I just double checked with a friend who is a visa agent and she said while there is no specific limit for air crossings now it is left to the discretion of the immigration officer and based on your travel history to Thailand they can and will refuse you if they feel you are abusing the exemption system.

She also confirmed that there is a crackdown on people they feel are abusing the system. She doesn't know if that is directly because of the changes that have happened the last couple of years or because of the proposed changes but her contacts in immigration have been very clear that they've directed to do more to dissuade abusers.

So, you are apparently correct about the number of trips and I'm correct about the crackdown.

But regardless of their statements that they are cracking down I'm glad the internet statements about number of trips per period is not true.

So we just ignore the actual statements by the Thai government? Got it...

@Todd ********

No and yes. No, there is definitely cracking down. In the past they've been pretty lax about people coming in on visa waivers and going away again for a few days and then coming right back asking for a new visa waiver/exemption. Yes, this enforcement level is how the system is supposed to work. The laws regarding it haven't changed (yet) but the enforcement has increased. Representatives of the Thai government have stated it and members of this group, and others, have noted that enforcement has increased.

"Foreigners can enter Thailand under the Tourist Visa Exemption category for 30 days at one time with a maximum of 3 times in a 6 month period by flight and 2 times a year for overland crossing."

If you plan on traveling on this type of visa you are restricted to how many times you can do it within a set period of time and it can impact future travel to Thailand. If the OP is only planning on doing this single trip this year a visa run could solve the problem of needing a new visa waiver...but it does not solve the onward ticket issue needed to get the visa in the first place. And this is also one of the things that they have been cracking down on according to members of this very group.

@Steve ******

which part specifically do you disagree with? Thailand has, to the best of my knowledge, *always* honored visas already issued, so if they have a valid visa now they're good. If not, then they're going to need one anyway (e-visas are the new normal now, per their government's own announcements).

I've traveled to Thailand half a dozen times and I've never had an airline check if my visa (when they were required) was good for the entirety of the time that my round trip ticket was for.

I have had them check that I had a ticket out of the country if I didn't book roundup through them, but that was *only* when I had no obvious exit ticket.

If you've got different information share it instead of being an edge lord.

@Albert *******

they're cracking down on "visa runs" for regular tourist visas. And the OP is saying that they are concerned the airline won't let them board if the visa is not for the same length as the stay.

@Tinkler ******

are you saying you don't have a visa? You're going to need one of those anyway.

If you already have a visa you don't have anything to worry about. If you don't then get one about two weeks out from your trip.

Also what country are you flying from and what airline that the airline itself is checking visas of the proper length to board? Most in my experience just check the passport is valid and those that require a visa that you have one. You can always claim that you are traveling on to another country before your visa expires and will be connecting back through the airport for your return flight. You wouldn't need a visa for Thailand if you are just connecting through.

@Angelik ******

serious question...do people not know when their contracts are up? If I had a six month contract come month four I'd be looking for new work or wrapping up my legal affairs. Are these open-ended contracts and the businesses just end contracts without 30 days notice or what have you?

@Dave *********

Brandon hit the nail on the head...why travel on a tourist visa at all? If you know you want the retirement visa just get that. Otherwise, it's just more hassle, more time, more money, more effort.

@Ilia ********

then he shouldn't be in the country as if he had it...

And more importantly he shouldn't have broken the law by overstaying his visa a couple of times. If you want to live in Thailand, you can get a number of different visas, it sounds like each time he was traveling on a regular 90-day tourist visa, doing short runs and coming right back. That isn't what that visa is for and the laws for it are pretty straightforward. This was an avoidable mistake or an attempt to game the system. IT sucks if it was the former, but Jacob, my guy, check the laws concerning you're getting into and staying in a foreign country. That should be common sense. If it was the latter, well, that makes it harder on everyone.