ATTENTION ALL MEMBERS:

REPEATED VISA EXEMPT ENTRIES & EXTENSIONS ON V/E ENTRIES

I think it's time that we address "the elephant in the room" and that's this 'new rule' about only 2 visa exempt entries per calendar year; the one where they are saying the first entry can get a 30 day extension, any entries after that can get a 7 day extension and if you entered by land on a visa exempt entry you can't get any extension.

Plain and simple there is NO OFFICIAL RULE about this. :O There is no Royal Police Order stating it, nothing has been published in the royal gazette, in short there is abso-tively, posi-lutely nothing out there that makes these "new rules" official..

However that doesn't stop immigration officers at the borders and at immigration offices from enforcing them.. :O We are seeing more and more that people are being denied exiting the country by land (if they're going to just bounce out/back even if they stay out a couple days)

and

we are seeing more and more immigration offices telling people they can get only a 7 day extension on their current visa exempt entry (if they've had other v/e entries this year w/30 day extensions).

There are also reports of immigration offices denying an extension because the visa/exempt entry was made by a land crossing.

SO while there is no official rule, we sure are seeing those "not real rules" being enforced, (albeit haphazardly) at immigration offices and entry points around the country.. In fact Several Immigration offices have made up their own notice and posted it. At least they mentioned that the 2 v/e per year is CALENDAR year and it will 'reset' Jan 1st 2026 :)

We are also seeing a LOT more people pulled aside when flying in free stamp (visa exempt) especially with previous visa exempt entries and not that much time out of the country between them.

My advice if you're "living here" on free back-2-back visa exempt stamps w/30 day extensions STOP doing it :O because you're going to get pulled aside and denied entry sooner rather than later. (and no I don't care if you've been doing it since the rule went from 30 to 60 days back in July 2024, times are different now and you will get caught out on it)

Now they are NOT targeting "real tourists", <- people who come here couple times a year free stamp, tour around then go back to where they came from, then later in the year come back again. The sad thing is it is up to the immigration officer you're standing in front of at passport control to decide what a "real tourist" means :/

Your best bet if you're coming in free stamp, is to have proof of onward travel within the 60 days you'll get stamped in for. Because if the immigration officer is gonna hassle you about anything it will be for proof of onward travel :)

Here is the Public Relation Department of Thailand's "official" press release;

[[[members only])

And here are some graphics that are making their way around the inter-web.. You can see one is specifically from Samui, the rest I dunno, I just pulled the images when I saw them

Wish I had more concrete information for you people, I really do. As of now this is about it

Some weeks ago I read on this group about banks not issuing bank statements or current balance statements unless the funds had been in deposit for four months or more. This caused concern because some extensions of stay require only 60 days of funds in deposit (maybe others 90). But is this 4 month bank requirement still on? Or has this gone away?

Under DTV, can I stay the full 5 years leaving and coming back to Thailand right after every 6 months?

I read I can extend for more 180 days inside the country one time... Is this rule only apply once for the entire 5 years? Or after 360 days I can leave the country come back get 6 more months and extend inside the country for more 6 montha again an so on?

What are the rules on that?

Hi I usually come to Thailand mid February for 3 months on the 60 day entry I get another 30 day extension so i usually stay 87 days in the year I’ve got no over stays on this, will booking my flight on those dates give me a problem at immigration ?

Hi to all of you!

I have a question concerning the new rules with visa exempt and visa extension.

If I understand well we can technically obtain 2 visa exempt in a calendar year and for the first exempt a 30 days extension and for the second visa exempt a possible 7 days extension.

Now, if I arrived in october 17 and got a 30 days visa extension until january 14:

1- if I go for a border run I should have an other visa exempt;

2- for the visa extension will I have only a possible 7 days extension or because I will be in a new calendar year I would be able to get a 30 days extension.

Also I'm flying back in Canada on april 15 which gave me a 6 months trip.

If I can't get an other 30 days extension I will simply spend a month or in Laos or in Malaysia and come back for the 2 last months of my 6 months trip in Thailand.

I'm 71 years old and spending 6 months a year out of Canada is good enough for me.

And yes next time I will probably apply for a MEV (multi entry visa).

Thanks to all and please if you got nothing positive or usefull about my case I just rather hear nothing from you.

Thanks again!

Update: OK group. I got it. No need for more comments on this one. THANK YOU ALL for your comments and help.

Got approved 3 months ago and used a bank account just for the 500k, do i need to keep it there for 5 years now??

Second Entry on Workcation DTV - Late 90 day report

Plan to re-enter at BKK.

Would be grateful if anyone in the same situation could share their experience.

Toxic people please don't comment. Thank you.

Hi everyone, I’m on a Non-B visa for the last five years. Unfortunately, my 90-day report was overdue by one week. Immigration fined me 2,000 THB and put a stamp in my passport.

Does this stamp affect anything — my passport, future visa extensions, or any other countries’ visas?

If I am on a retirement visa with a multiple entry permit and I want to travel to my home country is there a time limit to return without loosing my visa?

Hi everyone, I’ve been on a Non-B visa continuously for the past 3 years. My contract just ended, so I need to exit Thailand and re-enter on visa-exempt to pack my things and finish my move. If I leave and come back the next day (by air), will immigration see any issue with this?