On 11/20/2025 at 9:15 PM, Chelseafan said:

 

I'm quite relaed about it. I very much doubt I'm the sort of fish they are looking to hook.

 

I'm very relaxed as well. I intend to go on doing my border runs until my agent tells me it will not work anymore. And if no border runs, maybe safe entries will still work.

 

And if all VE options exhausted, then my agent have to get me a retirement visa instead (I'm +50).

52 minutes ago, Chuck443 said:

I'm very relaxed as well. I intend to go on doing my border runs until my agent tells me it will not work anymore. And if no border runs, maybe safe entries will still work.

 

And if all VE options exhausted, then my agent have to get me a retirement visa instead (I'm +50).

Sounds as though you're exactly the type of person the changes are aimed at.
Attempting to stay long term in Thailand as a fake tourist using border bounce VE entries.

 

Why not have your agent obtain you a Non O visa + 1 year extension now.

18 hours ago, treetops said:

TM11 form is for appealing  a decision to refuse you entry.  It is addressed to "Prime Minister and Minister of Interior" so may be some time before it's dealt with.

 

In all those years that I've followed Thai visa news and developments, the TM11 form has come up a few times, but I've never seen even one first-hand report of anyone filing such an appeal.

 

One reason could be that they keep you in detention pending decision, and as you wrote, it could take some time. So it's a major inconvenience at the very least.

4 hours ago, Liquorice said:

Sounds as though you're exactly the type of person the changes are aimed at.
Attempting to stay long term in Thailand as a fake tourist using border bounce VE entries.

 

Why not have your agent obtain you a Non O visa + 1 year extension now.

I appreciate your view, though I see it differently.

 

I don't work in Thailand and I'm spending money which originates outside of Thailand.

 

I'm just the person Thailand should welcome with open arms. A real tourist. So hopefully I can continue with my border runs ad infinitum. Or until I decide to retire and maybe choose Thailand as my country of residence.

 

 

 

3 hours ago, Chuck443 said:

I appreciate your view, though I see it differently.

 

I don't work in Thailand and I'm spending money which originates outside of Thailand.

 

I'm just the person Thailand should welcome with open arms. A real tourist. So hopefully I can continue with my border runs ad infinitum. Or until I decide to retire and maybe choose Thailand as my country of residence.

 

 

 

 

Uh oh.  You are applying logic to this.  They SHOULD welcome tourists who spend money with open arms but..... that is logic.  

On 11/26/2025 at 2:59 AM, Chuck443 said:

I'm very relaxed as well. I intend to go on doing my border runs until my agent tells me it will not work anymore. And if no border runs, maybe safe entries will still work.

 

And if all VE options exhausted, then my agent have to get me a retirement visa instead (I'm +50).

I just went to a reliable agency to get some updates.

 

Here's what they said:

- visa runs are interrupted for the time being, and it's unlikely they will restart soon.

- as my 60 days visa free end early January, I can do a visa run by plane to another country by myself, without any risk, as it will be my first entry during the 2026 calendar year.

- In theory, I should be able to do more trips to Thailand during the year, as long as I don't stay more than 180 days. However, they also said that they cannot be sure I won't have any problem, as interpretation of regulations may vary.

- the alternative proposed is a retirement visa + re-entry permit each time I would go out of Thailand. (I need to cross-check as I don't want to be fiscal resident in Thailand). This would be more expensive, but I don't want to risk being blocked at Bangkok airport after having bought a ticket and booked accomodation.

16 minutes ago, candide said:

I just went to a reliable agency to get some updates.

 

Here's what they said:

- visa runs are interrupted for the time being, and it's unlikely they will restart soon.

- as my 60 days visa free end early January, I can do a visa run by plane to another country by myself, without any risk, as it will be my first entry during the 2026 calendar year.

- In theory, I should be able to do more trips to Thailand during the year, as long as I don't stay more than 180 days. However, they also said that they cannot be sure I won't have any problem, as interpretation of regulations may vary.

- the alternative proposed is a retirement visa + re-entry permit each time I would go out of Thailand. (I need to cross-check as I don't want to be fiscal resident in Thailand). This would be more expensive, but I don't want to risk being blocked at Bangkok airport after having bought a ticket and booked accomodation.

