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Answered8 months ago

Will I receive another 60-day visa exempt entry if I return to Thailand 1 day after leaving for Malaysia?

Alfie *******
asked Mar 1, 2026
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Coming to the end of 2 months visa exemp and the 1 month extension. If I fly to malaysia and fly back 1 day later will I get another 60 day visa exempt? Uk passport
Answer summary
The user inquires whether flying to Malaysia for a day and returning would grant them another 60-day visa exemption into Thailand. Many commenters highlight that this depends heavily on the user's previous travel history in Thailand. Recent immigration practices involve stricter scrutiny, and the decision ultimately lies with the immigration officer. There is no official limit on the number of visa-exempt entries within a year; however, repeated entries are closely examined, and prior non-compliance might be seen as trying to abuse the visa system. A safe recommendation from the comments suggests obtaining a tourist visa instead to avoid complications.
37 repliesnewest first
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Mick *********
Mick *********
Art the moment you will but there are plans to reduce it to 30 days. It may also depend on any other recent visits to Thailand. If you’ve got onward travel arrangements and proof of funds (I think
*****
bht but you’ll have to check) you should be fine.
Fred **********
Fred **********
if you come.back after one day. then why not just take another visa. Then you are sure. In this case..... you are very lucky if they let you in.
Frankie *******
Frankie *******
As long u dont exceed 180 days per calender year u be fine.BTW second extension is only 7 days
Graham ******
Graham ******
Frankie Subra there is no 180 day rule
Helmut *********
Helmut *********
Good luck! Nobody can really tell... 🤓
Elton ******
Elton ******
Maybe yes. Maybe no.
CoolBun*******
CoolBun*******
You’ve spent near enough 50% of your time in Thailand over the last 2 years and you think you can class yourself as a tourist?

🤣🤣🤣
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
There are no new "visa rules" and there is no new law.

There is no “reset” when a new calendar year begins.

There is no limit of two visa-exemptions within a 1-year period, and definitely not within a calendar. This is simply not true.

What has changed, mandated from above, is the strict scrutinizing of your number of visa-exempt entries and the thorough check on "visa runners" (actually they meant to say "back-to-back border runners").The new approach taken by border officials is intended to ensure that the option to do a "visa run" is not abused.

Now as far as regarding extensions on visa-exempt entries, it does appear that the Immigration offices are indeed only issuing 7-day extensions if you already got one previous 30-day extension on any visa exempt entry. The count is 60 + 30 + 60 + 7 = 157 days maximum within a 1-year period, regardless of whether you arrive by air or land.

This is not standardized. The decision is made upon the discretion of the individual immigration officer.

Unfortunately, there are some reports of tourist extensions on top of the 60-days being denied for those having arrived across a land border, while there have been some cases under the same circumstances where an extension was granted.

Fact is right now, it is subjective and up to the decision of the officer you are standing in front of when you wish to enter the country. They decide if you are a "real tourist" or if they think you are milking the visa exempt entry program.

There is just no clear directive as far as what's what, there are no official rules, however after a few interviews with Immigration top officers, a few basic patterns have crystallized.

Some people with a 30-days extension already on a previous visa exempt entry reported getting another 30-days extension without any issue, however some have reported they only got a 7-days extension issued. Your experience might vary from that.

The 7-day extension is a REAL extension. It is not the same as the stamp "application for extension denied, you have 7 days to leave the Kingdom" even if for some people it looks like the “7-days grace period”.

I have already seen the stamp of a 7-days extension, it takes up half of a passport page.

Visa-exempt entries themselves are not limited, even though some believe that unlimited visa-free entries are possible by air. It is irrelevant if you enter via a land border or by air.

Visa-exempt entries are not limited to two entries per year. This is not correct.

This is a misconception, and some agents and lawyers spread this information to make profit from panicked people.

Many agents and Immigration Volunteers are warning you should not believe those alleged news telling you that visa-exempt entries are limited to two per year. It simply is not true.

In the past, visa-exempt entries were limited to two across a land border, this old rule was discontinued on July 15th, 2024.

