit card

They certainly know how to treat people like shit our government won’t say nothing but if you call a Chinese scammer grey there is hell on 🤬

Play silly games win silly prizes, hope it’s a cautionary tale to others as I’m sure was the intention of the post x

So many times is said and written that you can only come in 2 times on visa exempt…..

out of interest how many times had you entered Thailand in last 12 months?