Questioner: Saskia
Together with my boyfriend I will go to Thailand from January 16, 2023 to March 4, 2023. We will then arrive on Tuesday, January 17 (day 1) and leave on March 4 (day 47), but at 01.20:3 in the night, so we will already be at the airport on March 46 (day XNUMX).
Now I saw that there is the exception that you can stay on Visa Exemption for 45 days instead of 30 days. I am now in doubt whether for the one day we would stay too long in Thailand, we should apply for a 60 day visa in advance via e-visa from the embassy or not?
Will we have problems with this when we want to enter the country, in other words will this be checked upon entry?
What would your advice be in our case?
Many thanks in advance for your response!
Reaction RonnyLatYa
Normally, immigration rarely checks on arrival in Thailand. At the check-in of your flight you could get into a discussion because your return date is later than the 45 days Visa exemption. Whether that will be the case depends on your airline. Some are difficult, others are not.
You normally have to leave on day 45. What comes after that is overstay. You are then illegal in Thailand. At the airport, this will usually not be an issue if you leave on day 46. Maybe a note at the most depending on whether you are through immigration before or after midnight. A fine of 500 Baht p/p for that day's overstay is usually not given. But now you only arrive at the airport on day 46 in the evening and leave on day 47. That is actually 2 days overstay.
However, you do not have to worry that they will pick you up at the airport. Apart from a note in your passport, a fine may follow. In that case, day 1 overstay will normally be included and can amount to 1000 Baht each. Depends on the immigration officer there. It's hard to predict.
What you should definitely watch out for is that nothing will happen to you on the day of your overstay. If you happened to run into a check somewhere and if you say you're going to the airport, people usually leave it that way, but you never know who you'll meet there.
It is different, of course, if you were to get involved in something that day. Chances are small but an accident is in a small corner. That day overstay can of course cause the necessary problems. After all, you are in the country illegally.
On the other hand… A Tourist visa barely costs 35 Euro per person and you are fine with regard to accommodation and no hassle at check-in.
The decision is ultimately yours…
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