Thailand Visa Question No. 094/21: Visa Exemption

Questioner: Mark

When better times arrive I would like to travel to Thailand. Can I stay in Thailand for more than 30 days with my travel pass? For example, if I visit Laos for 3 or 1 days after 2 weeks and then go back to Thailand.

Is this possible without a visa? If so how long can you stay for.

PS. are there any risks involved?

Reaction RonnyLatYa

If you enter Thailand on a "Visa Exemption" basis, you will receive a residence period of 30 days upon entry. You can possibly extend it in Thailand by 30 days (1900 Baht).

If you leave Thailand and re-enter on “Visa Exemption”, you can. You will again receive 30 days, which you can possibly extend again by 30 days.

– If you do this via a border post overland, such entries are limited to 2 per calendar year on the basis of “Visa Exemption”.

– If you do this via an airport, there are in principle no restrictions. However, they see that you do this regularly, consecutively or in a short period of time, you can expect that you will be taken aside and you will be asked some questions, such as what you are actually doing in Thailand.

The purpose of a “Visa Exemption” is not to achieve a long-term stay in this way. That's what visas are for. Usually you will not be sent back, but you can be told that you must first purchase a visa for subsequent entry(s).

NB. Leaving with a “Visa Exemption” also means that an airline can request proof that you intend to leave Thailand within 30 days. In that case you will have to prove it.

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