What should I do about my trip to Thailand with the potential new visa policy for Canadians?

I just double checked with a friend who is a visa agent and she said while there is no specific limit for air crossings now it is left to the discretion of the immigration officer and based on your travel history to Thailand they can and will refuse you if they feel you are abusing the exemption system.

She also confirmed that there is a crackdown on people they feel are abusing the system. She doesn't know if that is directly because of the changes that have happened the last couple of years or because of the proposed changes but her contacts in immigration have been very clear that they've directed to do more to dissuade abusers.

So, you are apparently correct about the number of trips and I'm correct about the crackdown.

But regardless of their statements that they are cracking down I'm glad the internet statements about number of trips per period is not true.

So we just ignore the actual statements by the Thai government? Got it...

@Damon ******

you are unfortunately using both old AND bad information. Changed in 2024.

There is no limit whatsoever on entries by air. Never was. There is now (since 2024) also no limit on land entry. Two was the previous limit. No crackdown. Simply more internet. And more people here learning the hard way. The millions who come in with no issues whatsoever don’t write a long story about it.

@Todd ********

No and yes. No, there is definitely cracking down. In the past they've been pretty lax about people coming in on visa waivers and going away again for a few days and then coming right back asking for a new visa waiver/exemption. Yes, this enforcement level is how the system is supposed to work. The laws regarding it haven't changed (yet) but the enforcement has increased. Representatives of the Thai government have stated it and members of this group, and others, have noted that enforcement has increased.

"Foreigners can enter Thailand under the Tourist Visa Exemption category for 30 days at one time with a maximum of 3 times in a 6 month period by flight and 2 times a year for overland crossing."

If you plan on traveling on this type of visa you are restricted to how many times you can do it within a set period of time and it can impact future travel to Thailand. If the OP is only planning on doing this single trip this year a visa run could solve the problem of needing a new visa waiver...but it does not solve the onward ticket issue needed to get the visa in the first place. And this is also one of the things that they have been cracking down on according to members of this very group.