Answered3 months ago
What is the correct procedure for obtaining a TR visa for Thailand followed by a return visa exemption?
Hello everyone, I need some help. My plan is to get a TR visa for two months plus a 30-day extension, then spend two months in the Philippines, and then return to Thailand for another two months with a 30-day visa exemption and a 30-day extension. Is this the correct procedure? My last entry on excenprion was February, got almost denied Thanks in advance
Answer summary
The user is seeking clarification on the process of obtaining a TR visa for two months with a 30-day extension, followed by a trip to the Philippines and a return to Thailand for an additional two months under a visa exemption. Community responses indicate concern about the user's past travel history, suggesting that prolonged stays on tourist visas or exemptions may lead to issues with re-entry. Several members advise that the user may need to consider different visa options, like the Non-O visa, especially if they have been flagged due to excessive use of tourist entries in the past.
26 repliesnewest first
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Steve *******
Not really, you can't rely on extensions, they have to be applied for and are only issued at the discretion of the Immigration Office. They're not a given.
Martyn *********
Metv or 2 months visa exempt then come back 60 days plus extension
Greg ***********
Martyn Goddard a METV won't change anything . . . . his personal limit of touristic entries is already up and gone.
Klaus ******
OPGreg Alexander I don't understand METV(non English) but I think that's the problem. Spent too much time there. So it would not make sense to apply for any visa right?
Klaus ******
OP@John *********
thx for help again.John **********
@Klaus *****
you can come as long as you don't try to come as a tourist. Get the Non-O visa based on being 50 or over and you will have no problem entering ThailandGreg ***********
Klaus Bora yes, applying for a tourist visa makes no sense, because you are already "flagged" (have a negative record remark) in your Central Computer profile. Immigration will immediately see it when they scan your passport. You have stayed in Thailand too many days already on consecutive touristic entries. The rule of thumb is : visa-exempt stays no more than 150 days within a one-year period. Tourist visa entry stays no more than 180 days within a one-year period
Klaus ******
OPGreg Alexander thank you very much for help help. So that mean I can't go there in October again even with visa?
Graham ******
Klaus Bora You need a Non-Immigrant visa because you are no longer regarded as a tourist
Greg ***********
Klaus Bora METV = 6-months multi entry tourist visa
Klaus ******
OPMartyn Goddard sorry but I don't get it????
Klaus ******
OPLuc De Clerck 6 month on visa exemption with 2 weeks Vietnam in between. I left in October 2025 following the old rules .. in short. I spent half a year in Thailand since October 2025.returned Mai 2026.another month July 2025.
John **********
@Klaus *****
if I'm reading this correctly you've spent 14 months in Thailand in the last 18 months. I'm not surprised you were almost denied entry, you were very lucky not to be totally deniedGraham ******
Klaus Bora the rulers have not changed, the level of scrutiny has so your 6 months will be looked at very carefully ;)
Klaus ******
OPGraham Seal not the rulers but rules got changed totally. Thx
Greg ***********
Klaus Bora there was never a change of rules. Actually, there are no rules on how long you can stay inside Thailand on consecutive touristic entries . . . There is just a new approach towards people milking the visa-exemption system and those who use tourist visas for a longstay
John **********
If you've already almost been denied entry on a visa exempt entry there's a chance you will be denied entry on the tourist visa, even higher chance when you return using visa exempt from the Philippines. If you've already spent around 150 days in Thailand in the past 12 to 18 months on tourist type entries (visa exempt or tourist visa) you would be better to look at other visa options
Klaus ******
OP@John *********
thx. Last question. Do you mean even a TR Visum wouldn't be sufficient?John **********
@Klaus *****
possibly yes, a visa doesn't guarantee entry, only how long you get stamped in for if allowed to enter. You like you might be over 50? If so you could look at the 90 day Non-O visaKlaus ******
OPGreg Alexander sprichst du Deutsch?
Greg ***********
Klaus Bora check out and ask your questions in my German speaking visa advice group and I can give you all details you need to know about the Non-Imm-O/A Longstay Visa and/or the Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa in German language which you seem to understand better. The name of the group is "Visum Beratung für Thailand"
John **********
@Klaus *****
The Non-OA visa is a 12 month visa that you would need to apply for in your home country and it requires police checks, medical certificate and insurance. The Non-O visa is a 90 day visa that can be applied for in different places and requires none of those things. Both can be extended by 12 months inside Thailand if you wish to. It's not that Thailand doesn't want you, it's that it wants you to be on an appropriate visa. You simply can't spend prolonged periods of time inside Thailand on short term tourism stamps, that's not what they are designed for.
Greg ***********
Klaus Bora they don't want YOU, because you are misusing touristic entries for a longstay in Thailand. It is time to get the right visa for your purposes. A Tourist Visa does not guarantee an entry, John Stanners is absolutely right about that. You said you almost were denied entry, this means you are already "flagged" in the Central Computer as someone who is milking the visa-exemption and tourist visa system. Forget your plans
Klaus ******
OP@John *********
I meet all the requirements for the OA visa. However, it seems to be about the length of stay over the last 12 to 18 months, and I spent almost 9 of those months in Thailand. All on excemptions .seems Thailand don't want us anymore😔
Luc ************
What is your travel history the last 12 to 18 months?
Klaus ******
OPLuc De Clerck Luc De Clerck 6 month on visa exemption with 2 weeks Vietnam in between. I left in October 2025 following the old rules .. in short. I spent half a year in Thailand since October 2025.returned Mai 2026.another month July 2025.
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