BritTim

That is not an Immigration rule, though some airlines might decide to enforce it if they think you might be denied entry for other reasons. The IATA guidelines, used by almost all international airlines, make clear that an onward flight booking is only mandatory when planning to enter visa exempt.

I appreciate your frustration. Usually, it is very unclear precisely which criteria are used. These are some of the factors that are often known to play a part: Days in Thailand as tourist over some time period (commonly 90 days over six months) Other long periods in Thailand that some officials do not like (using dodgy volunteer visas, staying years on Covid extensions and using education visas known to be dodgy are examples) The total number of Thai tourist visas visible in your current passport. Whether (and how many) tourist visas issued at that specific location are visible in your current passport.

Unfortunately, unlike with the situation five years ago or so, that is now mostly the reality. It is noticeable that the most professional visa run company in Bangkok will no longer accept people on their visa runs to Savannakhet if the intention is to apply for a tourist visa. The reason is that so many tourist visa applications are denied. We are not yet in possession of recent reports from places like Yangon and Kota Bharu. These places were previously pretty good, but we cannot say if this is till the case.

I should have covered Manila. It is an unfriendly location to apply, and applications for tourist visas are often denied.

I will be very interested in receiving your message.

Glad it went well.

This could end up being even more of a headache than suggested in the OP. You cannot change the passport used when doing the border bounce by land. Thus, the idea of a quick in-out at Mae Sai is not going to solve the problem. There is liable to be an issue even if an in-out is done by air. Immigration officials at the airport are unhappy when they see an unused Thai passport (issued in Thailand) being used for entry to Thailand. There have been some dramas, including officials insisting that the Thai passport cannot be used and you must again use the foreign passport. On one notable occasion, the official even destroyed the Thai passport. I think they sometimes allow the blank Thai passport to be used for entry, but not always. Since others have faced this issue, hopefully someone will post how it was eventually resolved. One idea I have is to leave on the foreign passport, enter another country on the Thai passport, damage the Thai passport, and try to have it replaced by a Thai embassy overseas. The issue I describe above does not exist when entering with a Thai passport issued abroad. I would not advise doing this without thoroughly researching the requirements for replacing damaged passports at the embassy you plan on using.

That is the biggest misunderstanding people have about re-entry permits. The re-entry permit protects the existing permission to stay. It does not matter how you reached that permission to stay. A re-entry permit to protect a permission to stay from a visa exemption is rare, but can be logical. See my earlier post.

I am in sympathy with everything you write. I would just temper it a little with pointing out that, for many, a membership that only allows 90-day permissions to stay at a time has less value than one that provides one-year at a time. Life memberships are still worth far more than the derisory offers you often see for them.

That is a very good question. Thailand Elite memberships have seen big changes over the years. Your concern about whether the upgrade to a 20-year Thailand Elite will always remain (or even whether the million baht 20-year option will still exist) is well founded. I do not think you should rely on it unless Thailand Elite will confirm in writing that this option will remain available to you for five years. For that reason, going immediately for the 20-year membership might be prudent.

One question you had has not been well answered. You ask if you could fly out and back the same day for a further visa exempt entry (after just staying 60 days on an earlier fully extended visa exemption). This would be unwise. Airport immigration officials are supposed to screen those requesting visa exemptions to verify that they are not being used to stay longer than is compatible with regular tourism. Usually, you would be OK, but the wrong official could decide to deny you entry. Either stay outside Thailand for a few days, or do a border bounce by land. (Check here before deciding on a border crossing for a same day border bounce.)

A re-entry permit can be used to protect any permission to stay. While uncommon, this includes a visa exempt entry and, on rare occasions, may make sense. Consider that you are only allowed two land-based visa exemptions per calendar year, and you want to make a quick trip over the border, coming back nearly immediately. If you have already used your two via land for the current year, without a re-entry permit you could not cross. Even if you would still be eligible for a new visa exemption, you might choose to avoid using one of the precious land-based exemptions in case you need it later.

Israeli citizens receive visa exempt entry under the regular visa exemption scheme. All those who enter under this scheme are eligible for the 30-day extension. Although, technically, all extensions are at the discretion of the immigration officials, the 30-day extension of a visa exempt entry has virtually never been denied. I can recall only two cases in the last 20 years (most likely when someone seriously annoyed the officials).

You will almost certainly have no problem with the 30-day extension. I wonder if you would mind expanding on your experience at Thai immigration entering at Nong Khai. It does seem that things have changed, and it would be useful to know what can be expected going forward. Some relevant factors that would be great to include: your age; your history of stays in Thailand over the last couple of years; questions asked by the officials, and whether the questioning was polite or aggressive; did officials suggest you would be denied visa exempt entry in the future? Many thanks.

