@Caz ****

they are not turning away genuine tourists on an exemption, only people who misuse the system. Vietnam not even has visa exemption, and I do not hear complaints. The complaints here are not from tourists, but from people who made it a challenge to get in as many times as possible without paying for the proper visa. And about the Russians I agree with you.

@James *******

Spending is not enough to get access in Thailand and not the keyword here, paying teamoney is a completely different thing.

Even when you prove you buy house or condo gives you no more rights, the immigration officers are not interested in your financial situation, only in their own financial situation.

@James ******

visa exempt only for certain countries, and that list is not as long as Thai list, and also the 90 days cannot be back to back

@James ******

so that is 220 days in about a year. Are you really expecting immigration officers that to find normal touristic use?

You even stayed long enough in 2024 to become a Thai tax resident for that year.

@Ar ******

your friend is using visa exempt, while for his purpose of stay he just need the correct visa, mist likely METV. So he is just using the visa system incorrect, accidentally because he does not know, or on purpose because he wants to save money. You cannot blame immigration officers for this, and I certainly do not wear a rose colored spectacle. I was once stopped at the border after shopping in Malaysia, completely without reason, so I know they are not always acting according the rules, but your friend just has to get the right visa if he does not want to have risks. And parking in Hat Yai is never easy, I think the officers working there just use up all parking space.

@Jo *********

You say technically you don't need IDP, but practically you do need. So what is wrong when embassies say you need IDP. They give you advice what you need. A lot of countries accept national licenses as long as it is clear for which categories they are, but they are never obliged to accept a national license without IDP.

@Ar ******

visa exempt is for normal tourists which stay a short time. For longer times there is the Multi entry tourist visa which is more appropriate in his situation. You never know what kind of immigration officer you meet, but my experience at the immigration offices is they are always friendly and helpful as long as you also show you you want to cooperate and not try to misuse the system by getting as much free stamps as possible. I just left Hat Yai office 10 minutes ago after 90 day reporting. They were friendly as always, 90 day reporting was less than 5 minutes needed, finding place to park the car takes more time.

@Aden *****

since visa exempt is 60 days, everything is becoming more difficult, and it makes sense, since 60 days is long enough for normal tourists.

@Abhishek ******

it sure makes sense, but a lot of people here keep telling it is impossible for immigration to ask these things at the border.

@Paul *******

why should they not have the right to ask you for those foreign tax authority details? It is up to you if you give them, but if you not give them, they have the right to revoke your account.