Seen by a friend at Chiang Khong border this morning

Edit: he came back today, no question asked, smooth process.

Thought it worth sharing just came back into Thailand at Lao Border/Nong Kai - all was fine as I have a DTV but 2 others turned away for too many entries and another for not having an onward flight, though he was told you on showing proof he could come back.

Very unfriendly and certainly not a border I would recommend without having exact paper work/correct visa etc which of course one should have however if you are in that “grey area” best pick another entry point imho.

Came into the Kingdom today from Cambodia.

A quick Kuppppp and flash of DTV on my phone. Straight in for another six months. Didn’t ask to see bank, didn’t ask for arrival card (maybe they have on their end) or any DTV files.

Held at BKK immigration

Hi all,

Does anyone have experience being stopped at immigration at BKK and refused entry? I have a friend who tried to re-enter Thailand today. He had been home in the UK for a few months, but had done the visa-free stamp twice in the past 12 months. He’d planned to come back on a tourist visa (in keeping with new rules), however the visa was delayed and the flight came around before the visa was fully processed. He hoped because it was a new year he might be allowed entry anyway on another stamp. Unfortunately he couldn’t change his flight, so it was the only option other than cancel the trip entirely.

I realise the situation is a little silly and he should probably just have cancelled the trip. But does anyone have any experience in this situation or being detained at immigration? He’s currently held in transfer area at BKK. They’re saying the only option is to be deported back to UK on Monday (and sleep on a bench until then), but I was wondering if maybe its possible they would allow him to book a flight to another country (Vietnam, Malaysia etc) rather than be sent back to the UK?

Any help would be appreciated.

EDIT: Update

Thanks for everyone's input - the conclusion is that he is being returned to the UK, no option to travel elsewhere. The return flight is provided by his original airline, but he does not have to pay for it. To clarify, he had entered twice on the exemption stamp and extended the extra 30 days on both. I think this was the main caveat. Also, he had travelled to Thailand a lot over the last few years - although always with legit entry stamps/extensions/tourist visas etc, but I think this generally counted against him as they were able to suggest he looks like he is not acting as a genuine tourist. He also got a particularly badly-mannered immigration agent, so I think in some cases he probably could have gotten through even with these circumstances. For those travelling soon bear in mind the visa application process seems to be extra long at the moment, probably due to these new rules, and beware for extra scrutiny coming in if you travel to Thailand frequently.

Entered today att Suvarnabhumi. Zero hassle and zero questions about anything.

For everyone asking whether a return ticket is mandatory: I have my DTV, and the lady at the front desk asked for my passport, my visa and my return ticket an hour ago. Luckily, I had booked one with Onward Ticket — it cost €16 and I was all set 👌

See you in Thailand

Question for early DTV holders who have spent most of their time in Thailand:

Have any of you had a negative experience with an immigration officer upon arrival because of having many entry stamps on your passport?

I had an unusual experience today at Suvarnabhumi Airport, and it’s the first time this has happened to me. Until now, I’ve always said how smoothly things have gone since getting my DTV.

Today at the counter, the officer asked where my visa was and she (the IO), said I didn’t have one — I had to point it out in my passport. After that, she avoided eye contact and seemed visibly annoyed, speaking quietly in Thai in a complaining tone. When I said “sorry?” she ignored me.

She also hesitated for quite a while before stamping my passport, though she eventually did. My impression was that she might have been unhappy about the number of stamps I have with the DTV.

For context:

I spent most of 2025 in Thailand, but I left the country several times (from one week to one month each time). I have 4 entry stamps from 2025, and I also went to Immigration once to report my stay.

I’m sharing this because I’m not sure where this reaction came from. My understanding was that with the DTV you can stay most of the year, as long as you exit the country or report your stay as required.

So I’m wondering:

Has anyone else experienced something similar?

Or was this simply bad luck with an unhappy officer?

Thanks for sharing your experiences.

on 28th december because under new "rules" only got 7 days on second extension went to nongkhai border and the first Immo officer refused to stamp me out sayin "you stay too long in Thailand " (on my count 144 days wit extensions and 2 visa exempt entrys) sent me to queue up see a supervisor who interogated me but stamped me out but told me on return go to airport....which I did yesterday after getting VERY ANXIOUS about possible denied entry and the hassle and expense of that.......so in arrivals hall i looked at the Immo officers all looked serious stern and unfriendly so I walked to far right where the last officer was a warm and friendly looking lady so I chose her to Q up for and she did not peruse my past history one simple question what you do inThailand ? I said holiday visit family she smiled stamped mein 60 days........long overnight bus back to near Nongkhai where I live.....a longtiring zig zag unwanted journey....but I am home

Has there been any reports of DTV holders being asked for 10k cash at immigration?

At Suvarnabhumi Airport immigration, the female officer handled my passport roughly. She told me to wait and then placed it on the scanner. Because I have a DTV visa, I needed to present both my old and new passports together. However, she threw the passports onto the counter, which felt very rude and unprofessional.

She also wrote the visa expiry date by hand in a way that was difficult for foreigners to read. At first, I thought my passport did not have an expiry date indicated. I had to ask another officer for clarification, and only then did I learn that the handwritten note was actually the visa expiry date. I even had to go back and ask the same officer again to confirm it. Her behavior throughout the process was extremely rude and unprofessional.