Hello all,

 

A friend of mine came with a 30 days "visa exempt entry". It is his first trip in Thailand. He now stays in Chiang-Mai and wishes to stay 3 more weeks after these 30 days. He has a french passport so, eligible for the "visa exempt entry". I know he could apply for a tourist visa quite easily (for example in Vientiane) but I also want to suggest him the 3 options below but want to confirm first in this forum as I am not sure about the recent rules updates (or the way some rules are interpreted in the border/immigration):

1 - extend to an Immigration office his "visa exempt entry" (I guess the cost would be 1900 THB?). I think he could have an extension for 30 extra day?

2 - crossing the border at Mae Sai two times (each time would let him stay 15 days with a "visa exempt entry")

3 - cheap flight to a nearby country and come back with a 30 days "visa exempt entry"

 

Thanks for your help !

 

Either do Number 1 or go to Maesai once to get another 30 day visa exempt entry .

(Yes, it is 30 days , the Thai embassy

Website is old and hasnt been updated for years?

All visa exempt entries (whether by land or air) give him 30 days. In deciding between border hops for fresh visa exempt entries and extensions of stay, bear in mind

• only two visa exempt entries by land per calendar year are allowed; and
• the cost of a border hop is usually more than people originally calculate: for instance, via the Lao border there is US$35+ for the Lao visa on arrival, plus travel costs.

Hello

 

Thank you BritTim and sanemax, all this is now clear in my mind !