Answered4 years ago

What is the maximum stay duration in Thailand using visa exempt entries and tourist visa extensions?

Visa Exempt Entry Tourist Visa Visa Extensions Border Bouncing Stay Duration Thailand Immigration Rules

Dan *********

asked Nov 22, 2022

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What is the maximum total stay someone can be allowed using border bounces and extensions using the two initial methods of entry below?

Visa Exempt Entry (arriving without a visa)

30 day stay plus 30 day extension (1900Baht)  -60 days total maximum

Tourist Visa obtained outside of Thailand 

60 day stay plus 30 day extension (1900 Baht)  -90 days total maximum

Answer summary

The maximum stay in Thailand using border bounces and extensions is as follows: for Visa Exempt Entry (currently a 45-day stay with a possible 30-day extension), the total can be up to 75 days. For a Tourist Visa (initial 60-day stay with a 30-day extension), the total is 90 days. It's important to note that border bounces can vary by entry method, with no limit by air but restrictions on land entries (maximum of twice per calendar year). Continuous back-to-back entries or extensions for living in Thailand are no longer sustainable, as regulations have tightened.

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Tod *********

Keep in mind the visa exempt entry is now 45 days not 30 so you can get a total of 75 days in country with a visa exempt entry and the one 30 day extension you can get from it,

AND

the limit of two visa exempt entries is in a calendar year (Jan 1 to Dec 31) not a 12 month period, so it resets on the new year..

If what you're asking is "can you live here on back-2-back visa exempt/tourist visa & extensions" the answer to that is NO. This isn't like the thailand pre-covid where people could live here for (sometimes for years) on v/e, tourist visa and extensions.

As Lloyd pointed out there is no official limit to visa exempt entries by air, but after a few especially if they're back-2-back they're going to pull you out of line and ask WTF you're doing living here on free stamps 😮

Same goes for tourist visas. It's just NOT a viable way to live here any longer, you might get a few visa exempt entries; take the two allowed by land in a year and then a couple by air entry) or a few tourist visas; but you'll have to use different consulates each time BUT you will get called out on it sooner or later.

4 years ago

Dan *********

@Tod ********

thanks for the information. Just trying to figure out if someone will actually be able to live in Thailand for a year and lease from me for a year by using tourist visas and land crossings method. It sounds very questionable.

4 years ago

John **********

@Dan ********

they would be extremely lucky to get a year out of that. Might be better they look at other options such as an ED visa but they'd have to actually study these days.

4 years ago

Tod *********

About all I can say

@Dan ********

is; it'll work until it doesn't 😮 😕

4 years ago

Lloyd ********

That would all depend on how you plan to border bounce, in theory if you do it by air, there is no limit, however if you do it by land then it is only twice in a calendar year.

4 years ago

Dan *********

@Lloyd *******

does that mean 270 days would be the maximum in a year with border bounces and extensions? Trying to figure out if someone wanting to lease from me will really be in Thailand for a one year lease using land border bounces.

4 years ago

Steve ********

@Dan ********

There's no actual "maximum". It's pot luck depending upon the immigration officer at the port of entry. However, it's a fair bet that no-one is going to achieve one full year on back to back TRs and/or exempt entries

4 years ago