Land crossings per year into Thailand

[Johnson81]

Hi,

 

I'm aware you're allowed 2 land crossings into Thailand per year...... but is that 2 in a 12 month period, or 2 per calendar year?

 

Thanks,

 

Johnson81

[bumofdabeach]

Calendar year

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[Johnson81]

Perfect thanks

[khwaibah]

There has been a major change. UJ may have further info.

 

Summary - 

- Single entry visas automatically changed to double entry
- Re-entry permit, rather than new visa if visiting neighbouring country
- Unlimited visa exempt entries at land borders per calendar year





Cabinet nod for tourism measures







THE CABINET yesterday agreed in principle to back measures to stimulate Thailand’s tourism in the early high season.


Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat said the Cabinet gave the green light for the “Amazing Thailand Grand Sale Passport Privileges” from November 15 until January 15, 2019. The Tourism Authority of Thailand will join the Finance Ministry to set additional special areas at tourism areas or department stores for tourists to facilitate convenient and quick refund of value added tax.



Nattaporn Jatusripitak, adviser to the Prime Minister’s Office, said that the Cabinet agreed in principle to review and offer relaxation to three types of visas with a two-month pilot period. The starting period will be determined by the Tourism and Sports Ministry after its study of the proper period and details.



Firstly, a single-entry visa will be allowed to be changed into a double-entry visa with travel required within six months at the same fee of Bt1,000 per person. The Cabinet also approved a re-entry permit to facilitate foreign tourists who visit Thailand’s neighbouring countries to return to Thailand without making another request.



Most foreigners are independent tourists who prefer to take a trip to Thailand’s main destinations and its neighbouring countries such as Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia. The re-entry permit for the rest of the visa will help promote tourism in Thailand and Asean and satisfy this group of foreign tourists.



The Interior Ministry regulation will be amended to allow foreigners who receive a visa waiver for 30 days and travel into Thailand via land immigration checkpoints or land border checkpoints to enter the country with an unlimited number of visa waivers per calendar year.



Based on a database of the Tourism and Sports Ministry, nearly 5 million foreign tourists travelled through land-border checkpoints of Thailand in 2017, up 3 per cent from the previous year. 



A number of foreigners stay and work in Thailand’s neighbouring countries. 



These foreigners come from Singapore, Japan, France and the United States and like to travel to Thailand for shopping, leisure, sports competitions and healthcare.



These measures aim to maintain Thailand’s tourism revenue at not less than the targeted growth of 12 per cent in 2019, or about Bt2.28 trillion. 



Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/Tourism/30358483


 

[Johnson81]

46 minutes ago, khwaibah said:

There has been a major change. UJ may have further info.

 

Summary - 

- Single entry visas automatically changed to double entry
- Re-entry permit, rather than new visa if visiting neighbouring country
- Unlimited visa exempt entries at land borders per calendar year





Cabinet nod for tourism measures







THE CABINET yesterday agreed in principle to back measures to stimulate Thailand’s tourism in the early high season.


Tourism and Sports Minister Weerasak Kowsurat said the Cabinet gave the green light for the “Amazing Thailand Grand Sale Passport Privileges” from November 15 until January 15, 2019. The Tourism Authority of Thailand will join the Finance Ministry to set additional special areas at tourism areas or department stores for tourists to facilitate convenient and quick refund of value added tax.



Nattaporn Jatusripitak, adviser to the Prime Minister’s Office, said that the Cabinet agreed in principle to review and offer relaxation to three types of visas with a two-month pilot period. The starting period will be determined by the Tourism and Sports Ministry after its study of the proper period and details.



Firstly, a single-entry visa will be allowed to be changed into a double-entry visa with travel required within six months at the same fee of Bt1,000 per person. The Cabinet also approved a re-entry permit to facilitate foreign tourists who visit Thailand’s neighbouring countries to return to Thailand without making another request.



Most foreigners are independent tourists who prefer to take a trip to Thailand’s main destinations and its neighbouring countries such as Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia. The re-entry permit for the rest of the visa will help promote tourism in Thailand and Asean and satisfy this group of foreign tourists.



The Interior Ministry regulation will be amended to allow foreigners who receive a visa waiver for 30 days and travel into Thailand via land immigration checkpoints or land border checkpoints to enter the country with an unlimited number of visa waivers per calendar year.



Based on a database of the Tourism and Sports Ministry, nearly 5 million foreign tourists travelled through land-border checkpoints of Thailand in 2017, up 3 per cent from the previous year. 