No appointment is necessary, but they only accept a limited number of applicants per day. Since the consulate is insanely busy, you will not be successful in submitting an application unless you queue up well before the consulate opens in the morning. Their stated requirements are available at https://penang.thaiembassy.org/th/publicservice/114490-visa-requirements-ii

This is a very important question, and the answer probably not what people want to hear. The days of staying long term in Thailand on tourist visas (from neighbouring countries) and visa exemptions seem to be coming to an end. Most embassies/consulates that were lenient in their requirements have been tightening up. The precise criteria they are using is usually unclear. Reports on recent experiences at embassies/consulates in the region would be very welcome. To start with, here is my assessment of the locations that were considered easy a few years ago: Vientiane: Still considered a good place to apply, but requires an appointment in order to go there. It is often not possible to find an appointment slot unless you book very well in advance. Historically (and in the absence of updated reports hopefully still) they will give you a tourist visa if you do not already have two issued by them visible in your current passport. Savannakhet: Was until recently considered an excellent place to apply, with the only drawback being that it is insanely busy when visa run groups arrive (typically Mondays and Thursdays). There are reports that this consulate is now using strict criteria when deciding whether to grant you a tourist visa. One reported guideline is that they will not provide a tourist visa if you have spent over 90 days within the last six months in Thailand as a tourist. They may also deny you if you have over the last few years spent long periods in Thailand without a long term extension to stay. Pending new reports, this consulate should no longer be considered a soft touch. Hanoi: At one time, this was one of the best places to apply. Almost all recent reports state this embassy is now both unfriendly and strict, especially on providing tourist visas. Best avoided. Ho Chi Minh City: Since Saigon is a great city to visit, this has long been a favourite place to go. You now need an appointment to apply there. More important, their criteria for providing visas (including tourist visas) have become stricter, with denied applications more frequent. Yangon: Historically, they had requirements you needed to meet, but were flexible and seem rarely to have denied tourist visa applications. Since it is not a popular city to visit (because of visa requirements to enter Myanmar, and the instability within the country) this embassy has never been very busy. I suspect this is still a good place to go for a tourist visa, though there have been no recent trip reports. Hong Kong: Sadly, you can no longer apply here unless you are a Hong Kong resident. Penang: This consulate is now exceptionally busy, and they only accept a limited number of applicants per day. It should probably be avoided but, if you do decide to go there, queue to submit your tourist visa application well before the consulate opens in the morning. Kota Bharu: A few years ago, this was a decent place to apply, although inconvenient to travel to, and a boring area for many (strict Muslim). I have seen zero recent reports Briefly, here is a discussion of other nearby embassies and consulates. Phnom Penh: Previously considered strict (and it has not become easier) it is now worth consideration just because other places, for the most part, have become similarly difficult. One drawback (assuming your application for a tourist visa is accepted) is that the process takes several days. It is not overnight as with many other locations. Kuala Lumpur: Has oscillated between a good embassy and terrible. Recent reports suggest it should be avoided but (from experience) this could change at short notice. Singapore, Jakarta, Bali, Seoul: Very difficult to get Thai tourist visas here. Who can provide first hand trip reports on their recent experiences?

When you stop working at your current school, your extended permission to stay is supposed to immediately end. You should, with a letter from your school that indicates your last day of employment, go to Immigration to have your permission to stay terminated as of that date. If you already have a contract to start work at a new school, it is theoretically possibly (though usually difficult in practice) to simultaneously get a new extension of stay based on employment by the new school. Certainly, it was easier during the height of the Covid epidemic, not least because you were for a long period allowed to stay in Thailand although your employment had ceased.

Much depends on your immigration history. If you fall into the category of "long stay tourist" (for which there is no clear definition) and especially if you are relatively young, flying into Thailand for a visa exempt entry involves risk. You can be denied entry. There are no risks associated with flying out of Thailand, whatever your immigration history. If in doubt, consider returning via the Friendship Bridge at Nong Khai, and flying from Udon Thani airport.

You are correct to point this out as a potential issue. However, when Immigration can see clear evidence that this is your money that has been in the account for some time, most offices will waive the proof that the money came from abroad. What Immigration is trying to avoid is the person who overcomes the financial requirement with a 24-hour loan.

According to reports, the Sadao border crossing is an unpleasant experience, but same day return is possible with the payment of a bribe which varies in the amount solicited.

Latest reports suggest that you can make an appointment with about 10 days prior notice. Obviously, this lead time varies, and can be longer.

If you have not yet booked your return ticket to the UK, I think your idea of returning via Turkey makes the most sense. An in/out by air for a visa exemption would be unwise. You might be denied entry. Hanoi is reported to be an unfriendly consulate these days, including for tourist visa applications (best avoided). Vientiane should be OK, and that would be my second choice if you decide against ending your time in Thailand early.

There are two things the consular officials want to see: that you have right of abode in Denmark (which as a Danish citizen you obviously do); and that you are physically present in Denmark when submitting the application. If you have something to show you are in Denmark, great. If not, just submit a statement saying where you are staying (e.g. relative's house) and include a local Danish phone number.

The extension will give you another 30 days. I second the advice to do the final border bounce by land rather than by air. The first one by air should be no problem but, by August, the officials might be becoming a bit suspicious about why you are staying so long. A denied entry would obviously be a disaster. As an alternative, if you want to use air travel, consider making an appointment to apply for a tourist visa in Vientiane, and fly there. You would need one or two nights in Vientiane, depending on the timing of your return flight.

(Second hand report) For a same day border bounce, they want to charge you about 1,300 baht. As long as you are happy paying this bribe, it is reported to be a friendly crossing. On public transport to the border, there are mixed reports. Some say that there are minibuses in the mornings from Satun to/from Wang Prachan, but that might only be true at the weekends when the decent sized border market is open.