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Will I face immigration issues upon my return to Thailand with a flagged status?
Visa RulesImmigrationRetirement VisaTourist VisaNon-O VisaEntry IssuesExpat Life in ThailandVisa Exemptions
Aug 11, 2025
9 months ago
Chuck ******
ORIGINAL POSTERHi. For the past 4 years, I have been a frequent visitor to Thailand, averaging around 7 months per year, in a two trip total. I know i should apply for a retirement visa but having a family back home, it has stopped me from making the move. Last March , while returning to Thailand from a 3 night stay in Vietnam, I was stopped at Thai immigration and questioned about spending too much time in Thailand and not having a proper visa. The agent let me enter Thailand again but informed me that I will be flagged and that I will need a visa for the next time. I will be returning to Thailand again next month after being in my home country for two months. I have a VR visa which I applied for. My question is, will I have a problem with immigration?
Thank you in advance for your help.
Thank you in advance for your help.
TLDR : Answer Summary
A user has been frequently visiting Thailand for 4 years, spending about 7 months per year in the country without a proper visa. After being flagged by immigration for excessive stays, the user plans to return with a tourist visa. Community responses highlight that the flagged status may lead to entry issues, suggesting the user should consider applying for a retirement visa or a Non-O visa to avoid complications. Many comments emphasize the importance of adhering to immigration rules, as a tourist visa may not suffice given the user's residency-like patterns in Thailand.
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.
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Aikins *******
Thailand is trying to cut down on border-runs, abusing visa exemptions. DTV is also tourist visa which allows you every for up to 6 months a time, and multiple entries.
The believe the issue is cutting down on Visa exemptions.
You should be fine with a tourist visa.
The believe the issue is cutting down on Visa exemptions.
You should be fine with a tourist visa.
Andrew *******
@Aikins ******
end of the day no matter what visa you have your entry is decided on by the immigration officer you get and they can just say no for any little reason, so if your in a position where you think you will get denied I would say play the game and pay for VIP, it's corrupt and generally not good but you would get in, same as when you do a land boarder crossing you pay an agent and you know immigration will get a cut, so your playing their game, so play by their rules or you will come unstuck and have a bad time because you are only ever a guest....Reply to
Andrew *******
Reply
Andrew *******
Contact a visa agent in Thailand who offers VIP Airport entry or Fast track entry, they will need a pic of your passport to check it's 'status' with immigration and so how much you will need to pay 4-10k baht to get in, this will also get the 'flagged' status confirmed if it's there, something you may want to consider is flying in to a more local to Thailand country such as Vietnam and spending a couple of days there before flying in to Thailand, because if you get denied entry they will send you back to where you flew in from, you have to book and pay the flight and you don't get a choice in where you go, so if you had flown from UK or US then you would have to pay that flight back on the spot, oh and make sure you have some baht as cash with you so you can pay the 1070 baht a night detention centre fee, and make sure you have a power bank to charge you phone, if you pick VIP start getting it sorted at least a week before you fly because it takes time to confirm everything and also you would need to pay the fee before you fly
David *******
My advice try Vietnam. £19 for a 3 month visa. No financial investigation required as with Thailand (ie bank statements). Much more laid back ...not on a mission to fleece tourists.
David *******
@Andrew ******
is payment of fees the common theme here? Fee for this and fee for that? All geared up to empty our pockets. Some of them are extortionate. Agents are charging 60k baht for 15 month retirement visa (£1400). Thai are very tolerant when they know Thais have ripped you off.Andrew *******
@David ******
if you stick to the Thai rules then no fees needed, however the problem with many Thai rules is they are often very big grey areas where getting clear and accurate information is near to impossible because they change almost monthly, many of the rules they have are in press and online, but finding them is very hard, wow 60k for first retirement visa is a lot, last I heard from TikTok services in Pattaya it was 35k so I say shop around, also the high prices are probably because people don't have the 800k to leave in a bank and doing that part is now much much harder, but again the reality there is if you comply with all that's needed you can apply for the retirement visa yourself and I have known a few that have done that with help from a Thai lady or gf and it's cost them under £100 for a 12 month visa, so when people don't want to look at this option for several reasons can you really blame the agents for charging a lot.......no not really they have bills and need to eat too and as it's getting more quiet due to all the government changes too that will push prices upReply to
Andrew *******
Reply
Jesper *******
Many ppl get themselves nonO retirement visa but doesn't have to stay here all year or retire.....if you are less than 50yrs old consider applying for a DTV...it might still be a tourist visa but you have better chance of getting entry since you have been warned
Steve ********
7 months a year in a country for 4 years means that's the main country you live in - i.e. You're not a tourist, you're a resident who travels abroad 5 months of the year. That's what they're seeing. As others have said, a tourist visa isn't likely to appease them.
Damo ***********
Only 1 thing you need to do and it aint hard at all….
