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What is the difference between Visa Exempt Entry and Visa On Arrival in Thailand?
ThailandVisa RulesVisa Exempt EntryVisa On ArrivalImmigrationExpat InformationVisa ExtensionsThailand Visa Types
Aug 6, 2017
9 years ago
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTERREFRESHER COURSE :O ;)
The difference between a Visa Exempt Entry & Visa On Arrival
These are probably the two most mixed up terms concerning visa/extension stuff for thailand (next to a visa & an extension of stay :) ) .
Visa On Arrival;
People from 21 countries buy a Visa-On-Arrival for 15 days when they get here. The price is 2000baht, but it is reduced to 1000baht until August 31st, 2017.
The countries that buy a visa on arrival are; Andorra, Bhutan, Bulgaria, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Ukraine & Uzbekistan
As a rule a visa-on-arrival can't be extended.
Visa Exempt or Visa Waiver:
People from 58 countries get either a visa exempt or a visa waiver entry when they show up here. That means they didn't buy a visa at a thai consulate beforehand & they didn't buy a visa-on-arrival when they got here but were stamped in for a period of days for free.
5 countries get 90 day visa exempt entries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru & South Korea), 51 countries get a 30 day visa exempt or visa waiver entry and 2 countries get 14 day visa exempt entries (Burma <- by air, & Cambodia).
Since Dec 31st, 2016 people from 44 countries can now get 30 day visa exempt entries by a land border but they can only get TWO 30 day visa exempt entries by land in a calendar year.
A visa exempt entry can usually be extended for 30 days at the immigration office although I have not heard of anyone extending the 90 day visa exempt entries for any longer than 7 days.
That's it for today's refresher course.
There will be a test so hope you took notes ;)
The difference between a Visa Exempt Entry & Visa On Arrival
These are probably the two most mixed up terms concerning visa/extension stuff for thailand (next to a visa & an extension of stay :) ) .
Visa On Arrival;
People from 21 countries buy a Visa-On-Arrival for 15 days when they get here. The price is 2000baht, but it is reduced to 1000baht until August 31st, 2017.
The countries that buy a visa on arrival are; Andorra, Bhutan, Bulgaria, China, Cyprus, Ethiopia, Fiji, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Papua New Guinea, Romania, San Marino, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Ukraine & Uzbekistan
As a rule a visa-on-arrival can't be extended.
Visa Exempt or Visa Waiver:
People from 58 countries get either a visa exempt or a visa waiver entry when they show up here. That means they didn't buy a visa at a thai consulate beforehand & they didn't buy a visa-on-arrival when they got here but were stamped in for a period of days for free.
5 countries get 90 day visa exempt entries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Peru & South Korea), 51 countries get a 30 day visa exempt or visa waiver entry and 2 countries get 14 day visa exempt entries (Burma <- by air, & Cambodia).
Since Dec 31st, 2016 people from 44 countries can now get 30 day visa exempt entries by a land border but they can only get TWO 30 day visa exempt entries by land in a calendar year.
A visa exempt entry can usually be extended for 30 days at the immigration office although I have not heard of anyone extending the 90 day visa exempt entries for any longer than 7 days.
That's it for today's refresher course.
There will be a test so hope you took notes ;)
TLDR : Answer Summary
The post explains the differences between Visa Exempt Entry and Visa On Arrival in Thailand. Visa On Arrival is available to citizens from 21 countries for a fee, offering a 15-day stay that cannot be extended. In contrast, Visa Exempt Entry allows travelers from 58 countries to enter without a pre-purchased visa, with different lengths of stay based on nationality (e.g., 90 days, 30 days, or 14 days). The post also discusses the possibility of extending a Visa Exempt Entry at immigration offices.
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Graham *********
1 page for a visa stamp.1 page for entry stamp...so I would say...2
Joe ******
Although I can find official references to the minimum validity of the Passport, I can't find any information about how many pages or space there has to be left in your passport.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTERthe reference for the minimum validity of your passport is ONLY if you're getting a visa to thailand from a thai consulate. If you're entering on a visa exempt entry you can need as much validity on your passport as your permission to stay stamp is
Reply to
Tod *********
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Sara **********
Just to clarify the part:
"A visa exempt entry can usually be extended for 30 days at the immigration office although I have not heard of anyone extending the 90 days visa exempt entries for any longer than 7 days."
--- this is the one where you have to fly out/leave Thailand and get a visa from another country, right? And you can't just do this at any immigration office in Thailand?
"A visa exempt entry can usually be extended for 30 days at the immigration office although I have not heard of anyone extending the 90 days visa exempt entries for any longer than 7 days."
--- this is the one where you have to fly out/leave Thailand and get a visa from another country, right? And you can't just do this at any immigration office in Thailand?
Julia ************
No, a visa exempt entry is NOT a visa. It's a permission to stay without a visa.
Reply to
Julia ************
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Joe ******
Some hospitals will take care of it, in some hospitals you have to take care of it by yourself.
Graham *********
set it stone but this is tit.and things can change when a parcel is exchanged. .so no body really no what rules are...lol
Graham *********
over those years a lot has changed on visas..
Robert *******
Immigration act is from 1979, according my calendar it is now 2017. It change regular?
Reply to
Robert *******
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Joe ******
I took notes ;-)
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5/Joe ******
Better lets drink to some good health.
Thanks for your help (Y)
Thanks for your help (Y)
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Joe *****
, yep (y) that's the clause for the medical extension of stay and most BIG hospitals will get the extensions for you. They are NOT handed out willy nilly for any old reason though :/ I knew a guy dying with stage 4 cancer (there is NO stage 5). He was in a wheelchair, on oxygen, shi**ing in a bag with a ****
nurse too yet he was denied a medical extension by the immigration office. He just went on overstay and died not too long afterward.Joe ******
What if found:
Except from Police order
2.25 In the case of medical treatment or convalescence or to look after a patient: Permission will be granted for a period of not more than 90 days at a time.
