Thailand visa question No. 047/20: Visa Exemption
Questioner: John
I have taken up the adventurous plan to travel through Thailand and neighboring countries for about 6 months from December. I have already been able to find a lot of visa info on the Thailand blog, but I still hope for confirmation that I am in the right place in terms of our visa every time 30 days when I travel overland. Can I expect problems with a visa somewhere?
- Arrival Thailand Bngkok airport – 30 days Thailand.
- From Kanchanaburi to Dawei Myanmar – 28 days Myanmar.
- From Dawei to Kanchanaburi again – 30 days Thailand.
- From Chiang Rai to Huay Xia Laos – 30 days Laos.
- From Nakasong to Seun Kham Cambodia – 30 days Cambodia.
- From Cham Yeam to Ban Hat Lek – another 30 days Thailand.
Reaction RonnyLatYa
You will then stay in Thailand every period on the basis of “Visa Exemption” (visa exemption). That is allowed and possible.
– Your first arrival is in December 2020. That is via the airport and should not be a problem.
– Your next two entries are by land. By land, entries based on “Visa Exemption” are limited to 2 entries per calendar year.
You also comply with that and that should not be a problem.
However, at check-in, when you leave for Thailand and given that you are leaving without a visa, you may already be asked to prove that you are going to leave Thailand within 30 days. Since you don't have a ticket, you will either have to buy a (cheap) ticket that you can cancel later, or use to fly to Myanmar.
Or you must ensure that you can present another proof that will be accepted. Inform yourself well about this with your airline, so that you are not faced with a surprise at check-in. Sometimes it is sufficient to state that you will assume all responsibility and costs if you are refused entry by immigration. But inform yourself well in advance about this and also which proof they may accept outside of a ticket.
At immigration itself it rarely happens that the average tourist is asked, but it cannot be ruled out there either. So make sure you can show a travel planning, bookings or a ticket somewhere for your next travel destination after Thailand. Better prepare yourself just in case…
Sometimes at immigration you are also asked to show what you are going to live in Thailand. So make sure that you can show 20 Baht every time you enter Thailand. Can be in any currency.
Success.
Regards,
RonnyLatYa