Will I face any issues if my flight departs after my visa expires but before I leave Thailand?

Oct 28, 2021
3 years ago
Josef ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hey everybody,

it is not really a question about the visa, but I hope ;I can still get an answer.

In a half month my visa is running out so I have to fly back home. First I booked my flight with KLM on the 15th or 16th of November, now they changed my flight to the 17th at 00:15. My Visa is running out on the 16th, so theoreticallly when my visa is running out I should sit already in the airplane. You think this is allowed or will work like expected or better try to change the flight?

Thanks in advance.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is concerned about their flight departure timing in relation to their impending visa expiration. They booked a flight for the night of the 17th, while their visa expires on the 16th. Community responses confirm that as long as the user is through immigration before midnight on the 16th, they should not face any issues. They also mentioned that minor overstays (under 24 hours) are typically waived without fines.
Esing ********
This issue is not going to be at all a real problem. Take it easy breathe well, all are fine with those minor stuffs
Garrett ***********
You're fine, you'll walk through immigration before the end of the 16th.

Even if something happens, overstays less than 24 hours are waived, no fine no issue.
Josef ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks a lot for your answer
Stuart *********
As long as you go through immigration before 11:59pm on the 16th you’ll have no issues. Even if you don’t make that then at most you’d get a stamp saying “overstay fine waived”
George ********
@Benjamin *****
I was given #2, no fine but a stamp. The first time I assumed if I passed immigration before midnight I was considered out of the country. The second, I saw no point in paying 1900 baht for an extension when my overstay would be an hour and a half and was prepared to pay the 500 baht fine. I will look for my old passports but both have stamp indicating 1 day overstay. I am aware each immigration office appears to interpret the laws differently. Here in Sisaket, immigration is helpful, friendly and laid back.
George ********
@Tony ********
well Tony, I wish I had your superior knowledge with me twice when the obviously less intelligent immigration officer diverted me to his superior and also with me when his less intelligent supervisor stamped an overstay stamp. FFS
Frank ******
@George *******
unlucky you
George ********
@Frank *****
yes my biggest problem with immigration in 12 years. Tragic
Stuart *********
@George *******
Each immigration officer may interpret the rules differently, but if you pass through immigration before midnight on the day your visa expires you are not on overstay. I’m not saying that it hasn’t happened to you, just that that’s what’s supposed to happen.
George ********
@Stuart ********
and I am saying on the two occasions I was in the same position the supervisor, not the officer in the booth, gave me an overstay of 1 day, an admonishment not to let it happen again but no fine. The occasions were 6 years apart.
Stuart *********
@George *******
this is the first time I’ve heard of that happening. It shouldn’t but as I said each officer may make his own interpretations.
George ********
@Stuart ********
Yes, of course. Each time both officers shared the same opinion. The

"One day, no pay" made me chuckle, obviously I was not the first nor the last to hear the rhyme.
Benjamin ******
@George *******
This is very interesting:

1. A person leaves Thailand when they cross immigration, not when they physically leave Thailand's airspace. As long as a person crosses over by 11:59PM the day the "admitted to" stamp expires, they would not get fined or be on overstay.

2. At airports, most immigration officers allow a grace period of one day. You would get an overstay stamp, but not fined.

If this isn't what happened to you, can you share your passport pictures?
George ********
@Stuart ********
"one day no pay", it is not when you go through immigration, it is when you depart Thailand
Tony *********
@George *******
they dont stamp you when you on the plane .

So regardless what time the plane leaves . If its scheduled for 00:15 take off and it takes off at 01:00

It doesnt matter as he has gone through immigration and got his departure stamp at least 2 hours before his flight which is still the 16th
Stuart *********
@George *******
and where do you go through when you depart?
George ********
@Stuart ********
your plane leaves the tarmac, I have had the same experience twice, both times no penalty but a stamp in my passport and warning
Stuart *********
@George *******
the stamp you got was issued by immigration when you left the country.
George ********
@Stuart ********
Yes an overstay stamp, your flight departs on the 17th, your visa expires on the 16th
Stuart *********
@George *******
if they have cleared immigration on the 16th he is not on overstay regardless that the flight is for the 17th. He has “checked out of Thailand” within the dates of his visa.
Josef ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks for the help, appreciate it
Stuart *********
I re-read that the flight is 00:15. You’ll have no issues
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