Perhaps time to post this here again.

Overstaying your “admitted until” date in your passport is breaking the law.

Many times on here people ask is it ok to overstay - 1, 2, 5 days etc. The fine at the immigration exit desk is 500 baht per day of overstay. Some airport immigration officers will waive the fine if it is only 1 day, but you’ll still get a small stamp in your passport in Thai saying “overstay fine waived as under 24 hours”. 100% you’ll be fined at a land border

HOWEVER if you are stopped inside the country for any reason - like at a police check point - even on your way to an airport or border crossing then be prepared for a whole lot of trouble.

The police may arrest you as you have broken the law. If they do you’ll be fined in court and then sent to the nearest Immigration Detention Centre, where you will be kept until you buy a one way ticket back to your home country. If you don’t have the funds for that you will be kept there until you find some means of raising those funds. Once you have your ticket, you will be deported and blacklisted from entering the country for up to 5 years.

Sounds dramatic but it sometimes happens. 500 baht a day sounds cheaper than an extension for 1900 baht at a local immigration office but in the overall scheme of things it is never wise to overstay.

For those who want to argue that “I’ve never had an issue on overstay - so you’ll be fine” Is akin to saying “I got away with breaking the law - so you will too”.

There have also been reports of some having issues with getting visas or entries to other countries because of their overstay stamp in Thailand. Russia and Singapore spring to mind. It may not affect you coming back to Thailand but it could potentially be an issue going somewhere else.

I have a bit of a problem with my visa, when I arrived in September, I got what I thought was a 3 month visa from the thai embassy in my country, but turns out it was a 3 month single entry visa, I tried to leave in December to be told I had overstayed by 22 days, I couldn't pay the fine so they wouldn't let me on the plane I've been here since, I've bought another ticket to leave on Monday, what can I expect from immigration again when I inform them I can't pay the fine? Thanks

Not necessarily visa related but would like some info if possible . I have a friend in bkk who is now on overstay day 3. He has already extended by 30 days so obviously his next step is pay his fine and leave the country . Right here’s where I need some info . He doesn’t have a return ticket out of the country at this moment in time . If he gets stopped and passport checked, will they a, immediately deport him back to UK or b, keep him in a detention cell until the funds for a flight to Uk become available . TIA and feel free to remove if not appropriate

Greetings to all. Please I need your advice.

I got a Non B visa from India and I came to the kingdom on the 13th of October 2018. In January, together with my employer I got my working permit and a 2 years teaching licence. We went and extended the visa at immigration sakon nakhon. The extension is up till 13th January 2020. I went for my last notification on the 17th of April 2019. On the 25th of April I was arrested and the immigration said my visa is fake. I ask for bail and the court granted it (150,000baht). I paid the bail but immigration has been keeping me in a police cell for 26 days now. My lawyer is confused and said the immigration is using administrative powers to keep me in the police cell. What else can I do in this situation? Presently the court is still waiting for the immigration to submit the case file. If there's anyone who can help me out I will much appreciate. Thanks

Dear all,

Just think of this situation:

You just got stopped by Immigration and Immigration puts you in an enclosed environment. You still have battery left on your phone so you ask advice on this page.

Than you have to go trough mutliple comments about the rules are not fair, the law should change, why Immigration does this, Thailand depends on tourisme, it never happend to me and much more comments and replies. Than finally you find a comment that can help you and the phone dies, battery empty.

The people in these situations want help, not long discussions about the Thai Immigration Act. Think about this before you start a discussion., if you want to discuss Immigration rules start your own topic.