Hey everyone,
I’m a German citizen and have been spending several months a year in Thailand since 2021, always entering with a tourist visa or the 30-day visa exemption. I’ve never had any issues with entry before, always arriving by plane.
Last week, I took a short trip to Vietnam as my tourist visa had expired and tried to re-enter Thailand using the new 60-day visa exemption. But this time, immigration pulled me aside, pointing out that staying too long as a tourist is an issue. I had to fill out a form (attached) and show proof of an onward flight before they finally stamped my passport with 60 days.
I always thought there weren’t any limitations for entry by plane, so this was totally unexpected. The officer spoke very little English, and I couldn’t get a clear answer about the issue. Interestingly, I wasn’t the only one pulled aside—others around me seemed to be facing similar questions.
Has anyone else experienced something like this recently?
TLDR : Answer Summary
A German citizen has had experiences with Thai immigration questioning their repeated use of tourist visas and exemptions, particularly after returning from Vietnam with a new 60-day exemption. Others in the community shared similar encounters, suggesting that frequent entries might prompt scrutiny by immigration officers. Suggestions included considering a long-term visa like the DTV, avoiding excessive border hopping, or taking land border crossings to minimize questioning. The community warns that immigration has become stricter regarding those perceived as trying to reside in Thailand without the appropriate visa.
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