In Thailand For 31 Days (should I Bother With Visa)

[munkoo79]

I arrive in Thailand on 16th feb and leave 17th March. we will be in Oz for couple of months before going to Thailand so would be such a hassle to arrange a visa. Could I get away with not getting a tourist visa as im only 1 day over? or would this cause a problem in the airport? also would there be cost involved if 1 day over?

Thanks

[britmaveric]

Airlines might not let you on the plane mate without a visa or proof of onward travel prior to the 30days.

[Krub]

I arrive in Thailand on 16th feb and leave 17th March. we will be in Oz for couple of months before going to Thailand so would be such a hassle to arrange a visa. Could I get away with not getting a tourist visa as im only 1 day over? or would this cause a problem in the airport? also would there be cost involved if 1 day over?

Thanks

As Februray has only 28 or 29 days you'll be fine !

[Maestro]

I arrive in Thailand on 16th feb and leave 17th March.

On the assumption that you are talking about the year 2008 the above itinerary would make you overstay one day. My suggestion: get a tourist visa.

A single-entry tourist visa is usually valid for travel to Thailand within 90 days from the date of issue. In a covering letter with your visa application you could give your travel itinerary and point out the need for the 90-day validity of the visa.

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Maestro

[Krub]

I arrive in Thailand on 16th feb and leave 17th March.

On the assumption that you are talking about the year 2008 the above itinerary would make you overstay one day. My suggestion: get a tourist visa.

A single-entry tourist visa is usually valid for travel to Thailand within 90 days from the date of issue. In a covering letter with your visa application you could give your travel itinerary and point out the need for the 90-day validity of the visa.

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Maestro

Thanks for correcting me Maestro I did not realize they would count both arrival and departure dates in the 30 day count.

To the OP, beter get a tourist visa before arriving in Thailand or a 7 days extension when in Thailand

[sjaak327]

Yep either a tourist visa or 7 days extension. Usually the Tourist visa is about 1000 baht, little bit more expensive in Europe (around 30 euro). Extension is 1900 baht. But you might have problems boarding as already mentioned, so just get a tourist visa, that way there are no worries.

[jdinasia]

Just a quick note .... Getting a tourist visa in Australia is far from a hassel ... assumingh you won't be spending all your time in Darwin

[borracho]

In the past a 2 day grace was normally allowed.

You can also extend the 30 day stamp for a week in country.

Getting a 60 day tourist visa is an easy thing to do as well.

In any case it's nothing to get too exited about.

[enyaw]

^ agreed at least 1 day overstay doesn't incur a penalty.

[astral]

^ agreed at least 1 day overstay doesn't incur a penalty.

Not necessarily true.

If you are stopped for some minor offence and you have overstayed, even one day,

you will land up in the Immigration Detention Centre in Bangkok.........

Now that is a penalty.

Not worth the risk.

[borracho]

^ agreed at least 1 day overstay doesn't incur a penalty.

Not necessarily true.

If you are stopped for some minor offence and you have overstayed, even one day,

you will land up in the Immigration Detention Centre in Bangkok.........

Now that is a penalty.

Not worth the risk.

That has only been known to have happened once.

When a visa run bus from Phuket to Ranong was stopped by army looking for drug runners.

I think 12 people on the bus were overstayed, detained and taken to Bangkok.

In the end it was a big embarrassment for the Thai officials. And indeed one or two of the detainees had only a one day overstay.

In the end all the detainees were taken back to Ranong and allowed to continue their visa run.

It's highly unlikely the Thai officials want to embarrass themselves by hassling someone one day overstay.

That said it still might be wise to have a 60 day tourist visa which would give you plenty of breathing room

[lopburi3]

It has happened often. But you don't normally hear about it as only one or two people are involved and it gets settled at a local level. That bus was full of over stayers so it made headlines. There is no policy to harass anyone with only a one day overstay but like an expired license it can bite when 'push comes to shove'.

[borracho]

It has happened often.

I have a really hard time believing that tourists are often and routinely tossed into the immigration jail for a one or two day overstay. If it did we'd be hearing about it.

Just like an one or two day expired drivers license there is some latitude. The thai drivers license allows 6 months to renew it.

Do I wait till the end of the six months to renew? No I try to go in the day after it expires.

If I knew I would be overstaying 1 day would I count on the immigration unofficial latitude? No I'd go ahead and get a 60 day visa and be prepared for the unexpected.

I had a flight cancelled out of Don Muang once which caused me to overstay a day and half.

No one raised an eyebrow.

But would I make my travel plans knowing I'd overstay? No I wouldn't.

[lopburi3]

it gets settled at a local level.

I did not say they get sent to IDC. But they can; and occasionally do.

[Krub]

If you know you will put yourself into a position to be illegaly in Thailand why not make sure in advance that you don't.

Even if most of the time you get away with paying a fine, this is only possible at immigration upon leaving the country.

A lot of things can go wrong before you get to the immigration desk at the border.

You could be involved in a traffic accident.

You get brought to the cop's shop and they hand you over to the immigration as an overstayer

You are technically illegal and it leaves the door open for the law to come after you and it is not worth it knowing you can avoid it.

Do not overstay is my advice.

Edited May 27, 2007 by Krub

[munkoo79]

if im arranging my tourist visa for thailand from oz, do i need to send off my passport?

[Krub]

if im arranging my tourist visa for thailand from oz, do i need to send off my passport?

OZ is a big place. There are a number of Thai Consulates in several towns around Australia.

Some of them offer same day service, some need to leave your passport overnight.

If you post the cities you will be in/near some might be able to help more