(1) Confirmation and request has been made by a physician responsible for the treatment. The Physician must describe the details of treatment and advised that the illness is a barrier for travelling.
(2) In the case of looking after a patient, confirmation and request has been made by the physician responsible for the treatment or by an embassy or consulate.
(3) Patient Carer, except parents, spouse, children, adopted children or children of spouse, shall be granted no more than 1 extra person.
Except from Police order
********
. 2.25 In the case of medical treatment or convalescence or to look after a patient: Permission will be granted for a period of not more than 90 days at a time.
(1) Confirmation and request has been made by a physician responsible for the treatment. The Physician must describe the details of treatment and advised that the illness is a barrier for travelling.
(2) In the case of looking after a patient, confirmation and request has been made by the physician responsible for the treatment or by an embassy or consulate.
(3) Patient Carer, except parents, spouse, children, adopted children or children of spouse, shall be granted no more than 1 extra person.
Joe ******
From the few people I know who were hospitalized, the hospitals dealt with the immigration issue, so no "first nor second hand experience ;-)
Joe ******
@Tod ********
- @Robert ******
- Thanks for Clarifying (obscuring ;-) ) this issue. Will see if I find out more about the way it's done as with all the motorbike accidents here, the question always arises again. Thanks guys, will update my info.
Tod *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@J**
, that is incorrect about the in the hospital and leaving within 7 days from getting discharged. If you overstay your stamp you're on overstay period. There is NO back dating of extensions either.That's why they have a medical reason extension of stay that can be gotten for up to 90 days.
Joe ******
Robert Lagas - If you have been in hospital and intend to leave the country within 7 days from being dismissed from the hospital, from my knowledge and understanding, one does not need an extension of stay nor pay overstay fine. Just have to go with the hospital certification to the immigration office at the border, before going through passport check.
Robert *******
But as I lucky not have the experience I believe you that you get a back dated extension of stay with a hospital or doctors letter.
Robert *******
Hospital have to take care if you not able to travel to Immigration before your admitted to stay date.
Joe ******
@Robert ******
- I did not say, doctors will clear your overstay.Joe ******
I though, If you are in hospital whilst your visa runs out (you will be overstaying before you can get to immigration for an extension of stay) but with the doctors certificate you go to immigration to get a (backdated) extention of stay. You will not be fined Overstay.
Robert *******
If you have overstay of more than 90 days, you still can get blacklisted it you show up at Immigration checkpoints.
Robert *******
a Doctors note does not clear overstay, you can apply for Extension of Stay with that note for the period mentioned by the Doctor or Hospital
Reply to
Robert *******
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Astrid **********
And how many Visa Exempts a year by entering by flight? Unlimited or also 2? ... Remember there was a difference between overland and flying in (
*****
days for Dutch passports) but that changed end 2016 to 30 but not really clear how many times flying in on exempt nowadays. Or does this count also as a landborder?Robert *******
@Chris *******
With the database Thai Immigration is using there will be a match to your other passport and all your previous entrys and exits will be shown on the screen.Chris ********
@Robert ******
3 months ago yes finally not denied. But the big officer told me she don't want to see my face anymore at Don Mueang so I'm thinking to switch passport in couples of days in Penang. Let's see if that's worksRobert *******
@Chris *******
So you did not get denied entry for to many Visa Exempt stamps.Chris ********
@Robert ******
she didRobert *******
@Chris *******
Let us know if your partner could sort it out.Chris ********
@Robert ******
it happened to me hopefully could sort it out with a phone call from my partnerRobert *******
@Chris *******
Never heard of somebody just being denied by 1 Immigration Officer for having to much Visa Exempt Stamps. There will be first an interview with other I/O and you will given papers and a stamp with the reason of denial.Chris ********
@Robert ******
correct for landboarder 2 times per year only. By air, no legal or law on that but be aware that is upon the wish of the immigration officer at the airport. It happened to me last time they didn't want to let me in touch even coming by air as i already get too many exempt stamps in my passport. Immigration officer at airport can easily refuse u to enter without stating about any maximum number of exempts stamps. Experience done. Be careful. And Chaeng wattana which is another immigration division cannot help on that and just confirmed its true that it's upon the wish of the immigration officer at airport to let u in or make u fly back out directly.Wayne *********
Astrid van Zon I fly into Bangkok very 2 weeks and always come in on a visa exempt, 12 a year, I do this simply because I work 2 weeks in Australia and do 2 weeks in Thailand each month hence covered by the 30 day visa exempt, Arrived back in Perth today and have 64 stamps in my passport, all visa exempt
Jim *******
@Sean *******
. Agreed. I don't know why so many seem to think they're saving the visa fee or whatever but usually end up paying 1900 baht after 30 days anyway, and have the added concerns of not having a visa to board a flight.Sean ********
By air it's possible multiple times and if you break up the run of exempt entries every now and then with a new actual visa it should help. Personally I think you should only use visa exempt entries when there is no way to get a visa, for example when I go to Macau I cannot get a visa for Thailand as there is no consulate in Macau. All other times just pay for a proper visa.
Astrid **********
Thanks
@Rob***
Lagas! That was exactly what I was wondering about. Glad its still possible multiple times 😀Robert *******
Using a landborder than the maximum is 2 a calendar year. Coming in by air there is no official maximum.
Reply to
Robert *******
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Robert *******
WOW, a FREE course without the need of ED Visa.
Robert ********
Open note test?
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Robert ********
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