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What are the rules regarding the maximum stay duration on tourist visas in Thailand?

Thailand Visa RulesTourist VisaVisa RegulationsImmigration LawNon-O VisaMulti-Entry Tourist VisaVisa ExemptionsEntry Requirements
Aug 7, 2023
a year ago
Curtis *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Corrrct me where I am wrong here;

There is a maximum amount of time a person can stay in the country on multiple tourist visas in a year correct?

Is that 6 months total time?

Is the total time over a calendar year or any 12 month period?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The conversation discusses the nuances of staying in Thailand on tourist visas, particularly focusing on the maximum duration one can lawfully remain in the country. While there is no official law mandating a maximum amount of time to stay on multiple tourist visas, many travelers note that immigration officers may deny entry if they perceive someone is abusing the visa system by spending too much time in Thailand without proper purposes. Various commenters suggest that while the METV allows for extended stays (potentially fulfilling nearly nine months of time in Thailand through border bounces), the key is to maintain a pattern where the individual spends more time outside Thailand than inside. This, coupled with specific entry regulations (like 60 days with potential extensions), is crucial for successful immigration experiences.
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Paul *******
You'll certainly fair better by only using tourist visas than visa exempt entries. However, extending tourist visas and spending more time in country than out, can ring alarm bells in an IOs head.

You'll likely fare a LOT better with a METV, which is specifically designed to allow travelers to spend up to 60 days in the country and come and go multiple times during a 6 month period (and it can take you to an 8 or 9 month stay in the country, with a few days spent outside, if you re enter just before the visa expires. Seeking the 30 day extension at the end You'll be able to get 9 months out of it but if you do this you MUST stay away from Thailand for some time or change to a long term visa before re entering. Even one visa exempt immediately after the end of an METV is likely to get you denied.
a year ago
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Jim ********
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, it's maximum 90 in 180. Although the law stipulating this was rescinded some years ago, many IOs still use this as a guideline for "further investigation". By all accounts they've got tougher since covid.
a year ago
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เตเต้ ******
@Jim *******
 can you reference this? As in which chapter and section of IMMIGRATION ACT

B.E. 2522 (1979)?
a year ago
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Jim ********
@เตเต้ *****
 It's on the MFA website
a year ago
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Jim ********
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Tore *********
There no clear answer to that. But with a METV you can easily get close to 9 months on a single tourist visa. I did the border bounces via Laos land border.
a year ago
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Todd *********
There is no such maximum per year.
a year ago
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Jo **********
it will depend on the pattern of your stays more than the total number of days. last year I stayed about 210 days through 9 visa exempts. In between those visits I would leave the country for about 1-2 weeks. Never had a single question
a year ago
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Roberto *********
@Curtis ******
 It can be done for a validity of the visa
a year ago
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Paul *******
@Jo *********
I think you were lucky because you spent much more time in the country than is typical of a standard tourist. If you tried this again this year, you'd probably be denied entry.

What is key is to spend MORE time AWAY from Thailand than in, within a 6 month or 12 month period. You definitely want to spend say 14 days or less inside the country on each visit followed by several days or weeks away before your next entry. You can generally keep repeating a similar pattern like this, but 210 days out of 365 is pushing it. Less than 180 or even better, less than 90 and you should be sailing through immigration.

However, there is no hard and fast rule other than a loosely interpreted 180 in 365 days or 90 in 180 days rule that some officers use.
a year ago
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Jo **********
@Paul ******
 yes agree mainly. But it’s the pattern that really counts
a year ago
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Jo **********
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Paul *******
@Roberto ********
Not always. As you know from reading this and other forums, even if you stay away for some days or a couple of weeks, questions may be raised by immigration if you have a bit of history on visa exempt and tourist visas and/or extensions.

This shouldn't happen if you only ever spend LESS than about 14 days in Thailand on each visa exempt stay and always spend a few days away from Thailand between visits and at least a few months every now and then.

In other words, spending more time away from Thailand than inside the country.
a year ago
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Roberto *********
@Curtis ******
 It's Multi-Entry, which means it can be used any number of times during its six month validity period. Each time you enter you are stamped in for 60 days, and each 60 days can be extra further 30 days. That's why it's possible to get nine months from the one visa
a year ago
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Roberto *********
@Curtis ******
 the visa is valid until the expiry date, so you can enter on that date and get an entry stamp for 60 days which can be extended a further 30. That's how you get almost nine months from the one visa
a year ago
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Roberto *********
@Curtis ******
 The visa is valid for six months. Each time you enter you are stamped in for 60 days, which can be extended a further 30 days. So each entry is effectively 90 days. If your first entry is as close to the start date as possible, there's your first 90. When this finishes, you border bounce, get another 60+30, and right at the end of the visa validity, say on the last day if feasible, another border bounce gives you another 60+30. Effectively this gives you almost 270 days with those two border bounces
a year ago
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Curtis *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Roberto ********
 just to clarify;

You’re sure about that?

