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What challenges might I face with visa runs to Thailand while seeking dental treatment?

Thai visasVisa runsNon-ED visaVisa on ArrivalMedical visaExpat experiencesImmigration rules in Thailand
Aug 16, 2023
2 years ago
Diane ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi All,

I know Thailand is cracking down hard on visa runs at the moment,but have any of you have troubles entering Thailand( Bangkok especially) and staying few days every 3 or 4 months continually for a year and half?

I’m thinking of getting Invasilign in Bangkok but my Non-Ed student visa runs out end of this year, I will leave Thailand right before it runs out then make regular trips to Bangkok with VOA from Cambodia until the treatment is finsihed.

My old passport has a Thai visitor visa from 10 years agos( I don’t suppose they will ask for this anyway), my new passport only has a Non-ED visa for 15 months with a university:) TIA!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses concerns about entering Thailand on a Non-ED student visa and making regular border runs for dental treatment amid tightened immigration scrutiny. Users share experiences and advice regarding entry procedures, potential requirements like proof of appointments and funds, and explore options like medical visas. The conversation highlights the evolving visa landscape in Thailand and the importance of being prepared for increased scrutiny at immigration.
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Daniel ********
Can you tell me how/ where you got the non Ed stident visa? I’d like to get one
a year ago
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Jeremy ********
You can do 2 land border crossing per calendar year (01 JAN - 31 DEC)

There is no official limit on Air Ins, but eventually you will get talked to by an overzealous I/O….

Good luck
2 years ago
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Diane ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jeremy *******
 thanks Jeremy
2 years ago
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Jeremy ********
@Diane *****
 do you have a Cambodian passport? Or other passport in the SEAsia states?
2 years ago
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Diane ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jeremy *******
 none of the

SEA nation.
2 years ago
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Diane ******
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John *******
My understanding is the only way a medical visa is granted is if you are in hospital on your death bed and unable to fly out of the country Chokh di with that one
2 years ago
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Graham ******
@John ******
 A Tourist Visa eVisa application gives you the option for the Reason for Travel to select Medical. The scenario you describe would be a Medical Extennsion of Stay.
2 years ago
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Diane ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Graham *****
 hi Graham, have you chosen “medical” with your Tourist eVisa application and did you need to submit extra documents from hospital etc.?
2 years ago
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Ruth *******
@Diane *****
 I’m following this with great interest. Ideally, I would like to live in Cambodia. However, I need monthly “medical treatments” (actually, an injection I do myself in the States, but I’ve heard I need to have a doctor do in Thailand) that, within SE Asia, are only available in Thailand, Malaysia & Singapore. So far, I only have the name of a Thai doctor. I had been planning to live in Thailand, but some of the changes in the last couple years have me thinking Cambodia is a better option. The medical is now the one sticky point. I’m arriving in Thailand hopefully in October and will do more investigation once there, but I’m very interested to see what other suggestions you receive.
2 years ago
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Diane ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ruth ******
 Hi Ruth yes those three countries are usually where you can receive western standard and more advanced medical treatments in SEA, I will be consulting few visa agents before I leave and I’ll let u know if u’d like. 🙂
2 years ago
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Graham ******
@Diane *****
 I have not, I just know it's an option but, if selected, there is nowhere to add supporting documents
2 years ago
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Diane ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Graham *****
 I will look into this and consult few visa agents, but thanks for pointing me in the right direction!:)
2 years ago
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Diane ******
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Diane ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John ******
 thanks John, I’ve met people who flew here for other medical reasons on medical visa but never dental treatments
2 years ago
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Diane ******
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Gary ******
I wonder if your dental treatments might qualify you for a 1 year medical visa? In that case, Thai immigration would understand why you’re coming so often.
2 years ago
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Diane ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Gary *****
 from what im hearing it just feel like its very longggg shot and im better off with VOA or tourist visa, but thx Gary:)
2 years ago
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Diane ******
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Michael *********
I overstayed 22 days did the Laos run 6months ago i paid my fine and just returned last week. The immigration extended for 2 weeks at lao border but not happy with me they couldve thrown me in jail! Thought i was going to have issues, luckily a 5 minute process
2 years ago
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Dan *******
I have just done two border runs from bangkok after finishing a one year education visa. The first i flew to Cambodia spent two days there and then returned. The second i did on the coach from bangkok and had no issues either time 👍
2 years ago
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Mike ********
@Dan ******
 You might find that you have done 1 border run,. And 1 flight out of TH,.if that’s correct you could still do another border run (coach)
2 years ago
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Dan *******
@Mike *******
 perhaps. I will go onto a long term visa next as my wife is thai. It just didn't make sense to that until I've been back to the UK wherw im headed next 👍
2 years ago
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Dan *******
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Diane ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dan ******
 thanks Dan, i suppose no “Thai speaking exam” when you are back on a Visa on arrival?
2 years ago
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Dan *******
@Diane *****
 im half fluent in thai 😊
2 years ago
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Diane ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dan ******
 well you’ll have no problem then! This is where Inwish i paid more attention in class😂
2 years ago
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Diane ******
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Bonnie *******
If you are getting dental treatments is there a medical visa you could get?
2 years ago
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Robert *************
@Bonnie ******
 there is a medical visa but you have to be not able to fly,I've just done major implants work &not able to qualify for medical visa
2 years ago
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Ivan ************
@Robert ************
 I think you're thinking of the medical extension. That is very strict. There is a medical tourism visa for which you'd need to be able to fly in as you get it outside Thailand and then come for treatment but it's no difference from the regular tourist visa, 60 days just the same. Only reason to get it is maybe if you find it difficult to get a regular tourist visa.

