Thailand visa question No. 002/20: Tourist Visa – Period of validity and period of stay
Questioner: Hank
Subject: Tourist Visa
As tourists we applied for our visas in December for our 2 monthly holiday in Thailand. Despite the correct date of return on the application form, the attached flight tickets, and the hotel voucher, the visa ends 5 days before the end of our holiday.
According to the visa office, you can fly back up to 16 days after the expiration date, without extra fines. A few years ago I had to pay 100 dollars pp for a day late; Does anyone know if the rules have actually been relaxed?
We leave in 10 days….
Reaction RonnyLatYa
I think you are confusing validity period and residence period.
The validity period of the visa refers to the period within which you must use the visa. Before the date stated on your visa, you must use the visa, ie enter Thailand.
Upon entry, you will then be given a residence period of, in your case, 60 days at immigration. That is the period that you can stay in Thailand without interruption.
The end date of that period of stay is usually later than the validity period of your visa, but that doesn't matter. It is the period of stay, which is stamped in your passport upon entry, that counts.
In Summary
You leave in 10 days ie on January 16 I think. You will probably enter Thailand on January 17. Upon entry, you will receive a 60-day residence period. That will be until March 16 (if I have calculated correctly).
If that is not enough, you can extend the 60-day stay at immigration by 30 days. Costs 1900 Baht.
I will not go into what your visa office tells you about those 16 days, because that is nonsense and lack of professional knowledge of that visa office.
“Overstay” fine is always calculated in Baht and is 500 Baht per day with a maximum of 20 Baht. In addition, if you have left Thailand through the airport, normally that fine will not be charged if it is only 1 day. So if you had to pay that 100 dollars for a day late, this will certainly not have been in Thailand.
Regards,
RonnyLatYa