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What issues might I face when re-entering Thailand on a tourist visa after frequent short exits?
Tourist VisaVisa ExemptionThailand ImmigrationVisa ExtensionLong Term VisaVisa RegulationsTravel HistoryRe-entry Issues
Jul 17, 2025
9 months ago
Biff ******
ORIGINAL POSTERI usually use just the passport.Visa exempt stamp in my passport and then I go out of the country every sixty days and I have had no problems. This trip I have a tourist Visa which is valid until October multiple entries.And at the end of the two months I went to laos and when I came back to don muang i was pulled aside and taken to an area where they looked at my history of traveling. They made me show them my Visa. My bank accounts in America how much money I had on my hotel reservation, My return ticket to America which is in October and also I had to get my girlfriend's I.D picture and show them that. So after all that they did allow me entry but they said if I try to do a two month exit and come back again they will possibly ban me from coming to thailand. I thought the tourist Visa would not be a problem.So what everyone has been saying about it becoming more difficult to come back into thailand after short exits is true. As of today I will be leaving one month before my return ticket date. I may go to the immigration office and try to apply for an extension and see.I have the same problem.I did at the airport. Anybody have a suggestion on that?
TLDR : Answer Summary
A user shared their experience of being scrutinized at immigration upon re-entering Thailand with a tourist visa. After repeated short trips to neighboring countries, they were asked to present various documents like bank statements and hotel reservations, leading to a caution from immigration about possible future bans if they continue this pattern. The community suggests that applying for a visa extension or switching to a long-term visa would be more suitable, as ongoing short exits may raise concerns with immigration officials.
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Jeff *************
Just do it the right way and pay them the money for your Visa, it’s that easy, stop cheating the system
Mark ******
How to say you dont have the right visa without saying it
Guy *********
Same thing happened to me..went to KL on my return they did the same thing..lucky I had my Thai girlfriend with me..it can be luck of the draw..play it safe
Trav **********
If you don't like it, stop playing the system 😠
Biff ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Trav *********
yes master 😆Reply to
Biff ******
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Anna *********
Yes we know they are cracking down on people trying to live in Thailand without the appropriate visa. Now you know too 😀
Biff ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Anna ********
no shit Einstein. I'm impressed with your detective like skills and insight. You will go far in life🫠Anna *********
@Biff *****
you’re the one writing a long post stating the obvious ‘ so what everyone is saying …… short exits is true ‘🤣🤣Reply to
Anna *********
Reply
Laurie ******
So why don't you get a retirement Visa, got a company in Pattaya to do all the paperwork, just did extension for another year myself cost 2000.00bt in BURIRAM
Steven *********
@Laurie *****
name of the agency?Laurie ******
Thai Visa Express..Opp AMETHYST HOTEL ..Go pass the Hospital it a turning on the right ,Soi15... OFF, SOI BUAKHAO.. Note, I got a PRINT OUT FROM THEM,WHEN TIME TO RENEW 12 MONTH VISA,IT WOULD COST 15,000.00--did it myself 2,000.00
Reply to
Laurie ******
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Stephen ********
G’day Biff, if your going back to the states, if you can, get yourself a non-o visa 90 day, single entry visa, once back in Thailand, go see a reputable visa agent, I used Anna’s visa in Hua Hin, get yourself a retirement visa with multiple entry, process is straight forward, only took 2 days, good luck mate 👍
Steven *********
@Stephen *******
how much and do you have a link for the agency in Hua hin?Reply to
Stephen ********
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Phil ******
@Biff *****
time for a long term visa as immigration caught you out by not being a tourist. You told them your visiting your girlfriendDavid ******
Because you're taking the piss.
Jacob *****
Nice one pal another one who's abusing the system and ruining it for the rest of us 👏🏼 give yourself a pat on the back
Trav **********
@Jacob ****
exactly 💯Matthew *********
@Jacob ****
there is law no to state have entries can be done. Its totally up to IO. And he didn't ruin it for anybody. Where you rejected from is actions or anyone else. HELL NOJacob *****
@Matthew ********
but if you're doing border runs you're clearly not a legitimate tourist and you're bending the system so you can live there without the correct visa. This makes things harder for the legitimate tourists trying to get in on a visa exemption. If you want to live in Thailand then follow the correct channels and get the correct visas, stop trying to cheat their system. It's people doing border runs which is one of the reasons they're looking to reduce the visa exemption in the first place. We don't like people coming to our country illegally so stop trying to go to theirs illegally.Matthew *********
@Jacob ****
that's funny statement. It's not illegal at all. Read the rules and stop puttting your opinion to shape the rule to your benefits. It has no effect on the current exemptions. In fact they announced recently to not reduce back to 30 days for at least another year. Its totally up to the IO and it must kill you to know agency provide services which is the thai way to work around the rules. If you don't loke people Trying to maximise their stay than i suggest you move to Japan or Korea where the rules are set forth as a national standards. DickweedReply to
Matthew *********
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Trav **********
@Matthew ********
Show me that Law!!!!!!!!!Matthew *********
@Trav *********
I meant no law that states the number of entries.Trav **********
So its up to the immigration officer which means he can decide. Thats the law!!!