On the paper, visa-exempt entries by air or across land and sea were “unlimited” after this date. LET ME EXPLAIN: this wording “unlimited” is not a fixed rule of Immigration – THEY decide when your “personal limit” is up.

On a few conditions, but always at the individual discretion of the border official, multiple visa-exempt entries are possible - like four, five or even more times, if you do not milk the system.

The entry history in your passport and your profile on Immigration’s Central Computer must prove that your stays were short-term holidays (like only 2-4 weeks).

Some Immigration officers will tell you the total number of visa-exempt days should not exceed 150 days, some will tell you the limit is 157 days. It remains unclear – because there is no official rule, there is no official limit. There are only guidelines on how to treat repeated entries.

Your best proof that you are not milking the visa-free system is when you can show that you returned to your home country between each visa-exempt stay, or stayed abroad for a long time. And when you always are able to show an onward travel proof

ATTENTION: an “onwardticket” can be scolded upon by Immigration and you can be accused of showing a faked ticket, denied entry and being forced to buy a ticket back to your origin.

The new approach was to prohibit "visa runs," where you only entered a neighboring country briefly and then immediately re-entered.

You must be able to prove your short holiday at the Immigration counter—for example, with proof of onward travel or a return journey, such as a flight ticket. A border official would then rather consider you being a "genuine" tourist based on short holiday trips within a year. They expect to see on their Central Computer that you never maximized any of these visa-exempt holidays.

What is crystal-clear: "per year" means "within a one-year period”.

Some people still say it means “calendar year”, yet this does not make much sense. We have received many confirmations after January 1st, 2026, that nothing “had reset in the new calendar year”. The count is based on a rolling year.

Those who want to play safe should obtain a single-entry tourist visa in advance for stays of up to 60 days, with the option to extend for 30 more days.

ATTENTION: Aquiring a tourist visa after you have accumulated a few visa exempt stays, does NOT “clean the slate”. Touristic entries on a tourist visa will also be frowned upon when you start to misuse them. To use a tourist visa directly after you have maximized visa-exempt stays, does not free you from the obligations. The Immigration officer won’t be fooled.

For people who like to spend half a year in South East Asia and who like to make Thailand the hub for other travels, the 6-months multi-entry Tourist Visa is the choice
Alfie *******
Alfie *******
OP
Greg Alexanderthank you for the information. Very helpful. When I stand infront of the immigration officer I will have spent 153 days in total in thailand in the last 1 year. I was in the UK for 4 months then returned to thailand and have now been here 88 days. Am I over the limit? Im guessing its a
*****
or less
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
Alfie Green we can only guess. . . . . .what you can do is book a fast track VIP entry (the owner of this group will provide it) as they will check your stamp history and they are able to determine if you are safe for another visa-exempt entry or not. In case they guarantee it, an agent or Immigration officer will pick you up at the gate and escort you through Immigration. It costs something like 4500 Baht
Dave *******
Dave *******
7 days but I am no expert 🙈
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
Dave Allen that was not the question
Dave *******
Dave *******
Greg Alexander what was the question he said will he get 60 days I said no probably 7 but like I said I am no expert 💪
Colin *********
Colin *********
Dave Allen he's talking about another 60 day Visa Exempt and that will be entirely up to what the IO sees on their computer as far as his history of entries goes.

I can only assume that as you admitted that you're "no expert" you're mixing up Visa Exempt entries and Extensions, which according to Immigration Policies updated last November, stipulate that within a one year period, one 30 day Extension may be granted and if a second one is applied for, it will only be 7 days.
Stephen ********
Stephen ********
Sounds like you're not a genuine tourist so I'd say you'll have problems
Turquois*********
Turquois*********
Are you a legitimate tourist?
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
TurquoiseWolf7342 WHAT is a "legitimate" tourist, please define
Turquois*********
Turquois*********
Greg Alexander that's up to Thai immigration to decide. But it's a fair bet that if you've been in Thailand for 360 days over the past two years, you're not a legitimate tourist.
Alfie *******
Alfie *******
OP
Been too thailand 6 times in the last 2 years. 4 times for 50 days and twice for 80 days. Returned to uk everytime. I see my self as a tourist as I've been everywhere in this time. But I think the officer could see it differently
Damien ***********
Damien ***********
Alfie Green u aint getting in your practically lived there 2yrs .. youll need a proper visa im 90 % sure of that
Colin *********
Colin *********
Alfie Green are you aware that the average tourist spends an average of 7-8 days in Thailand and the great majority don't stay any longer than three weeks?