A number of foreigners stay and work in Thailand’s neighbouring countries. 



These foreigners come from Singapore, Japan, France and the United States and like to travel to Thailand for shopping, leisure, sports competitions and healthcare.



These measures aim to maintain Thailand’s tourism revenue at not less than the targeted growth of 12 per cent in 2019, or about Bt2.28 trillion. 



Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/Tourism/30358483


 

So for someone doing a normal visa run via a land crossing, receiving 30 days and the possibility to extend at immigration for a further 30 days for 1900baht, has anything realistically changed for them?

[bumofdabeach]

Find ubonjoe he will be the best source of info

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[theoldgit]

I'll move this thread to the correct forum, you might get up to date information there.

[ubonjoe]

20 hours ago, khwaibah said:

There has been a major change. UJ may have further info.

It has not happened yet. Both were proposed but have not been officially announced yet.

[ubonjoe]

19 hours ago, Johnson81 said:

So for someone doing a normal visa run via a land crossing, receiving 30 days and the possibility to extend at immigration for a further 30 days for 1900baht, has anything realistically changed for them?

At this time you still are only allowed 2 visa exempt entries per calendar year. You can extend the 30 days for 30 day at an immigration office.

Nothing official yet about unlimited visa exempt entries at border crossings yet.

[overherebc]

4 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

At this time you still are only allowed 2 visa exempt entries per calendar year. You can extend the 30 days for 30 day at an immigration office.

Nothing official yet about unlimited visa exempt entries at border crossings yet.

It was also said it would be only for a two month period mid Nov to mid Jan I think.

[Enoon]

23 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

At this time you still are only allowed 2 visa exempt entries per calendar year. You can extend the 30 days for 30 day at an immigration office.

Nothing official yet about unlimited visa exempt entries at border crossings yet.

 

And nothing about how/when I can convert my current SETV to double?

 

 

[ubonjoe]

17 minutes ago, Enoon said:

And nothing about how/when I can convert my current SETV to double?

The article in the news only mentioned getting a 2 entry tourist visa when you apply for single entry at a embassy or consulate. Nothing about changing  from a single to a 2 entry visa.

[visarunner]

as of now only the Visa on ARRIVAL is free from 15.11 to 13.1.2019.

All the rest is hot air....

[bumofdabeach]

as of now only the Visa on ARRIVAL is free from 15.11 to 13.1.2019.
All the rest is hot air....

Visa on arrival has always been free

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[ubonjoe]

3 minutes ago, bumofdabeach said:

Visa on arrival has always been free

You are mixing up a 30 day visa exempt entry with a 15 day visa on arrival that normally has fee of 2000 baht after applying for it.

[Burma Bill]

Seems there may be confusion - I have a one-year Non-O Retirement Visa coupled to a Multiple Re-entry Permit which allows me as many free crossings back into Thailand as I like by land and/or air within the validity of both visa and permit. 

[ubonjoe]

13 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

Seems there may be confusion - I have a one-year Non-O Retirement Visa coupled to a Multiple Re-entry Permit which allows me as many free crossings back into Thailand as I like by land and/or air within the validity of both visa and permit. 

The 2 entry rule is only for visa exempt entries at at land border crossings.

If you have a visa for entry there is no limit.

[Enoon]

3 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

The article in the news only mentioned getting a 2 entry tourist visa when you apply for single entry at a embassy or consulate. Nothing about changing  from a single to a 2 entry visa.

 

OK.

 

Thanks for clarifying that.

 

 

[jacko45k]

13 hours ago, Burma Bill said:

Seems there may be confusion - I have a one-year Non-O Retirement Visa coupled to a Multiple Re-entry Permit which allows me as many free crossings back into Thailand as I like by land and/or air within the validity of both visa and permit. 

If you have a valid One year Non Imm O surely it is a multiple and does not require a Multiple Re-Entry Permit?  Perhaps you have an Extension of Permission to stay?

[Burma Bill]

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

If you have a valid One year Non Imm O surely it is a multiple and does not require a Multiple Re-Entry Permit?  Perhaps you have an Extension of Permission to stay?

Yes, I think you are right. I know that for many years now I have had to renew my visa and get a multiple re-entry permit.

[petgunya]

Is anyone aware of any updates on the subject of the previous announcement of unlimited land border crossings?

On November 26th 2018 I did a 2nd land border crossing at Maesai/Tachilek but unlike previous years I didn't get any written or verbal notice regarding having reached the calendar year limit for border crossings. I was just waved through as per normal procedure.

