Question about TH on-arrival tourist visa

[tijanova]

Hello guys,

About 2 months ago, I heard that Thailand issued a free visa on arrival, 

I would like to ask this regulation valid till which date?

Does this type on arrival valid on land border or available by air only? 

Thank you. 

[Upnotover]

There have always been either visa exempt entries and for a few countries a visa on arrival. If you mention your passport country then you can get accurate advice.

[DrJack54]

34 minutes ago, tijanova said:

About 2 months ago, I heard that Thailand issued a free visa on arrival, 

Assume you have passport from one of the 93 countries that can enter Thailand visa exempt.

It's not a "free visa on arrival" 

 

If that the case you will receive a 60 day permit stamp and that can be extended by 30 days at local immigration office.

60 day stamp both entries via land and air.

Entering via air you may require an onward flight within 60 days requested by airline at departure.

 

This change (from 30 to 60) does not have a declared end date (at this time) 

 

[treetops]

8 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Entering via air you may require an onward flight within 60 days requested by airline at departure.

 

I've not seen any reports on this, but the information to airlines was updated recently and now acknowledges extensions are possible and an onward/return ticket can be for further out than 60 days.

[BrandonJT]

4 hours ago, treetops said:

 

I've not seen any reports on this, but the information to airlines was updated recently and now acknowledges extensions are possible and an onward/return ticket can be for further out than 60 days.

Read reports from 2 people on Facebook just this week that were shocked they were asked for this by immigration at the airport.

[DrJack54]

8 hours ago, treetops said:

 

I've not seen any reports on this, but the information to airlines was updated recently and now acknowledges extensions are possible and an onward/return ticket can be for further out than 60 days.

I've read reports of airlines accepting return flight outside the 30 (currently 60 days) however this has always been the case.

Especially if return ticket is with same airline.

Of course there has also been reports of person signing a waiver.

If anyone is even in a spot the fall back position is to step away from check in counter and either use rent a ticket eg "onwardticket.com" or cheapest throw away flight. 

[treetops]

6 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

I've read reports of airlines accepting return flight outside the 30 (currently 60 days) however this has always been the case.

 

The wording now is explicit whereas it wasn't before and does not require it to be on the same airline.  I don't think there's room for misinterpretation or different interpretations.

 

6 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Of course there has also been reports of person signing a waiver.

 

This may well not disappear as the new wording doesn't put a time limit on the when the ticket should be for, although it does mention any extension will be for 30 days.

 

From https://www.iatatravelcentre.com/

 

Quote

Extension of stay is possible.
Passengers are allowed to enter if their stay will exceed the actual visa-free period as long as they hold a return/onward ticket.

 

[FruitPudding]

On 11/8/2024 at 2:52 PM, DrJack54 said:

Assume you have passport from one of the 93 countries that can enter Thailand visa exempt.

It's not a "free visa on arrival" 

 

If that the case you will receive a 60 day permit stamp and that can be extended by 30 days at local immigration office.

60 day stamp both entries via land and air.

Entering via air you may require an onward flight within 60 days requested by airline at departure.

 

This change (from 30 to 60) does not have a declared end date (at this time) 

 

 

Thanks for the info!

 

Just double checking nothing has changed recently with this, so it's still 60 days on arrival at the airport (rather than the previous 30 days stamp).

 

Is that correct?

[DrJack54]

9 minutes ago, FruitPudding said:

Is that correct?

Correct.

Also the 60 day visa exempt entry can be extended by 30 days. 

[FruitPudding]

On 1/23/2025 at 6:24 PM, DrJack54 said:

Correct.

Also the 60 day visa exempt entry can be extended by 30 days. 

 

Thank you.

 

Is this going indefinitely, or is there an end date?

[DrJack54]

1 minute ago, FruitPudding said:

Is this going indefinitely, or is there an end date?

There is no stated end date to the current 60 days. 

Make hay while the sun shines.

Some think will never go back to 30.

I'm not so sure..

[Goethe]

On 11/8/2024 at 11:05 PM, treetops said:

 

I've not seen any reports on this, but the information to airlines was updated recently and now acknowledges extensions are possible and an onward/return ticket can be for further out than 60 days.

The reason why the airline may want to see a return ticket within 60 days is because being granted a 30-day extension, while highly likely, is not 100% guaranteed. So if you are denied entry by Thai Immigration because you do not have a return ticket within 60 days, the airline would be responsible for flying you back home. That is an expense they do not wish to incur.

I have no doubt that some readers of this forum will testify that they have never had a return ticket and have encountered no problems with either the airline or Thai Immigration, but the question for you is: "Do you want to take that risk?" (My testimony is that I have been checked by the airlines before boarding several times.)