Will my return ticket be an issue if it shows I'm staying for 61 days after extending my 30-day visa exemption in Thailand?

Nov 11, 2018
6 years ago
Roger **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I'm going to Thailand next month on a 30 day visa exemption. I plan on getting a 30 day extension to stay a total of 60 days. I bought a return ticket for 60 days after my arrival, but if you count the day of my arrival as day 1 it's technically a total of 61 days. Do you think that will be an issue?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is concerned about the implications of their return flight being 61 days after arriving in Thailand on a 30-day visa exemption and planning to extend their stay by 30 days. The community discusses potential issues, mainly focusing on airline check-in policies and the consequences of minor overstays. Many believe that a one-day overstay is generally tolerated at immigration, but the main challenge lies with the airline allowing boarding without having a visa or proof of onward travel within the first 30 days.
Tod *********
and we're done.

IF the O/P can't figure out what to do with all those comments and suggestions, they should probably not come here :O ;) :P
Akaon ******************
I think most airlines know you can extend the30 day visa exempt by another 30 days now so I don't think you will have much of a problem,just even print off the page showing about the 30 day extention and show the airline and explain that to them,this will cover your 60 day holiday,30 plus 30 days.as others have said 1 day overstay at airports is free.
Gregor **********
he could do that and get a 60+30 days Single Entry Tourist Visa, yet he mentioned that this is not for him. He said before: " I won't be getting a visa though, i plan on entering on a 30 day visa exemption and then getting a 30 day extension"
Samantha ******************
When I first came here I received a 90 day visa from the Thai Embassy in my country (USA)Before I came.
Gregor **********
The problem is the airline on his first flight will not allow him to board because his out of Thailand flight is not within the first 30 days. He should buy a both ways flight out of Thailand to Vientiane oder Siem Reap on day number 28 or 29 and allow himself a holiday for 3-4 days. Then return to Thailand. In which case he will not only never be in overstay and it is btw cheaper than changing your ticket. A ticket out of Thailand within the first 30 days will guarantee that the airline of his first flight will let him board. Also when he returns from the neighbour country to activate the next 30 days visa exempt, his original 61st day return ticket is important, as it is within the 30 day timeframe and thus the airline in the neighbour country will allow him to board. All other options considered, I would not risk to go to my home country's airport unprepared without a Visa for Thailand and a return flight 61 days later. That's already where his journey will end
Steve *******
You may have a problem boarding your flight without a visa or a return/onward travel within 30 days
Riccardo ***********
500 thb fine for overstay. If on weekend you are probably lucky..
Gregor **********
you could buy a both ways flight out of Thailand to Vientiane oder Siem Reap on day number 28 or 29 and stay there for 3-4 days. Then return to Thailand. In which case you will not be on overstay and it is probably cheaper than changing your ticket. A ticket out of Thailand within the first 30 days furthermore will guarantee that the airline on your first flight will let you board. This aspect of refusal of boarding because your return ticket shows it is OUTSIDE of 60 days may indeed become a problem otherwise
Liam *****
If it's your first trip to Thailand it's overwhelmingly likely that the biggest problem you will have is with the airline you're flying with, not with immigration.
Tod *********
@Ro***
,
@Li**
brings up a very valid point. You are going to try to check in with your airline without having a visa to thailand in your passport (meaning you're flying in on a visa exempt entry) AND your proof of onward travel is NOT within the 30 days you get when you land here.

MANY airlines will not let you check in with out a visa in your passport and your proof of onward travel outside the dates you'll actually get stamped in for. <- That's because IF you're denied entry they would have to lug you back.

Some airlines will let you sign a waiver stating if you get denied you can pay your own way out. BUT I'd certainly check with the airline you're using to see if you can fly here without a visa in your passport and with proof of onward travel 60 days out.
Tod *********
Okay, it seemed we wandered off topic :O

AS A GENERAL RULE if you have an overstay of under 24 hours they waive the 500baht fine when you stamp out to fly out of the country and all you get is a small stamp in thai next to your triangular departure stamp.

That stamp looks like this...
Lance *******
@Tod ********
just a bit 😀
Roger **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks, that's good to know since it would cost a few hundred dollars to change my return flight to a day earlier
Roger **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi Victoria, What is your advice?
Rishikesh ********
Please send me a PM...It's not and I will share with you another very inexpensive avenue if you are truly concerned. Not officially visa advice so beyond scope of site
Scott ********
An overstay of 1 day is not a problem, it says so in their documentation, it’s just a fine of 500 baht. Some will disagree but that’s the official word. As I mentioned in a previous post, the immigration officer did not let me obtain a 30-day extension because it was cheaper to pay the 2-day overstay rather than the extension. And while onwards travel is something they can check, I haven’t arrived in Thailand with onward travel in about 5 years. And yes, I realize they can check next time and I might get turned away.