You may consider yourself as a tourist, but according to the numbers you've provided, in light of the clamp down on people abusing the system, Thai Immigration Officers could quite likely see you as someone trying to live in the country without a long term Visa. That would be based on you having spent half of the past two years in Thailand.

You haven't specified whether you have purchased Visas prior to visiting Thailand or whether you've entered only in Visa Exempt. If it's the latter, then you might be wasting your Airfares trying to get a free entry again so soon. Having seen this topic discussed so many times in the past year, and particularly since Immigration Policies were updated last November in regard to Extensions, I think that only the fact that you have returned to your home country each time, might sway an Immigration Officers decision in your favour. Even that may be a stretch having spent half of your last two years in Thailand.
Tony ******
Tony ******
Alfie Green are you saying that over the last 2 years you have spent 360 days in Thailand on tourist exemption and extensions ?

I would certainly contact a visa specialist for advice as that would seem to be 'stretching' the tourist visa exemption, last thing you need is to get turned away 😕
Turquois*********
Turquois*********
Alfie Green I think you're correct. You don't have a partner in Thailand?
John **********
John **********
It will depend on your prior history in Thailand. If this is your first visit in the last couple of years it won't be a problem but you might not get another 30 day extension
Brad *******
Brad *******
This seems to be increasingly up to the whims of immigration.
Robert ********
Robert ********
I believe the new rules are you can only do it 2 times in a one year period.
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
Robert Lummis not true. You can do a handful of visa exempt entries within a one year period if you don't maximize each stay. However you can only get two extensions for any of these e´visa-exempt stays. The first extension is for 30 days, but the extension for a second visa-exempt stay will only be for 7 days
Robert ********
Robert ********
Greg Alexander As of late
*********
Thailand allows 93 nationalities to enter visa-free for up to 60 days per entry, with a limit of 2 entries per calendar year via land borders, though air entries are more flexible. Extensions are available for 30 days, totaling up to 90 days per visit.
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
Robert Lummis your wires are crossed. You have been told bullshit. . . . You have probably been confused by some half-witted barstool heroes and their unbiased comments on the internet.

There are no new "visa rules" and there is no new law.

There is no “reset” when a new calendar year begins.

There is no limit of two visa-exemptions within a 1-year period, and definitely not within a calendar. This is simply not true.

What has changed, mandated from above, is the strict scrutinizing of your number of visa-exempt entries and the thorough check on "visa runners" (actually they meant to say "back-to-back border runners").The new approach taken by border officials is intended to ensure that the option to do a "visa run" is not abused.

Now as far as regarding extensions on visa-exempt entries, it does appear that the Immigration offices are indeed only issuing 7-day extensions if you already got one previous 30-day extension on any visa exempt entry. The count is 60 + 30 + 60 + 7 = 157 days maximum within a 1-year period, regardless of whether you arrive by air or land.

This is not standardized. The decision is made upon the discretion of the individual immigration officer.

Unfortunately, there are some reports of tourist extensions on top of the 60-days being denied for those having arrived across a land border, while there have been some cases under the same circumstances where an extension was granted.

Fact is right now, it is subjective and up to the decision of the officer you are standing in front of when you wish to enter the country. They decide if you are a "real tourist" or if they think you are milking the visa exempt entry program.

There is just no clear directive as far as what's what, there are no official rules, however after a few interviews with Immigration top officers, a few basic patterns have crystallized.

Some people with a 30-days extension already on a previous visa exempt entry reported getting another 30-days extension without any issue, however some have reported they only got a 7-days extension issued. Your experience might vary from that.

The 7-day extension is a REAL extension. It is not the same as the stamp "application for extension denied, you have 7 days to leave the Kingdom" even if for some people it looks like the “7-days grace period”.

