Thailand visa Q&A: Visa Exemption Rule
Dear editors,
Op www.thaiembassy.com/visa/thaivisa.php I read that with the Visa Exemption Rule (30 days stamp) the restriction of a maximum stay of 90 days per 6 months has been abolished.
Was this not already known to you or are there perhaps other reasons why (as far as I could tell) you have not mentioned this in your updates?
Can you also tell me what is the benefit of being able to extend my VER in Thailand for 30 days? After all, if I fly to Thailand without a visa and start using the VER, the airline will have me. the possibility to refuse me if I have not booked a return journey within 30 days of arrival. If I extend my VER by 30 days after arrival, a return flight booked within 30 days of arrival will no longer be of use to me.
And if I book a return flight within 60 days of arrival, I think they can refuse me on the outward flight because I will not have a return flight within 30 days of arrival. Or am I seeing this wrong?
Yours faithfully,
Fransamsterdam
Dear French,
1. 90/180 days scheme
We are aware that the 90/180 days scheme has expired. We've mentioned it at some point in the past I think, or maybe it was in an answer to a question, or maybe I forgot, that's also possible of course.
In any case, it is no longer in the new visa file, but that has yet to be published. It took me a long time to find the order that destroyed this regulation (I mean the official order from the RTP - Royal Thai Police). That was the reason it was also mentioned in the old file. I wanted to keep it more as a warning until I found official confirmation. In the meantime I found it and that rule is no longer valid.
It concerned Clause 3 of Order of RTP No 608/2549 of September 8, 2006, which was superseded by Order 778/2551 of November 25, 2008.
If you are interested, on page 2 of the link you will find the difference between the old and new regulation. In the left frame the old text and in the right frame the new text.
http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/doc/temporarystay/policy778-2551_en.pdf
2. Extend visa exemption by 30 days
Let me first start by saying that if you plan to stay in Thailand continuously for more than 30 days, you are still required to purchase a visa before entering Thailand.
http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/123/15405-General-information.html
A visa exemption is still intended for people who want to stay in Thailand for a maximum of 30 days without interruption. This option to extend does not release you from the visa requirement.
The fact that you can extend this visa exemption is actually not new, only the period has now been extended from 7 days to 30 days.
As for the airlines. Not all airlines apply this rule, and that rule is of course not only made for travelers from the Netherlands to Thailand, of course.
Those who enter Thailand by land, for example, are also entitled to that extension…
If your airline requires proof, then that extension is indeed of little use to you or you have to book a flight or something to have proof.
I just want to add this. Coincidentally, I returned to Thailand yesterday with Thai Airways (via Brussels). At the check-in desk, the lady asked if I had a visa since the return date is March 1, 2015 on my ticket (this is a target date that I can have adjusted whenever I want). Of course I said. Still in it. Oh sorry, I see now, you have an annual visa, she said. I just want to show that there is indeed a check on whether or not you have a visa (in this case Thai Airways).
Regards,
RonnyLatPhrao
Disclaimer: The advice is based on existing regulations. The editors accept no responsibility if this is deviated from in practice.