What is the current policy on visa extensions for tourists in Thailand?

There are no new "visa rules" or a new law.

There is no “reset” on January 1st.

There is no limit of two visa-exemptions within a calendar year, and there is no such limit of visa-exempt entries within a one-year period.

Nothing “resets”.

Well, every country has immigration laws.

*** You cannot just turn up to any country without a visa fit for your purpose of stay, and stay there indefinitely.

You are not supposed to stay permanently on a tourist visa.

*** You cannot simply start living there based on consecutive touristic entries.

*** A foreigner simply cannot travel to England, buy a house and just stay there forever.

A foreigner cannot enter the United States as a tourist, stay glued there and have a permanent holiday.

Many people in the past have abused the visa-free entry system of Thailand, tried to live in Thailand long term on touristic entries, or on back-to-back border runs.

Now this visa-free system is under closer scrutiny, visa-exemptions and consecutive tourist visa entries are looked upon under a new light.

*** For a long-term stay, you have always needed the proper visa category, and actually, Thailand offers many different visa-types custom-cut for a multitude of different purposes.

*** what is wrong with having to prove that you got at least some funds to pay for your holiday?

*** what is wrong asking at the border where you are going to stay the first few nights?

*** Are you planning to do back-to-back border-runs? No, no, you cannot do that as a tourist.

So please show us that you will be leaving Thailand within the 90 days of holiday you can get out of a visa-exempt entry

*** are you planning to work in Thailand? No, no, you cannot work in Thailand as a tourist.

These kind of questions are completely okay, Thai Immigration has the right to know.

*** Border runners get checked closely, to determine if they are people who want to milk the visa-free system.

When the stamp history in their passports shows that they have already stayed in Thailand a bit longer than what a genuine tourist would do while being on a holiday, they are starting a gamble. When you start to play the system, it starts playing with you.

You just cannot start thinking that every time you exit Thailand and enter back into Thailand after a short time outside of Thailand, the holiday clock resets itself.

*** Do you want to stay much longer in the country?

Then don’t abuse the visa-free system.

*** Are you working as a digital nomad on your holiday time and do this outside of your home country to avoid tax?

*** You cannot just go into any free country in the world and just start working from there. Not even your home country allows this behavior.

You would need a work permit or some documents, or would need to be on a visa category that allows this.

Thailand is no different from your home country.

*** Just wait a minute – why do people recommend Vietnam instead? A quick check reveals: if you go to Vietnam on a holiday, citizens of most countries can only stay for a maximum of 90 days.

There are no hard and fast rules just guidelines.its at the officers discretion entirely.

To many have abused the system for to long.

Check your ticket you may be able to change the date cheaper than the 500 baht per day for over stay

And what’s the limit, no one know’s , atm moment it seems to be what sort of mood the IO 👮‍♀️ officer is in

You may have been deemed to have stayed your limit

Thailand, confusing the shit out of everybody again , as a Australian I’ve been going to Thailand 3 times a , year for the last 4 years , but they will only allow me to go 2 times

First time with TDAC visa exempt for 60 days with a 30 day extension

The second time 30 days with a 7 day extension when does this reset 🤷‍♂️, when can I go again, no one can tell me , and what country in there right mind would turn tourists away

It’s crazy

This rule did change just before Christmas, I made a previous comment advising this on another post and just ended up being told I was wrong so left it alone. My visa consultant advised they removed the 30 day after your 60 visa exempt and changed it to a 7 day extension. Maybe people need to check with immigration rather than asking on here where everyone thinks they know but due to how quickly things change here, everyone is not always correct. 🤨.

@Geoffrey ********

if you have not bought a 7-days extension, you need to leave Thailand before your 60 days stay permit stamp expires, or you would be in overstay! This expiry date is most probably by tomorrow, January 7th . . . .go check that stamp! If you bought a 7-days extension, you got a leeway until Midnight January 13

Define what is a tourist. VOA is for tourists. 60 days plus 30 days = 3 months. A 90 day holiday. I have had many holidays over the years, visiting many exotic places but I never stayed 60 days let alone 90. Whilst I agree the Thai system would seem to be rigid. 90 days plus is not tourism.

could you depart to say Vietnam and connect back into Thailand on your departure date and avoid an entry stamp?

