@Phil *****

No worries. I’ve honestly never had a problem. Barely ever a question. And like most countries I suspect the Immigration staff have certain triggers that they look for including nationality, frequency and general dodginess ;)

I agree for tourists who don’t want any hassle it doesn’t hurt to have your onwards flight details handy and cash or cash equivalents for 20k baht. Plus obviously your hotel address details.

I’m just saying for most legit visitors from most countries I’d suggest it won’t be an issue.

Obviously if you are a veteran of successive border runs and/or look broke or are from a country of interest (focus for immigration) then your mileage may vary.

Cheers

@Phil *****

I am a tourist though in the sense that roughly the 20 times I’ve entered in the last 2 years have been on a Visa Exemption.

I’m simply pointing out my experiences.

If the aim of the page is to simply restate a list on the Thai visa website then it’d be a pretty short page.

Every country has lots of criteria but like Thailand the immigration staff have flexibility in how they apply and enforce that criteria. In the overwhelming majority of cases they don’t ask for your return ticket (they’ve never asked me in 21 years of average 12 arrivals a year into Thailand). They’ve also never asked me to prove my financials but as you are aware that doesn’t require proof of actual baht on you but proof via various possible means that you have the money (as per the link you sent).

Again these “you’ll be stopped at the airport they are cracking down” stories have flared up at different points over the 20+ years I’ve been in and out of Thailand but invariably those impacted are the ones trying to game the system with tourist or visa exempt stays and border runs (while actually really living here).

So as a tourist my experience is lying that I’m not here to visit family or girlfriend isn’t necessary; carrying baht isn’t necessary; having different addresses isn’t necessary etc etc

But I’m not living here, I’m not gaming the system. So for those that are your mileage may vary.

I’d also add that if you turn up at the airport looking like a homeless backpacker you might get more scrutiny too. But that’s a fairly obvious observation in most countries.

But my apologies if the aim of the page isn’t the sharing of personal experiences and instead is simply a mere restatement of what immigration might ask for based on the visa website 🙏

@Phil *****

And adding to my comment to Lynnette - to your point Phil, I haven’t arrived with baht in my pocket in 10 years. And I tend to have 12-24 month leases and stay in the same property each time.

Again this advice seems aimed at those actually living here who are trying to do so without a visa. Not to actual genuine regular tourist/travelers

@Lynnette ******

based on what? I’ve previously had long stay visas, work visas and now I tend to come and go on visa exempt entries as my stays are rarely more than 21 days (average).

I have an established residence. I have a Thai partner who also has an Aussie & Thai passport and comes and goes regularly.

We often arrive together and tell them we are staying at our house.

Some of the advice on these pages lacks any nuance and seems based on the experiences of those who are actually living here permanently and trying to finesse that via all manner of 1-3 day border runs (air or land). Thai immigration aren’t fools.

Is the advice here for regular tourists/travellers or specifically aimed at border runners?

@Sarah *****

Bangkok is awesome but it can take some time to appreciate its awesomeness. I mean it’s one of the best cities around for the things that appeal to people about cities. But if one doesn’t like cities it may not be your thing.

@Matthew ********

who is blaming “legal long term retirement for all the problems”?

The immigration officer is the first line in that legal argument. You may convince them you are a tourist and they may let you in or you may not convince them and they determine not to grant the VE because they have formed a view that you aren’t a tourist.

This is literally how law works. “Legally in writing” and all.

@Psyde *******

It’s legally in writing you argumentative douche.

The 60 day exemption is for tourists. Which is a defined term. Someone who enters Thailand with the intention of not leaving and endlessly returning on similar back to back entries isn’t a tourist.

Feel free to challenge this in a Thailand court and prove that it’s not “legally in writing”.

@Jordan ****

20 years living/visiting/working in Thailand and never actually asked a single question on arrival including 5 times this year on exemptions.

Maybe there is a system or some basic parameters they look at and, as has been the case at different points over the 20 years, we are in a period of cracking down on excessive BS.

As an aside paid border runs have always been a risk as they are driven by the same system that sees one pay an on the spot fine to a copper.

The answer to “how long you can stay on a visa exempt” has always been the same. Almost everyone who has done back to back to back visa exempts, who isn’t a dribbling idiot, knows that they are not really tourists and from time to time they’ll be challenged.

@Jordan ****

if it’s only his second trip to Thailand then he’s super unlucky. It sounds like he’s flown back in after a brief trip outside, a border run, then presumably he hasn’t had forward flights. To immigration this might sound like a dude trying to game the system. If a genuine tourist just get a multiple entry tourist visa. If trying to game the system then maybe immigration has a point?