So, based on some facts (the overstay not being a problem) and some personal experience (yours may differ) I wouldn’t worry about changing your ticket, I’d just play the 500 baht at the airport on the way out of Thailand.
Roger **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
so, the only problem would be if i got questioned on the way to the airport and i was one day over on my 30 day extension?
Dianne *****
@Roger *********
a 60 day single entry tourist visa costs roughly half what an extension at immigration costs
Lance *******
@Roger *********
immigration will probably tell you to apply for a second extension. You will then get a 7 day get out of Thailand pass.
Scott ********
@Lance ******
I liked that post but how can I really like a post about getting fleeced?
Lance *******
@Scott *******
I can guarantee you they are not going to say they will pull you out of the cab take you down an alley and flease as much bht out of you as possible. I've been living here awhile now and don't like the bastards they've made a few bht from me hahaha
Scott ********
@Lance ******
Gotcha! Yes, you’re right. But sometimes we put the fear of some religious entity into people and they think they’re going to jail, or worse, over minor infractions, which is of course possible lol. I do believe in following the rules and being polite rather than a privileged westerner when in Thailand and I’ve never had any problems.
Scott ********
Roger, when you go to immigration to extend your stay show them your airline ticket and ask if they can extend you to cover your departure date or if it will be a problem with a one day overstay. I suspect you will be told it’s just one day and won’t be a problem. Feel free to ask what will happen when the police pull over your taxi as you’re heading to the airport, one day overstay.
Lance *******
@Scott *******
Boy's in Brown. The police. You are talking about immigration guidelines. Thai police don't follow them not even there own guidelines. But like you said they odds are up there on getting pulled up.
Scott ********
@Lance ******
What’s BIB? Educate me please.
Roger **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I'm leaving in just a few weeks. don't really want to risk sending my passport out to a visa service and not get it back in time before i leave. I feel better about just getting a 30 day visa exemption and extending that 30 days since i'm only planning on staying 60 days anyway
James ********
@Roger *********
why not get a 60 day tourist visa which can be extended ?
Lance *******
@Scott *******
it is very unlikely to get pulled over. BIB don't follow any guidelines.
Scott ********
@Lance ******
Unlikely. You’re in a cab on the way to the airport with airline ticket in hand. I really can’t see that becoming a major problem, in accordance with their own guidelines.
Lance *******
@Scott *******
the cops here just want cash give them any excuse and they'll take it. And it will be alot more than 500bht.
Scott ********
Correct, getting stopped and questioned on your way to the airport could, supposedly, be a problem. But I don’t buy that argument, how else could they publish that it’s just a fine? Even though TiT, that makes no sense. That really applies to the people that are intentionally overstaying for months and years, not the tourist that overstays for a few days which happens every single day. The Thai jails are not full of 1 and 2 day visa overstay bandits.

I know, some of this is my opinion. Feel free to beat me up now.
Lance *******
They may also ask to see 20,000bht or foreign currency equivalent too. onward ticket and hotel booking.
Roger **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I won't be getting a visa though, i plan on entering on a 30 day visa exemption and then getting a 30 day extension.
Lance *******
@Roger *********
yep. Just get a single entry visa before you come and extend that.
Lance *******
You won't have a problem extending 30 day's they don't ask to see your plane ticket and no problem at the airport. The only problem is getting caught on the way to the airport.
Roger **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Even if i pay an overstay fine?
Robby *****
They won't let board the plane !
Roger **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
My flight arrives Dec 6 at 6:50pm and my return flight leaves on Feb 4 at 2:40 pm. so that's 60 days unless they count the day you arrive as a full day.
Tony *********
Why didn't you apply for a 60 day Visa? 🤔 ...
Danny **********
If you are extending in Bangkok, you will not be asked to show proof of onward flight. Probably true in any immigration office but 100% NOT asked in Bangkok. You’ll be ok.
Mary ********
Option 1 get an actual visa in your country of origin.

Option 2 book a train/ plane or bus ticket out of Thiland then trash it. Option 3 (most expensive) change flight.
Scott **********
@Roger *********
Anything is possible depending on the migration officer but it is very unlikely that Thai immigration will say anything because they know you can do a border bounce to extend and I do not think they often look proof of onward travel, although they can do so.
Roger **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks Scott..What i need to find out now is whether or not the immigration office will issue me a 30 day extension before the end of my initial 30 days if they notice my return flight is 61 days after i entered the country. Maybe someone could answer that for me. Thanks
Scott **********
Greg is correct. There is no fine at BKK or DMK for an overstay under 24 hours. You will get a stamp in your passport. I do not think the stamp will. Be a big problem but do not know for sure after my flight was changed earlier this year putting me on overstay. I am not an expert on this just a victim of it :-) but my guess is that airline changes are the reason the Bangkok airports do not charge for under 24 hours overstay.
Roger **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I wouldn’t mind paying for a 1 day overstay. But, the issue is wether or not they would issue me a 30 day extension at the immigration office.
Roger **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I was afraid of that. Unfortunately it looks like i'll have to spend a few hundred dollars to change my return flight. Thanks
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