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2 years ago
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Diane ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ivan ***********
 thank you Ivan, I saw this at their website, do you personally have any experience with medical tourist visa?
2 years ago
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Ivan ************
@Diane *****
 not the visa, I did get a medical extension years ago but I was totally immobile in a hospital bed for months. This visa might be an option, but it seems you need to have everything you would need for the tourist visa, plus the medical invitation, so it raises the question of why not just get the tourist visa. Possibly if they didn't want to give you a tourist visa they might give you this if you had the invitation. It may need something very specific: "Copy of the Confirmation Letter or Affidavit of Support with a stamp from the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand", I don't know if your dentist can get this. It's probably really for more extensive procedures.
2 years ago
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Diane ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ivan ***********
 thank you so much Ivan! That was very informative.🙂
2 years ago
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Diane ******
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Diane ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ************
 Thanks Robert, so how many times did you fly in and out of Bangkok with Visa on arrival?
2 years ago
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Robert *************
@Diane *****
 this is my 2nd time flying in to Thailand 1st time was was on a visa exempt

Without extension

Then I flew to Cambodia &applied for a 60day tourist visa currently half way through visa(60 day)
2 years ago
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Diane ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ************
 Thanks Robert, did you use an agency or applied yourself?
2 years ago
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Robert *************
@Diane *****
 I used a agency but I don't wouldn't recommend them at all
2 years ago
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Diane ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ************
 oh sry that you had a bad experience with them
2 years ago
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Diane ******
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Diane ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bonnie ******
 I’ve thought about it but not even sure orthadontics is qualified for a medical visa though, that’s going to be my last resort if Visa on arrival doesn’t work out.
2 years ago
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Carlo ******************
@Bonnie ******
 maybe dental Visa?😂😉
2 years ago
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Giorgio ******
@Carlo *****************
 smile visa in LOS
2 years ago
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Giorgio ******
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Carlo ******************
You have an old passport, do you still have 6 sheets left?

They also look the expiration date, I think you have to do it 6 months before...
2 years ago
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Diane ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Carlo *****************
 sry I should’ve made it more clear, my old passport has a Thai visitor visa from 10 years agos, my new passport has a Non-ED visa for 15 months with a university:)
2 years ago
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Diane ******
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Brandon ************
Normally there's no issues with this, but now that you have an ED visa in your passport expect to receive extra scrutiny each time you enter Thailand.

Have proof of your dentist appointment, proof of your travel out of Thailand, and 20,000 baht or equivalent in another major currency in cash, and you'll probably be fine.
2 years ago
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Diane ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 thanks Brandon, yeh I’ve heard so many horror stories with Non-Ed re-entry aready. Which is why I will leave Thailand just before my Non-ED visa runs out and re-enter with Visa On Arriva each time.

I’ve read that mentioning your medical appointments will sometimes further complicate things because they may ask you to apply for a medical visa. Am i not better off just saying im here for travling?
2 years ago
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Kool *******
@Diane *****
 the people having trouble getting back into Thailand after an ED visa are the ones that never did the 90 day extensions. If you've been on an ED visa longer than 90 days, and never did any 90 day extensions, you have a very good change of trouble with immigration. Also be aware that you only get two visa exempt land border crossings a year. You aren't on VOA. For you it is visa exempt entry. There is a big difference.
2 years ago
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Diane ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
 Thanks Kool, like I said to Brandon, I will leave Thailand right before my current ED visa runs out and re-enter with VOA each time.
2 years ago
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Diane ******
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Brandon ************
@Diane *****
 you don't give them everything right away. You use the paperwork when they pull you out of line and start asking lots of questions as proof of why you're in Thailand.
2 years ago
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Diane ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 I see😏, thanks for your help Brandon:)
2 years ago
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Diane ******
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