1. follow
1. follow
@Brandon ***********
advice. Very simple… so do not over complicate it!Alan *******
a retirement visa and extension with multiple entry permit would suit your purpose. It doesn't oblige you to move, but you would need to fulfill the criteria for it (bank account, tm30, etc)
David *******
They’ve been denying a lot of people lately, so I’d say 90% chance you’re not going to be let in. Especially if they told you to get a real visa and you ignored it. Good luck though! report back so we know what happens in 2 months!
Adrian *********
You’ve been told they were flagging you up and would need the appropriate visa to gain entry, so your solution is to ignore what immigration told you and think you’ll just rock up with a tourist visa and IO will let you enter the kingdom …? .. Quite honestly I don’t understand how you’ve got away with it for 4 years but if you’ve been flagged you’re wasting your time and money trying to enter without the correct visa. As for asking ‘will I have a problem’ …YES undoubtedly
Todd *********
@Adrian ********
there is the key. You don’t understand how…Reply to
Todd *********
Reply
Robert *********
Yes
Get a multiple entry tourist visa
Get a multiple entry tourist visa
Greg ***********
@Robert ********
even a METV will not be a guarantee of entry. EVERY touristic entry, regardless if its on a visa or not, is a touristic entry, and the overuse of it for a longstay within a period of 365 days, will be pulled from the deck of cards to get denied entryRobert *********
Greg ***********
@Robert ********
it is okay, if you use it once every calendar year, no problem . . but you can't use the METV shortly after prolonged visa-exempt entries or touristic entriesReply to
Greg ***********
Reply
Phil ******
@Chuck *****
yes I think you will have an issue. Best apply for a Non O Visa.Chuck ******
ORIGINAL POSTERYes. That was the term he used. "Flagged"
Greg ***********
@Chuck *****
it means, that every Immigration officer can see on your central computer page , that you have already been warned, when he scans your passport. The "flag"or the notice will be seen in the field that's marked with an orange arrow. You can be denied even on a valid 60-days tourist visa. A visa is no guaranteee for a succcessful entry. A tourist visa and the visa-exempt entries weight just the same and should not be overused within a period of 365 daysReply to
Greg ***********
Reply
Maxim ***********
You will likely get denied.
A Tourist Visa will not help.
An agent can help getting you in via Fast-Track / VIP for 4k baht.
A Tourist Visa will not help.
An agent can help getting you in via Fast-Track / VIP for 4k baht.
Graham ******
@Maxim **********
Cheaper to write off the £30 for the TR60 by contacting the Embassy to cancel it and apply for the 90 day Non-O for £60 to get the same 90 day stay without the need for an extension (1900B)Reply to
Graham ******
Reply
John **********
If you spend less than 180 days a year in Thailand you typically won't have a problem..so that extra month might have tripped things up.
Marc ****************
@John *********
agree with John, a small red light popped up on their computer system that you are over 180 days.Max *************
@John *********
Those 180 days are tax related. It has nothing to do with multiple arrivals on visa exempts,extensions and border runs as a tourist.Jared **********
@John *********
there have been quite a few people reporting problems spending less than 6 months and being warned or flat out deniedPer usual it’s as clear as mud but i wouldn’t bet on under 6 months without an issue as the status quo anymore
Reply to
Jared **********
Reply
Brandon ************
You could very well have a problem. The immigration officer indicated you were spending too much time in Thailand as a tourist. Yet you have now gotten a tourist visa, which is still a tourist entry, and you plan on entering after only being gone for 2 months.
You said you don't want to apply for a retirement visa because of your family, but that makes no sense. You don't have to intend on living in Thailand to get a retirement visa. You just need to meet the embassy requirements. If you get a non-O retirement visa before you go to Thailand, you'll get a 90 day entry stamp and won't have any problems with immigration. You can then open a bank account and put the necessary funds to apply for the 1-year extension, or you can go home and spend a little time and apply for a new non-O before returning to Thailand.
You also have the option of the 1 year non-OA if you don't mind the mandatory insurance requirement.
You said you don't want to apply for a retirement visa because of your family, but that makes no sense. You don't have to intend on living in Thailand to get a retirement visa. You just need to meet the embassy requirements. If you get a non-O retirement visa before you go to Thailand, you'll get a 90 day entry stamp and won't have any problems with immigration. You can then open a bank account and put the necessary funds to apply for the 1-year extension, or you can go home and spend a little time and apply for a new non-O before returning to Thailand.
You also have the option of the 1 year non-OA if you don't mind the mandatory insurance requirement.
Hugh **********
@Brandon ***********
you are a wealth of knowledge on this site, and I mean that sincerely. Thank you.Dennis ***********
@Brandon ***********
EXACTLYReply to
Dennis ***********
Reply
Mic *****
So they told you, your flagged right ?
Reply to
Mic *****
Reply
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