My understanding has always been that it’s good for C days after it’s stamped. So 60 for example and is effectively used once the stamped days are used.

You’re saying that they can effectively stamp it for more days upon re-entry till 6 months from when it was issued?
a year ago
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Graham ******
@Curtis ******
 That's a single entry TV, Curtis is describing maximising a 6 month multi-entry TV
a year ago
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Curtis *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Graham *****
 my understanding has always been that the METV is a 60 day visa. It’s valid to be used for 6 months but, is only active for 60 days. So, you can apply for it and receive it and use it up to 6 months later but then your 60 days starts when you’ve used it at entry and it’s stamped. From what is being said, it’s valid to be stamped and re-stamped on re-entry for the 6 month period from when it was issued. That doesn’t sound correct to me and is not how I’ve always understood it to work but, I may have misunderstood all along
a year ago
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Graham ******
@Curtis ******
 It doesn't get stamped as used when you enter Thailand, the single entry would be stamped as used on entry
a year ago
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Curtis *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Graham Seal yes, that part I understood. Where I am confused is that once your first stamped entering and starting the 60 days, I thought you could exit and re-enter within that 60 days your visa was stamped for. I didn’t know it could be done over 6 months.
a year ago
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Curtis *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Graham *****
 I don’t understand what you’re saying.
a year ago
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Curtis *******
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Roberto *********
@Jo *********
 Yes I've done similar in the past. It's only when people are bouncing out and in on the same day that questions are raised.
a year ago
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Curtis *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Roberto ********
 thanks. So I’m looking at about 6 months total but would be 60+30 then leave for a week to a neighboring country. How long do they give on re-entry (if approved)?

Can that be extended also?
a year ago
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Roberto *********
@Curtis ******
 Entry without a visa will give you 30 days which can be extended a further 30
a year ago
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Curtis *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Roberto ********
 so at the very least I should be able to get a 60 tourist + 30 extension, leave, re-enter on a 30 + 30?

Do I have that correct?
a year ago
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Roberto *********
@Curtis ******
 Yes that's correct. But if you got an METV from your home country you can easily get almost nine months with two strategic border bounces
a year ago
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Curtis *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Roberto ********
 I was approved for a METV.

Can you explain to me how I can maximize that in the way you described?

It’s still a 60 day visa so I’m not sure what you meant about six months.
a year ago
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Curtis *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Roberto Stephen I thought with a METV you’re limited to 6 months regardless of entries?

I haven’t applied yet so if it’s just as easy to get a METV, I could still do that.
a year ago
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Shaughn ***********
@Curtis ******
 It has a 6 month entry from the date its stamped. so if you get it approved very close to your flight date you will have almost 6 months to do the border bounces (visit nearby countries if you desire). The key is to make your last re-entry just before the expiry of the visa - then you can have your last 60+30 day stay in country.
a year ago
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Shaughn ***********
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Jo **********
@Roberto ********
 yes that’s so true. That pattern shows your living here
a year ago
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Jo **********
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Steve ********
There's no law, but some immigration officers will use either the 90 in 180, or the 180 in a year yardstick to investigate further. Thai culture does not accept that people can be tourists for half the year, and will assume you're working illegally in Thailand.
a year ago
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Paul *******
@Roberto ********
Nah, it's bureaucracy. A lot of Thai workers take more time off than that, especially those working for themselves or for international companies. The Thai bureaucracy is what influences their attitude towards foreigners. They're unable and unwilling to change. The 1979 immigration act seems to be inflexible. There's also that desire for control and making our lives a hassle hence the TM30 and TM47 90 day checkins.
a year ago
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Steve ********
@Paul ******
 We'll just agree to disagree
a year ago
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Steve ********
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Roberto *********
@Paul ******
 It's culture as well. Generally Thai workers only have a week's holiday at a time.
a year ago
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Paul *******
@Steve *******
 Thai bureaucracy. Nothing to do with Thai culture.
a year ago
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Paul *******
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Brandon ************
There is nothing written into law that says you can only spend xxx amount of time out of a year in Thailand as a tourist. There is also no immigration policy that states this.

It's 100% at the discretion of the embassy you apply to for a tourist visa, as well as 100% at the discretion of the immigration officer you're standing in front of as you try to enter Thailand.

Sooner or later they are going to say that you're not a tourist because you are spending too much in time in Thailand, and they will deny you entry.
a year ago
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Andy *******
Not enforced but immigration may stop/refuse you if you're abusing the term/visa 'Tourist'. They want you using the visa that applies to your real situation
a year ago
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Andy *******
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