I have already seen the stamp of a 7-days extension, it takes up half of a passport page.

Visa-exempt entries themselves are not limited, even though some believe that unlimited visa-free entries are possible by air. It is irrelevant if you enter via a land border or by air.

Visa-exempt entries are not limited to two entries per year. This is not correct.

This is a misconception, and some agents and lawyers spread this information to make profit from panicked people.

Many agents and Immigration Volunteers are warning you should not believe those alleged news telling you that visa-exempt entries are limited to two per year. It simply is not true.

In the past, visa-exempt entries were limited to two across a land border, this old rule was discontinued on July 15th, 2024.

On the paper, visa-exempt entries by air or across land and sea were “unlimited” after this date. LET ME EXPLAIN: this wording “unlimited” is not a fixed rule of Immigration – THEY decide when your “personal limit” is up.

On a few conditions, but always at the individual discretion of the border official, multiple visa-exempt entries are possible - like four, five or even more times, if you do not milk the system.

The entry history in your passport and your profile on Immigration’s Central Computer must prove that your stays were short-term holidays (like only 2-4 weeks).

Some Immigration officers will tell you the total number of visa-exempt days should not exceed 150 days, some will tell you the limit is 157 days. It remains unclear – because there is no official rule, there is no official limit. There are only guidelines on how to treat repeated entries.

Your best proof that you are not milking the visa-free system is when you can show that you returned to your home country between each visa-exempt stay, or stayed abroad for a long time. And when you always are able to show an onward travel proof

ATTENTION: an “onwardticket” can be scolded upon by Immigration and you can be accused of showing a faked ticket, denied entry and being forced to buy a ticket back to your origin.

The new approach was to prohibit "visa runs," where you only entered a neighboring country briefly and then immediately re-entered.

You must be able to prove your short holiday at the Immigration counter—for example, with proof of onward travel or a return journey, such as a flight ticket. A border official would then rather consider you being a "genuine" tourist based on short holiday trips within a year. They expect to see on their Central Computer that you never maximized any of these visa-exempt holidays.

What is crystal-clear: "per year" means "within a one-year period”.

Some people still say it means “calendar year”, yet this does not make much sense. We have received many confirmations after January 1st, 2026, that nothing “had reset in the new calendar year”. The count is based on a rolling year.

Those who want to play safe should obtain a single-entry tourist visa in advance for stays of up to 60 days, with the option to extend for 30 more days.

ATTENTION: Aquiring a tourist visa after you have accumulated a few visa exempt stays, does NOT “clean the slate”. Touristic entries on a tourist visa will also be frowned upon when you start to misuse them. To use a tourist visa directly after you have maximized visa-exempt stays, does not free you from the obligations. The Immigration officer won’t be fooled.

For people who like to spend half a year in South East Asia and who like to make Thailand the hub for other travels, the 6-months multi-entry Tourist Visa is the choice

If you are still looking for a confirmation that my advice is basing on facts, you are free to check what Tod Daniels published in a few other groups.

His stance is identical to mine. If there is any person who has the knowledge, then it is T.D. – the Facebook “visa guru” expert
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
Robert Lummis bullshit, complete rubbish. PLEASE stop this misinformation
Alfie *******
Alfie *******
OP
Does it start a fresh with the year 2026? Or is it the last 12 months from whatever date your infront of the officer
John **********
John **********
@Alfie ******
there is no limit on visa exempt entries, there is no reset for a new year. There is no reset every 12 months. What happens is that the immigration officer you stand in front of will look at your history of staying in Thailand and make a decision based on that. It doesn't matter how you see yourself, only how the immigration officer sees you. A good rule of thumb is if you think you might have a problem get a visa.
Robert ********
Robert ********
@John *********
As of late
*********
Thailand allows 93 nationalities to enter visa-free for up to 60 days per entry, with a limit of 2 entries per calendar year via land borders, though air entries are more flexible. Extensions are available for 30 days, totaling up to 90 days per visit.
Greg ***********
Greg ***********
Alfie Green It is definitely counted as "within a one-year period". A new calendar year does not set anything back

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