This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.
What visa options should I consider for my next stay in Thailand after a visa run?
Feb 21, 2025
a year ago
Farang *********
ORIGINAL POSTERI have just done a visa run after a 60 + 30 days.
Flew to Vientiane from DMK. Advise you get an e-visa for Loas as visa on arrival queue was biblical and slow.
Arrived back today. IO wanted to know when I was leaving so produced my flight booking which will be 4 days before my new visa exemption runs out.
So back in Thailand.
Any recommendations for a visa next year.
Flew to Vientiane from DMK. Advise you get an e-visa for Loas as visa on arrival queue was biblical and slow.
Arrived back today. IO wanted to know when I was leaving so produced my flight booking which will be 4 days before my new visa exemption runs out.
So back in Thailand.
Any recommendations for a visa next year.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The post discusses a personal experience of doing a border run from Thailand to Laos after a visa exemption period of 60 + 30 days. The author shares insights on the return process, highlighting the importance of having an onward flight ticket and recommends getting an e-visa for Laos due to long queues for visa on arrival. Commenters provide additional advice regarding different visa options for long-term stays in Thailand, including the Non-O visa for retirees and caution against multiple border runs.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Pelle Eriksson★★★★★
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...recently on Facebook
Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
Trusted Retirement Visa Agent
OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
Mark *******
Maybe I was lucky,but I did three border runs to Cambodia in just over 8 months in Thailand. Arrived in Thailand on the 2nd June last year,and departed on 11th February this year. Though next time will apply for a retirement visa,being 66 and a pension of over 65,000 baht a month!
Henrik *****
Do have the 800.000 Baht to back that ?
You’ll need that for the first year where you deposit at least 65.000 Baht as clockwork every month.
Very few can get a affidit from their Embassy, to make it possibel to use the 65.000 option the first year.
You’ll need that for the first year where you deposit at least 65.000 Baht as clockwork every month.
Very few can get a affidit from their Embassy, to make it possibel to use the 65.000 option the first year.
Mark *******
I have heard about this and the answer is no! Maybe I'll consider Cambodia or Laos as a better option! Definitely cheaper and less westernized, plus could still visit Thailand!
Reply to
Mark *******
Reply
Greg ***********
@David **********
well, not meaning to nitpick, but . . . . . . . . . by the way, you didn't do a "visa run". You did a border run via air. . . . . . . It would have been a "visa run" if you had applied for a 60-days tourist visa or any other visa in the E-Visa online system of the Thai Embassy Vientiane, and waited out until you got the visa issuedPhilippe *********
Or do some thing different for the visa for example: possibilty to extend twice for a max 180 days... or 90 days visa... but not the same thing visa or no visa... thats make immigration crazy and tourist even more...
Henrik *****
The 90 days is by international understanding, the limit for tourist travel, hence IDP is 90 days, travelinsurance also distinguishes travels is more or less than 90 days, etc.
Reply to
Henrik *****
Reply
Robert *********
Correct way ,so many try to beat the system
Philippe *********
Paradoxically it was better when they were given only 30 days waiver...much less confusion for everybody
Henrik *****
It was the same, then you also would be denied entry at some point.
Philippe *********
@Henrik ****
but not with a visaReply to
Philippe *********
Reply
Greg ***********
Congratulations! That onward flight ticket showing a flight out of Thailand before the expiry of the 60 days, saved you from being denied entry 🙂
Brian *********
@Gr**
why would he be denied entry. Stop scaremongering they rarely if ever refuse entry and don’t say you are seeing more and more. This is not the case. Just read the statsGreg ***********
@Brian ********
we are receiving reports from hundreds of people being denied entry on a second attempt to enter visa-exempt. Are you not reading the FB visa-advice and travel groups? I am reading in over twenty groupsFarang *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Ni**
love it.Farang *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Greg **********
that maybe but why? Maybe multiple attempts, their dress suggest that lack money and may work, no onward ticket, etc etc. IOs in any country are not stupid but seen enough to know that people think they can trick them. Nope.Greg ***********
@David **********
Yep, it's all down to the rules of the SECTION 12. . . . . . . the previous travel history is what mostly counts, and you are right, the overall appearance. The attitude - are you polite? Never get agitated. Are you a "real" tourist or are you trying to "milk" the visa-free system? And never ever show them a rental contract, this will make you a "non"-tourist. Never say you visit your girlfriend - this makes you even more fishy in their eyesBrian *********
@Gr**
sure you do buddy - you are the expert - I bow to your superior knowledge. BsGreg ***********
@Brian ********
A word – no warning and no scaremongering! – on the consecutive use of touristic entries.Okay you have to realize this is not the Thailand it was BEFORE they went from 30 day free entry to 60 day free entry back on July 15th, 2024
It was a LOT easier to 'live here' or staying long term on free entry, than is now. And with a multi-entry tourist visas you had been able max it out to almost 9 months stay.
Apparently, according to what we read and hear every other day, Immigration has gotten progressively tighter over time about 'tourists' and consecutive visa-exempt entries
While in theory you can get almost 9 months of stay out of a 6 month METV, in practicality now we can’t tell if you'll get hassled at the border when bouncing out and back
I would say even on a single 60-days tourist visa you'd be questioned entering by air, given your previous entry/stay history is excessive. I would prefer to bounce by land and not do it by air.