 

I will check with immigration but thought I check in here first to see if anyone had any relevant information.

[bumofdabeach]

Is anyone aware of any updates on the subject of the previous announcement of unlimited land border crossings?
On November 26th 2018 I did a 2nd land border crossing at Maesai/Tachilek but unlike previous years I didn't get any written or verbal notice regarding having reached the calendar year limit for border crossings. I was just waved through as per normal procedure.
 
I will check with immigration but thought I check in here first to see if anyone had any relevant information.

Depends on what type visa you have. Non o multiple entry is no problem but if visa on arrival there is limit. Keep in mind this is last month of calendar year

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[petgunya]

9 hours ago, bumofdabeach said:

Depends on what type visa you have. Non o multiple entry is no problem but if visa on arrival there is limit. Keep in mind this is last month of calendar year

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Thanks for your reply. I had a Multiple Entry Non-O which expired in August and so the next exit I did in October was on an expired visa and same day return I got a 30 day walk in entry stamp (the 1st one for the year) valid till November 26th upon which I did a 2nd exit and walk in and again got a 30 day entry stamp but unlike previous years there was no written or verbal notification as to the 2 walks per year limit. As I thought I was going to be leaving to go home for Xmas I didnt bother inquiring further but now I'm not going so I thought I'd check into it before going the 1900bht 60-day extension of stay route for the time being.

[dennis123]

Just got back, didn't bother going to the embassy despite these new proposed rules, was surprised to get a 30-day visa on arrival for FREE indeed. If it's per calendar year I might wait with my ED visa as I actually like to travel to Laos and stay there for a month.

 

Calendar year runs from Jan-Dec I assume? Not some odd Songkran calendar year?

[bumofdabeach]

Thanks for your reply. I had a Multiple Entry Non-O which expired in August and so the next exit I did in October was on an expired visa and same day return I got a 30 day walk in entry stamp (the 1st one for the year) valid till November 26th upon which I did a 2nd exit and walk in and again got a 30 day entry stamp but unlike previous years there was no written or verbal notification as to the 2 walks per year limit. As I thought I was going to be leaving to go home for Xmas I didnt bother inquiring further but now I'm not going so I thought I'd check into it before going the 1900bht 60-day extension of stay route for the time being.

You do know you can get a 30 day extension on a visa on arrival but it costs 1900thb like every other extension

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[petgunya]

We just checked online and neither the Ministry of Foreign Affairs nor TAT official website make any reference to the "unlimited land border crossing" provision having been formalized!

 

So we just rang to Maisae Immigration who confirmed the 2-walks per calendar year limit is still in place. We then rang to Chiangmai Immigration who also confirmed the 2-walk restriction and said we can use the option of a 60-day extension for the 1,900 baht fee. So I think that settles it. The “unlimited walk entries” is not yet formalized (and for all we know may never be).

[post]

On ‎24‎/‎11‎//‎2018 at 6:28 PM, ubonjoe said:

The 2 entry rule is only for visa exempt entries at at land border crossings.

If you have a visa for entry there is no limit.

Does the 2-entry rule at land border crossings apply to:

visa wavier entries (such as: South Koreans, 90-day stay) 

visa wavier entries (such as: Russians, 30-day stay) 

[JackThompson]

23 minutes ago, post said:

Does the 2-entry rule at land border crossings apply to:

visa wavier entries (such as: South Koreans, 90-day stay) 

visa wavier entries (such as: Russians, 30-day stay) 

Bilateral Agreements were cited in the order as not included in the 2x land-border visa-exempt limit.  Those two countries are also absent from the list in the rule, as shown here:

 

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/961219-visa-exempt-entries-now-30-days-at-border-crossings-no-more-15-days/

[post]

13 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

Bilateral Agreements were cited in the order as not included in the 2x land-border visa-exempt limit.  Those two countries are also absent from the list in the rule, as shown here:

 

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/961219-visa-exempt-entries-now-30-days-at-border-crossings-no-more-15-days/

Thanks for your detailed reply. ????

 

Does the 2-entry rule apply to visa exempt entries at sea border crossings as well? 

 

[JackThompson]

1 hour ago, post said:

Thanks for your detailed reply. ????

 

Does the 2-entry rule apply to visa exempt entries at sea border crossings as well?

I have no idea on entry at naval-ports, generally - though Ranong operates somewhat like this I think?  I've never used this option, but it is reported one takes a boat to an island of Myanmar and back - and the 2x rule applies there.