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.

[Lancelot01]

13 hours ago, Phillip9 said:

 

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.

That's what happened with me, however I did extend 30 days first. Then after two weeks in Vietnam, the IO at BKK told me next time you need to get a visa. 

It is not clear how many times you can go and return on 60 exempt. 

[DrJack54]

4 minutes ago, Lancelot01 said:

It is not clear how many times you can go and return on 60 exempt. 

That sentence has been started a zillion times.

Very easy to set limits if they wish.

They even recently one clear rule re visa exempt entry via land borders which was 2 per calendar year.

 

Perhaps this is making things too clear for farang let's make it more confusing and use the word "unlimited"

[Phillip9]

7 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

They even recently one clear rule re visa exempt entry via land borders which was 2 per calendar year.

 

Perhaps this is making things too clear for farang let's make it more confusing and use the word "unlimited"

The problem is that quite a lot of people do short trips multiple times per year.  For example, people traveling around the region may enter and leave Thailand 3,4,5 or more times, but only stay a week or so on each entry.  They don't want to exclude these people.

 

That makes it impractical to put a simple limit on the number of entries.  Probably better they would put a limit on the total time in Thailand each year or something similar.

[Bvor]

27 minutes ago, Phillip9 said:

Probably better they would put a limit on the total time in Thailand each year or something similar.

But IO want to hang onto their xenophobic power trips and agent alliances - a debacle contrary to MFA directives and a hindrance to accessing more tourist dollar.   

[anotherfarangishere]

As I plan to stay in Thailand for nine months, and since visa-exempt entries are unlimited but subject to immigration officer discretion, it seems wiser to apply for a visa and two exemptions rather than three exemptions.

[Bvor]

2 minutes ago, anotherfarangishere said:

it seems wiser to apply for a visa and two exemptions rather than three exemptions.

Agree - similar to my 2 and 2 intentions albeit <180 days per year and why tourist eVisa is still relevant. 

 

 

 

[ericthai]

7 hours ago, Phillip9 said:

The problem is that quite a lot of people do short trips multiple times per year.  For example, people traveling around the region may enter and leave Thailand 3,4,5 or more times, but only stay a week or so on each entry.  They don't want to exclude these people.

 

That makes it impractical to put a simple limit on the number of entries.  Probably better they would put a limit on the total time in Thailand each year or something similar.

They (Thaksin) tried limiting the days allowed in Thailand back early 2000's. The issue was the IO's where there trying to count days, which took way too long and had immigration ques all backed up, so that didn't work well and was ended.

 

Maybe now that it's all computerized they could do it, but I doubt it.  Immigration keeps rules vague so IO's can make up their own interpretation of the rules to keep the cash flowing.

[Toby1947]

On 12/24/2024 at 8:07 AM, 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. 

Flew in from U.K. early December with Emirates visa exempt staying for 5 months. Did not ask for onward ticket. This is a grey area that the airlines need to clear up.

[DrJack54]

27 minutes ago, Toby1947 said:

Did not ask for onward ticket. This is a grey area that the airlines need to clear up.

Indeed very hit and miss.

My observation is that low cost airlines seem more strict and also the route, eg Saigon to Bangkok with AirAsia always looking for my reentry permit..

[bigt3116]

On 12/24/2024 at 6:45 AM, DrJack54 said:

On 12/24/2024 at 6:34 AM, Bvor said:

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

In other words not "unlimited" 

 

The problem with somebody from the MFA saying that, is that the MFA have nothing to do with visa exempt entries, they are solely the remit of Immigration. The MFA should not be commenting on visa exempt entries, that should be left to the head honcho of the Immigration police.

[Bvor]

2 hours ago, bigt3116 said:

the MFA have nothing to do with visa exempt entries

Not according to the MFA Deputy Director video interview but if you are right then the lack of clear info from head honcho of the immigration police suggests he/she is in the wrong job. 

[Bvor]

43 minutes ago, Bvor said:

Not according to the MFA Deputy Director video interview

and again via Dateline Bangkok video. He's very informative and hardly a problem particularly in the absence of any IO info......sure the IO muppets have been given final discretion re entries but as stated in the video's the MFA  was involved with the Immigration Council re VE's and DTV. 

[Phillip9]

9 hours ago, Toby1947 said:

Flew in from U.K. early December with Emirates visa exempt staying for 5 months. Did not ask for onward ticket. This is a grey area that the airlines need to clear up.

Not a grey area with Emirates.  Emirates has a very good easy to use travel requirements checker.  

https://www.emirates.com/sg/english/before-you-fly/visa-passport-information

 

It states "Visitors without a return/onward ticket could be refused entry."  

 

The checkin staff were just incompetent or too busy to notice if you were traveling on a one way ticket.  In my experience staff at most airlines only ask for a return ticket about 50% of the time even when it is required by the airline.