And remember just because you have a valid visa in your passport it doesn't guarantee you entry.
All it means is if they let you in, they will stamp you in for the days the visa allows.
The safest way to get a second visa-exempt entry would be to use a “Visarun-Company” service to bounce you out and back by a land border. They have it set up so their clients do a border run without any issue.
Reply to
Greg ***********
Reply
Paul *******
If you get the 60 day visa exempt stamp and extend by a further 30 days at the Immigration office, Immigration class you as a tourist. If you then attempt to enter again on a visa exempt stamp, Immigration rightly consider that after on 90 day stay in the country that you are no longer a tourist but that you are attempting to live long term in the country. While there is no legal limit to the number of Visa exempt entries, once the Immigration officer believes that you are no longer visiting the country as a tourist he will deny you entry. 3. If you have already stayed for 90 days on a visa exempt entry, then in future to guarentee entry into Thailand, you need to obtain a long term visa suitable to the reason for your stay.
Farang *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Paul ******
thanks. That I understand. Looking at that next but as they say it is complicated at the moment.Graham ******
@Nelly *****
Switch to what? A Non-O is a long stay Visa for a number of reasons such as retirement, marriage, Thai family etc.Graham ******
@Nelly *****
Yes with 12 month Extensions of Stay hence long termGraham ******
@Nelly *****
they both get a 12 month extensionNelly ******
@Graham *****
that's a non OANelly ******
@Graham *****
non O is 90 days...Reply to
Nelly ******
Reply
Nelly ******
@David **********
Get a non O coming next time. switch that to something else when here.Reply to
Nelly ******
Reply
Andy ************
You actually did a border bounce not a visa run
Farang *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Andy ***********
thanks. I thought the bounce was out and in on the same.dayGraham ******
@David **********
it used to be but many land borders now require one or more nights stay before re-enteringFarang *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Graham *****
I did three nights. But if you go to Vientiane get a hotel by.the night food market!!Reply to
Farang *********
Reply
Cruise ******
@Andy ***********
what's difference? What would visa run entail?Lawrence ********
@Cruise *****
Visa run is tou leave the country, apply & wait for a visa, the cross. Not an exemption stamp.Cruise ******
@Lawrence *******
thanks for clarifying. by doing this border bounce, he gets another 60+30 days or no? If yes, then what's the need of a visa then? If the visa also requires you to leave country?Farang *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Cruise *****
I will not be staying an extra 30 days. Have a 1,500 hike, Lands End to John O'Groats to start. Then I will crawl back to Thailand if I survive!!!!😀🤣Andy ************
@Cruise *****
That's correct. The only downside to border bounces are eventually you will be denied entry on account of trying to live in the country on free tourist entriesBrian *********
@An**
they are not tourist entries they are visa exempt could be work family or tourismGraham ******
@Brian ********
you cannot work on a Visa Exempt entry;)Brian *********
@Gra***
you can attend meetings what you can’t do is work in Thailand as a thai tax payer I think you are being rather pedantic and I’m unsure why. I’m trying to be helpful not upset anyone.Andy ************
@Brian ********
Why would a family visit be 60 days?Brian *********
i telling you facts not having a debate buddy - Visa exempt is just that
Farang *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Andy ***********
retired?Farang *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Andy ***********
even if you stay 240 days a year outside of Thailand?Andy ************
@David **********
Probably not, but you'd still be at the mercy of the immigration officer when you're re-entering. If he believes you are working illegally in the country, you'll be deniedFarang *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Andy ***********
I retired 8 years ago and have no intention of working again. Probably should enter with a limp, cane and a Zimmer frame!!!But still at the mercy of the IO.
Andy ************
@David **********
Haven't you got a non-O?Farang *********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Andy ***********
it is a little complicated at the moment.Reply to
Farang *********
Reply
Gardar ***************************
Are you over 50? If yes then non-oa aka retirement visa if under DTV
Reply to
Gardar ***************************
Reply
138 comments
a year ago
15 comments
a year ago
64 comments
a year ago
28 comments
2 years ago
26 comments
2 years ago
11 comments
2 years ago
35 comments
2 years ago
What is the best method for a short re-entry to Thailand after exceeding a visa exemption extension?
14 comments
2 years ago
13 comments
2 years ago
21 comments
2 years ago
24 comments
3 years ago
148 comments
3 years ago
25 comments
3 years ago
36 comments
3 years ago
28 comments
3 years ago
1 comments
3 years ago
30 comments
3 years ago
13 comments
3 years ago
8 comments
3 years ago
23 comments
3 years ago
14 comments
4 years ago
8 comments
6 years ago
12 comments
8 years ago
27 comments
8 years ago
7 comments
a month ago
9 comments
a month ago
21 comments
a month ago
16 comments
a month ago
8 comments
a month ago
The ask:thailand community, consisting of multiple Q/A groups with over 100,000 members, powers this platform. It is not an official government resource. Our members actively contribute to this resource, and while we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its complete reliability. Assistance to travelers is provided as a community service.