You don't mention your previous recent history of entry in and out of Thailand.?

I can only assume that's been quite extensive and most likely your problem..

Next time get a visa before entry

I got here November 14th on my first entry and didn't have a problem getting my 30 day extension but now I hope to go to Vietnam as planned before my 90 days and hopefully get another 69 stamp hopefully giving me 150 days

msybe you should just realise you're not relly Wanted unless you behave like s good monkey. or maybe its all your furkin gsult being a stupid furriner.

their mindset is nazi style. your not thai your not following the latest updated rule changes .that were introduced mid November 2025 but backdated to really mesmorise anybody who was using the prior system to come and go as they were told they could legally. even those wonderful visa agents are bamboozled.

in other words,its mabe this or maybe that will be the case depending on the officer you are confronted by when you arrive or where you enter by and how they might be connected to some visa agents or whether they had a good nihht sleep or breakfast etc,etc,etc.

what possible outcomes aare they expecting from all this confusion.

maybe amother 2year exclusion similar tothe covid lockdown would have their desiref outcome. who in their right mind would like to be srriving in a country that is desperately enticing you to come visit and then be confronted by the possibility of not being allowed to enter the country because of a possible officer interpretation of some rule that would not be a rulebreaker somewhere else or some different officer

just saying.

im not looking forward to returning in the new year. new year reset? or not . i might have the same problems as the poster of this query.

nobody comes here to fiddle the socil welfare ,or free housing ,food,phones,or transport. so whats their problem .

you will have to leave within 7 day or they will find you and probably snuff you out

Perhaps you just give up, spend your time elsewhere Laos (Vientiane, Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng plenty to go see there) make a real trip out of it - or Vietnam fly back to BKK in time to meet your flight to Europe - just as an international transfer. Some other suggestions on here may or may not work for you now - it might cheaper to get a flight change. Thailand don’t want you at the moment - get a visa via gov site next trip - good luck bud whatever you do

Go to Bangkok Laksi IT square immigration office

What Korat told you reflects local discretionary practice, not a new nationwide rule. The 30 days extension still exists, but some immigration offices now grant only 7 days on a visa-exempt stay based on travel history and perceived intent. If you exit Thailand and re-enter, the 7 days issue does not carry over, and you will normally receive a new 60 days visa exemption, not 7 days. The restriction applies to extensions, not to new entries. Given your onward flight on 28 Jan and no overstay history, re-entering after a short trip to Laos should be fine. Just leave before 13 Jan and have your onward ticket and accommodation ready if asked.

Just get set up for a non O retirement visa then no hassle rather than exploiting the system then moaning 😉

Phone your airline and change the return date, it will cost you though

Do the agency border run to Ranong which is about 7,000 baht but they guarantee you 60 days on re entry (if you use the agent). They are well connected at the border. It’s a 13 hour round trip in a mini van but it’s very comfortable and worth the hassle to avoid messing up your flight back home.

No ones on the same page in Immigration they intrepret the rules the way the person in charge wants , never standard logic

You were given 7 days because during the previous year you spent more than 150 days in Thailand on various tourist visas.

Always travel with visa is the simple advice

Try another immigration office. They often vary in rules. I went to korat once and they said I had to have lived there for a certain period. Try tourist places with a tm30 for a hotel may be better. Hua hin or Pattaya for example. You will need tm30 plus receipt of room payment.

You will have to fly out and you might not get back in visa exempt.

It all depends on your travel history into Thailand at this point

You recieved the 7 day stamp so that means immigration has deemed your travel history exorbitant

You could go and hang out in other places until your departure date then try to return

Or you could change or cancel your ticket now to leave from another location as to not create stress on the last day

Good Luck

What is your previous Thailand visit history?

The 7 day extension is usually if you've entered visa exempt previously and extended. If so then leave before current 60 days ends and re-enter visa exempt. But it depends on your previous entries/extensions.