 

Is safe entry airport service still available? I have one entry (visa exempt) in 2025 that I extended 30 days and expires in a few weeks. I would like to fly out for a couple days and come back in end of December on visa exempt. 

9 minutes ago, BoganBob said:

 

Is safe entry airport service still available? I have one entry (visa exempt) in 2025 that I extended 30 days and expires in a few weeks. I would like to fly out for a couple days and come back in end of December on visa exempt. 

You should be OK, but I doubt you'd get a 30 day extension.

1 hour ago, BoganBob said:

 

Is safe entry airport service still available? I have one entry (visa exempt) in 2025 that I extended 30 days and expires in a few weeks. I would like to fly out for a couple days and come back in end of December on visa exempt. 

In theory it should be OK, but check with visa agencies and/or better informed BMs than me.

 

In worst case, you can come back early January as the count is done by calendar year. So it should be counted as first entry. It may be relevant if you want to ask for another 30 days extension after that (check that too). However, my modest understanding is that if you get a 30 days extension after that (if you enter early January it will be early March), you won't be allowed to get a 30 days extension when you come back in winter 2026, only 7 days extension). That's the tricky part, one has to anticipate about other trips during the same calendar year, in order to make the best choice. 

2 hours ago, candide said:

- as my 60 days visa free end early January, I can do a visa run by plane to another country by myself, without any risk, as it will be my first entry during the 2026 calendar year.

 

- In theory, I should be able to do more trips to Thailand during the year, as long as I don't stay more than 180 days. However, they also said that they cannot be sure I won't have any problem, as interpretation of regulations may vary

 

My VE60 runs out on 1st Jan and I'm not sure that I can fly back in after that as it'll be my 4th one in a row, even thought it will be a new calendar year.

 

If only they would make hard and fast rules instead of adding 'interpretations' 🤔

1 hour ago, GanDoonToonPet said:

 

...If only they would make hard and fast rules instead of adding 'interpretations' 🤔

 

 

Hard and fast rules would go against the interest of immigration officials.

5 hours ago, GanDoonToonPet said:

 

My VE60 runs out on 1st Jan and I'm not sure that I can fly back in after that as it'll be my 4th one in a row, even thought it will be a new calendar year.

 

If only they would make hard and fast rules instead of adding 'interpretations' 🤔

Wondering the same (my VE60 runs out 14 Jan), although I only have two VE in a row. The rest of 2025 was covered with a METV.

 

Or it might be possible to take a trip to Vietnam in January for a week or two and apply for a new METV while there. If approved then use the METV to maximum capacity and complement with the two allowed VEs for the rest of 2026?

9 hours ago, Chuck443 said:

Or it might be possible to take a trip to Vietnam in January for a week or two and apply for a new METV while there.

 

They will not issue a METV to an applicant who isn't a resident of Vietnam. If you go to Vietnam as a tourist, you can only get a SETV while there.

1 hour ago, Caldera said:

 

They will not issue a METV to an applicant who isn't a resident of Vietnam. If you go to Vietnam as a tourist, you can only get a SETV while there.

You are right. And although the application is done online, you have to submit flight itinerary, so will be obvious I'm not flying from my home country.

When they change it back to 30 days visa exempt, has anyone heard if there will be a grace period at all to allow those that bought airfare and booked accommodation based on 60 days VE, to not lose deposits and need to book one ways home.  The prospect of losing an accommodation deposit  and a new one way ticket home is not very comforting. 

 

 

 

20 minutes ago, JDMCanuck said:

When they change it back to 30 days visa exempt, has anyone heard if there will be a grace period at all to allow those that bought airfare and booked accommodation based on 60 days VE, to not lose deposits and need to book one ways home.  The prospect of losing an accommodation deposit  and a new one way ticket home is not very comforting. 

 

 

 

If, that is IF, they change it back to 30 days, they will probably say so well in advance so that people have time to get a tourist visa.

1 hour ago, JDMCanuck said:

When they change it back to 30 days visa exempt, has anyone heard if there will be a grace period at all to allow those that bought airfare and booked accommodation based on 60 days VE, to not lose deposits and need to book one ways home.  The prospect of losing an accommodation deposit  and a new one way ticket home is not very comforting. 

 

If and when it will be changed back, you best assume that there won't be much if any advance warning. 

