Why choose an e-visa over the 60-day exemption?

[anotherfarangishere]

Hello!

 

I'm in Korea. Last year, I was also in Korea, and I got an e-visa. It worked fine.

But with the 60-day exemption, why should I get one again? What's the difference, especially since it seems that 60-day exemptions are now unlimited?

Thank you!

[still kicking]

2 minutes ago, anotherfarangishere said:

Hello!

 

I'm in Korea. Last year, I was days also in Korea, and I got an e-visa. It worked fine.

But with the 60-day exemption, why should I get one again? What's the difference, especially since it seems that 60-day exemptions are now unlimited?

Thank you!

So if I get a 60 days exemption and leave Thailand (by land or Air) can I get another 60 days on my return and repeat this many times? 

[Phillip9]

1 hour ago, still kicking said:

So if I get a 60 days exemption and leave Thailand (by land or Air) can I get another 60 days on my return and repeat this many times? 

 

Not exactly.  There is no specific limit on entries, but if you do that enough times, some IO will tell you that you've been staying in Thailand too long and hassle you when you try to enter.  Nothing about that has changed by air.  

 

By land, there used to be a limit of two entries per year, but they removed that limit.  But same as by air, the IO can still tell you that you've been staying in Thailand too long, hassle you or deny you entry.  I preferred the old way when you knew the rule was two hassle free entries.  I think the new way with no limit is much worse because IOs are making up their own rules.

[DrJack54]

5 hours ago, anotherfarangishere said:

'm in Korea. Last year, I was also in Korea, and I got an e-visa. It worked fine.

But with the 60-day exemption, why should I get one again?

I assume you previously obtained a Tourist eVisa.

Can't imagine anyone obtaining a tourist eVisa when visa exempt provides same 60 day permission of stay and both can be extended by 30 days.

The threads discussing eVisa and changes in places such as Laos is of interest to folk looking for eg Non O.

No one will be applying for a tourist eVisa. 

Note: visa exempt entries are not unlimited. 

[UKresonant]

6 hours ago, still kicking said:

So if I get a 60 days exemption and leave Thailand (by land or Air) can I get another 60 days on my return and repeat this many times? 

Originally this page said two entries.per year...

 

https://london.thaiembassy.org/en/page/exemp-visa

 

"Permit of stay, duration, and entries per year will be granted by the Thai immigration checkpoint upon arrival"

[Bvor]

53 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Can't imagine anyone obtaining a tourist eVisa when visa exempt provides same 60 day permission of stay and both can be extended by 30 days.

I live in Oz and am a frequent LOS visiter 4/5 times per year. I just did a tourist eVisa cos of fear of IO discretion making up their own rules re multiple VE's and demanding eVisa etc re " come too many times" accusations. During 2024 I did 2 tourist visa's first 6 months and 2 VE's second 6 months for a total of <180 days and intend to do same in 2025 and beyond - subject to IO discretion (Non O, DTV, etc not for me).  

 

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

Note: visa exempt entries are not unlimited. 

MFA Deputy Director has clearly stated they are unlimited but subject to IO discretion

 

58 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

No one will be applying for a tourist eVisa. 

Not according to directives via IO discretion  

 

 

[DrJack54]

32 minutes ago, UKresonant said:

Originally this page said two entries.per year.

The 2 entry limit per calendar year via Land  was removed earlier this year. (June?) 

There is no stated limit on number of entries per year via air

 

[DrJack54]

16 minutes ago, Bvor said:

MFA Deputy Director has clearly stated they are unlimited but subject to IO discretion

In other words not "unlimited" 

16 minutes ago, Bvor said:

Not according to directives via IO discretion  

Folk with multiple visa exempt entries can/will be questioned by immigration (esp airports) 

Those that visit with little time between the visits may be advised to obtain a visa. 

 

You stated ...

"...for a total of <180 days and intend to do same in 2025 and beyond " 

 

Can understand the safe approach of obtaining a tourist eVisa however under 180 days over several visits should not be an issue visa exempt entries

[UKresonant]

25 minutes ago, Bvor said:

I live in Oz and am a frequent LOS visiter 4/5 times per year. I just did a tourist eVisa cos of fear of IO discretion making up their own rules re multiple VE's and demanding eVisa etc re " come too many times" accusations. During 2024 I did 2 tourist visa's first 6 months and 2 VE's second 6 months for a total of <180 days and intend to do same in 2025 and beyond - subject to IO discretion (Non O, DTV, etc not for me).  

 

MFA Deputy Director has clearly stated they are unlimited but subject to IO discretion

 

Not according to directives via IO discretion  

 

 

Dad still goes 3 times per year, and will continue.to get e-visa's, I'd rather upload info to the MFA site. 

Dad's not into paperwork, so trying, hopefully,  to avoid him having to drag out paperwork at immigration as much as possible, ( though they could still ask ) I put most things in a display folder. 

 

 

[Bvor]

3 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

In other words not "unlimited" 

Can still be up to IO discretion - but yes most likely not unlimited.

 

6 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Folk with multiple visa exempt entries can/will be questioned by immigration (esp airports) 

Those that visit with time between the visits may be advised to obtain a visa. 

So how many VE entries trigger IO harassment and the time between visits bizo prompting tourist eVisa (maybe or maybe not)  there is no consistency creating best guess scenarios and that's my gripe - anyways such is life in LOS thanks for your input Doc.  

[Briggsy]

There is a myth that paying for a tourist visa will gain you entry to Thailand whilst visiting repeatedly of visa exempts will get you denied entry.

 

This is not true as many, many have been denied entry with tourist visas as have those attempting to enter visa exempt.

 

The metric they are looking at is staying in Thailand for a considerable percentage of the time over months and years without using a visa they deem to be 'a proper visa'.

 

It is likely to be true that tourist visas give people a slightly higher chance of gaining entry than visa exempts but tourist visas should not be viewed as a safe bet. Entry certainly can be denied if de-facto living in Thailand on tourist visas.

[Bvor]

7 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

It is likely to be true that tourist visas give people a slightly higher chance of gaining entry than visa exempts but tourist visas should not be viewed as a safe bet. Entry certainly can be denied if de-facto living in Thailand on tourist visas.

 The only certainty in LOS is uncertainty and in so far as immigration goes is more so cos of IO "inappropriate" discretion. 

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, Bvor said:

I live in Oz and am a frequent LOS visiter 4/5 times per year.

One small benefit of the tourist visa is requirement (some) airlines have for onward flight. 

I always need to show Jetstar my reentry permit. 

If visa exempt I would need onward flight. 

[Bvor]

6 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

One small benefit of the tourist visa is requirement (some) airlines have for onward flight. 

I always need to show Jetstar my reentry permit. 

If visa exempt I would need onward flight. 

Easy for me as I always purchase Jetstar return tickets -  Perth - BKK direct flights.