What are the rules regarding land crossings into Thailand for expats?

Jun 27, 2024
6 months ago
Ashton *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi everyone,

I have done 4 land crossings, 1 in Satun and 3 in Ranong. I need to do one more at the end of August before I fly to Canada in October.

I have heard that you can do a total of 4 land crossings before you are denied entry into Thailand.

Has anyone had experience with that? If so what do you suggest?

Thanks in advance!
1,732
views
1
likes
57
all likes
35
replies
0
images
13
users
TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses the rules surrounding land crossings into Thailand, highlighting the confusion about the number of allowed crossings under different visa conditions. The original poster has made 4 land crossings and is concerned about potentially being denied entry if they attempt a 5th crossing. Community responses indicate that travelers using visa exemptions can only make 2 land crossings per year, while those with certain types of visas may not face the same limits, although entry can be discretionary. The conversation includes advice on preparing for potential complications with border runs and emphasizes the importance of understanding the visa type held.
Jiji ***********
If you have a visa, there is no land entry limit (though if you've already been here multiple months on short-term tourist stays, you run the risk of being questioned or even denied).

There is a legal limit of two *visa-exempt* land entries in a calendar year.

So to clarify; your 4 land entries:

1) Were they all visa-exempt?

2) Did you make them before or after Jan 1st 2024?
John ********
How things have changed. I used to sometimes do half a dozen in a year.
Kevin ******
@John *******
this is why it changed 😂 😂
John ********
@Kevin *****
Well I unlike most expats in Thailand I brought millions of baht into Thailand in my eleven years living there, but as with all rules they apply the same to people who bring money into the economy, as those that are living there on scant budgets.
Kevin ******
@John *******
hey I am just joking with you so sorry if I offended you. I have been here since 2011 and I agree, you see some farang and you got to wonder from where there next five baht will come from.
John ********
@Kevin *****
Ok, the Problem with Thailand, well previously they let everyone and anyone into the country, who were doing monthly border runs and some of those farangs and from what I've been told, mostly from the UK, have gone to Thailand with a few grand in cash and expect it'll last forever. Then everybody gets tarred with the same brush so to speak. The reason I stayed there mostly on visa exempts was because I worked offshore all over Asia, so if I got a visa from an Embassy or consulate other than in my own country, if say a week after getting stamped in at Don Meuang, or Suvarnabhum I got an email, or phone call from a company, several of which I contracted too, then getting a visa and only using it for a few days was a waste of time, that's why I just did border runs near where I was living. The only visa that was good for me then was the multiple entry 'O' visa, which now I believe has been discontinued. On the e-visa portal they only offer a three month one entry 'O' visa. Now I'm retired if I wanted to move back to Thailand wouldn't be any use, as at the moment I don't have the required 800k baht required for the extension based on retirement. Also if you have that sum in a Thai bank as I believe it is liable for tax if your in the country more than 179 days a year, everything is a catch 22. Also to be able to transfer 65,000 baht a month might be ok for pensioners from some countries, but with only my state pension from the UK doesn't come anywhere near that figure.
Richard ******
STRANGE THAT THAI VISA ADVICE BLOCK POSTS ABOUT ANY UPDATES ON THE 60 DAY EXEMPTION. NOT REALLY ADVICE IS IT!
Darren *******
@Richard *****
because there aren't any updates.
Richard ******
@Darren ******
So, allow the post and say that.
Darren *******
@Richard *****
or read the other 3 million posts and stop spamming the board with the same question? Hardly rocket science.
Richard ******
@Darren ******
Cool your boots Darren. You're not as tough as you think you are!
Darren *******
@Richard *****
not trying to be tough, just merely trying to educate you on how to find answers to repeated questions instead of getting your knickers in a twist like you have here 👍
Richard ******
@Darren ******
An exemption is relevant on a daily/weekly by it's very nature i.e. not long-term to the people wanting one. So, pull up your size 48 knickers and fook off whilst you're doing it! Oh and
@Brandon ***********
do the same!
NT ********
Mar *****
Fly in & out easier
Nigel *********
What visa do you have. Passport? Need info.
Ashton *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nigel ********
I have a Canadian passport . I’ve only ever received VOA and after 30 days I go to the local immigration and extend for another 30 days.
Wayne ********
@Ashton ********
If your from Canada you did not get visa on arrival. You entered on visa exempt for 30 days. And yes, then that can be extended for 30 days.
Ashton *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
It includes all the travel to the border and the border crossing as well.
Nigel *********
@Ashton ********
ok. Well I would stick with the same agent. They will have the contacts to know if you can do a 5th border bounce. 👍
Ashton *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nigel ********
it’s a package deal for myself and partner 6300baht.
Ashton *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nigel ********
I need to stay in a Thailand until the beginning of October then leave for Canada for 1 year.

My current visa expires July 26 and from there I will extend for another 30 days at the local immigration. So that will put me around August 26 for another border run. But I don’t want to do the border run and potentially get denied entry back in Thailand.
Nigel *********
@Ashton ********
well. You've never had VOA, you've had visa exemption ( I know it sounds pedantic but both exist).

What sort of time frame are you looking at?

Have all these crossings been in 1 year?
Ashton *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nigel ********
oh yes all my border crossings happened in 2024 in Ranong and another crossing in Malaysia.
Nigel *********
@Ashton ********
ok. So you're supposed to only get 2 land border crossings in a calender year.

You must have been paying a fair whack for your border bounces.
Henrik *****
Prepare yourself to be denied entry.
Garry ********
He's probably got a multiple entry visa if it's 30 day exempt it should only be 2 by land, immigration would be all over him if its the 30 day exempt.
Todd *********
4 land crossings in this calendar year??
Aake **********
@Todd ********
only 2 are allowed
Todd *********
@Aake *********
no shit. But he claims to have done 4. So I’m asking him to clarify
Nigel *********
@Todd ********
depends what her circumstances are. This rule only applies to visa exempt
John **********
The only rule regarding land crossing is that you can only do 2 per annum using visa exemption. If you have a visa there's theoretically no limit but entry will be at the discretion of the immigration officer
Ashton *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
yes I have literally done 4 land border crossings since end of December.
John **********
@Ashton ********
you're lucky to have got away with that as there is a legal limit of 2 per annum. The chances of you being able to do another visa exempt entry this year by land are slim to none. It also means you have been inside Thailand for over 6 months on tourist stamps so I wouldn't try for entry by air either visa exempt or with a tourist visa. I'd suggest visiting a nearby consulate to purchase a tourist visa and trying to enter by land using that is your only realistic option and even then entry will be up to the immigration officer you will stand in front of
Jan ******************
@Ashton ********
3 in a calendar year then. That’s excessive and formally not allowed unless you have a visa. If you’re going to do one more I would have used a professional land border transport company. They don’t let you go unless they feel confident they will manage to get you another visa exemption. I don’t know if it’s possible, and I guess your best and most accurate option option is to do a visa run to get a tourist visa and try to re-enter by a land border. If you’ve stayed in Thailand on visa exemption and tourist visas since December you could potentially be questioned and told to get a proper visa next time.
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
... members · 60% approval rate
The Thai Visa Advice And Everything Else group allows for a broad range of discussions on life in Thailand, beyond just visa inquiries.
Join the Group
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
View the Conversation
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else