Dear readers,

I am at Immigration Nongkhai on Monday April 9 for the 90 days and in front of me is a foreigner who speaks moderate English and asks in detail if he can return to Thailand without a visa after a visit to Laos.

The female official explains to him that he can enter Thailand by land THREE times in a calendar year without a visa and I can see it clearly even without glasses: she holds up THREE fingers. THREE times a month, she says.

Now asking questions is seen as highly impertinent, especially if it's none of my business, so I keep my mouth shut. It's not your turn yet and don't damage things.

But once home I search the internet and many sites including this one and find TWO, but not THREE within a calendar year.

Anyone?

Regards,

Erik

3 responses to “Reader question: Has the visa-exempt been extended to three times in a calendar year?”

  1. RonnyLatphrao says up

    Wrong information she gives then.
    Overland 2 times per calendar year.
    Nothing has changed.

  2. Teun says up

    She probably means that you can stay in Thailand 3 times a month without a visa, you arrive by plane and get 30 days and then 2 times a month entry by land. Or am I wrong Ronnie?

    • RonnyLatPhrao says up

      No, the number of “Visa Exemption” is in principle unlimited.
      The number of entries on “Visa Exemption” via land is fixed and is limited to two per calendar year. If you want more you will have to go through an airport or get a visa of course.

      At the airport it is in principle unlimited, but if there are several there, especially consecutively, you will sometimes be invited for an interview. This does not mean that you will be refused.

      What I suspect is that she is referring to an old rule. That of 90 days (3 x 30) stay on “Visa Exemption”, in a period of 180 days. That used to be the maximum.
      However, it has been abolished for 10 years now.

      It is more common that they are not all immediately up to date with the new rules.


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