Reply to
Trav **********
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James ********
@Jacob ****
How is he ruining it for you , if you have the correct visa ??Richard ********
@James *******
he is only jealousJacob *****
@Richard *******
I'm not jealous at all. I'm legitimate tourist and whenever I've been questioned I've been able to prove it no problem. But it's people cheating the system and doing border runs which is the reason the IO are giving everybody a hard time.Richard ********
@Jacob ****
Everybody ? I don t think soJames ********
@Jacob ****
Legitimate tourist...? Really.Reply to
James ********
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Dennis *********
long term visa seems the obvious answer.
Rich ****
It seems you've done a lot of trips here with just the entry stamp and now you are drawing scrutiny because of your history but the extension is easy once you've made it in.
John **********
You won't have any problems getting an extension of stay at an immigration office for 30 days but after that it sounds like it is time to get a long term visa
Ally ************
You didn't mention your nationality.. which has a bearing on visa exempt entries.. or whether you have a 3-month (or maybe a 6-month) tourist visa granted in your home country before you travelled to Thailand.. your facts are a little sketchy to get a full understanding.. but if you had a multiple entry tourist visa and complied with its terms.. you should have had no problem re-entering Thailand whilst it remains valid.. so I'm slightly confused here 🤔
Mikkel *******
@Ally ***********
having a tourist visa is not a guarantee for entering the country. Especially with an extensive history of visa exempt entries/tourist visas.Ally ************
@Mikkel ******
If you have a 6-month multiple entry tourist visa issued by the Thai embassy in your home country.. and if you observe the terms and conditions attached to it.. then you are as good as 'guaranteed' entry.. provided you did not obtain said visa falsely (ie. made false declarations) or have a hidden criminal record that gets flagged up at the border.. otherwise it makes a complete mockery of the visa system.. and your history will be taken into account when applying for the visa.. so if you are an 'undesirable' you wouldn't get the visa anyway.. they can't issue a visa and then invalidate it when you try to use it unless they have a very good reason!Bert *************
@Ally ***********
no, guaranteed entry with a visa does not exist. Immigration even with a visa has the right to refuse you entry. On whatever grounds they come up with.Reply to
Bert *************
Reply
Lynnette *******
You've been trying to enter repeatedly as a tourist, ( but trying to live in Thailand because you've got a girlfriend?)so that's why you've been stopped.
Trav **********
@Lynnette ******
exactly 💯 And then complain about it.Reply to
Trav **********
Reply
Jordan *****
There is no solution in your case, other than getting a long term visa.
If I were you, I would go back to the US, wait for a year and get another METV and try to spend 4-5 months in Thailand in 2027.
If I were you, I would go back to the US, wait for a year and get another METV and try to spend 4-5 months in Thailand in 2027.
Phil *******
By the sound of it, you are not a tourist?
Peter **********
@Phil ******
exactly 👍Jordan *****
@Phil ******
Most people who are now on long term visas had at one point spent half a year, or a full year on visa exemptions, or tourist visas before transitioning to a new status.His case is fairly common because many people hesitate getting a long term visa, due to no actual rules governing how long you can spend in Thailand during one year on visa exemptions, setv, or metv. The fact that he was still allowed in after questioning, and the existence of border run agencies, is proof of the lack of rules.
Bent *************
@Jordan ****
TiTOnly Thais understand why people can’t be tourists for one, two, or more years!
The word tourist simply means a person who travels to somewhere to enjoy!
Reply to
Bent *************
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Brett *********
Getting an extension is easier than getting in at DMK or BKK. I was grilled on my 60 day exemption when I arrived and warned. Then I got a 30 day extension in Korat. Go figure.
Reply to
Brett *********
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