What is the current consensus on best airport to fly in to if you are trying to enter VE for a 2nd time this year? I know you can get refused anywhere but  it still the case that certain airports are more strict than others?

4 hours ago, BoganBob said:

What is the current consensus on best airport to fly in to if you are trying to enter VE for a 2nd time this year? I know you can get refused anywhere but  it still the case that certain airports are more strict than others?

 

   Phuket and Don Mueang are two to avoid

 

//Edited by Maestro: corrected Don Meuang to Don Mueang.

11 hours ago, JDMCanuck said:

When they change it back to 30 days visa exempt, has anyone heard if there will be a grace period at all to allow those that bought airfare and booked accommodation based on 60 days VE, to not lose deposits and need to book one ways home.  The prospect of losing an accommodation deposit  and a new one way ticket home is not very comforting. 

 

On that subject, has anyone got any concrete knowledge NOT rumours please of a date for VE returning to 30 days?

I'm travelling in Feb and hoping to get a VE for 60 days but if i need a SETV I've plenty of time....at the moment!

1 hour ago, VBF said:

On that subject, has anyone got any concrete knowledge NOT rumours please of a date for VE returning to 30 days?

I'm travelling in Feb and hoping to get a VE for 60 days but if i need a SETV I've plenty of time....at the moment!

There's not even any discussion of this.  And now that the government is dissolved and the election will not be until February, so the chances of anything changing before then are negligible. 

1 hour ago, BrandonJT said:

There's not even any discussion of this.  And now that the government is dissolved and the election will not be until February, so the chances of anything changing before then are negligible. 

I would be very surprised if they revert back to 30 days. Also, I expect the border runs organised by the visa agents to resume, but maybe not until after the elections. Just my guess.

6 hours ago, Chuck443 said:

8 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

There's not even any discussion of this.  And now that the government is dissolved and the election will not be until February, so the chances of anything changing before then are negligible. 

I would be very surprised if they revert back to 30 days. Also, I expect the border runs organised by the visa agents to resume, but maybe not until after the elections. Just my guess.

Thank you both 👍

I felt sure that there was a thread a couple of months ago that discussed VE going back to 30 days "soon"

Trouble is, despite being sure (?) that I was following it, I cannot find it so perhaps I was wrong or maybe it was indeed rumour.

 

Anyone else recall or am I having "senior moments?" 👴

My VE is due for 29 january been use VE 2 times in 2025, going to Australia the 28 january and plan to come back in Thailand 1 March, think I could get refuse entry ?

You'll be OK for your visa-exempt arriva in March.

What time and day does immigration use to stamp your passport, your planes actual arrival? (easily visible to IO) your planes planned arrival(on your ticket)? your gate arrival (easily visible to IO) or the time you pass immigration? Has anyone recently actually landed early between 2330 and 2359 at BKK , but had a planned arrival after midnight would be especially interesting to hear from. 

It should be the time you cross into Thailand and get your stamp.  That's when you actually enter Thailand.

 

There are a few reports of people being stamped in based on their flight information, but that's far from the norm.

On 12/11/2025 at 5:49 PM, VBF said:

On that subject, has anyone got any concrete knowledge NOT rumours please of a date for VE returning to 30 days?

I'm travelling in Feb and hoping to get a VE for 60 days but if i need a SETV I've plenty of time....at the moment!

 

This is the latest update afaik: https://consular.mfa.go.th/th/content/24-10-68-01?cate=5d68c85e15e39c160c006ff7

 

Discussions were held October 24th concerning the 60 day exemption and a proposal was advanced to the PM re-form the Visa Policy Committee to prioritize evaluation of whether 60 day should revert back to 30 day.

3 hours ago, BoganBob said:

 

This is the latest update afaik: https://consular.mfa.go.th/th/content/24-10-68-01?cate=5d68c85e15e39c160c006ff7

 

Discussions were held October 24th concerning the 60 day exemption and a proposal was advanced to the PM re-form the Visa Policy Committee to prioritize evaluation of whether 60 day should revert back to 30 day.

Thanks 👍

From what everyone has said, it looks like IF this changes, it will be after early February which is what concerns me at present.

Well I had little faith in the system so I got a 60 day Tourist Visa for arrival in January.  Might have jumped thru hoops and paid money for no reason but at least I know I will have my 60 days in peace