Visa run limits

[wornoutcowboy]

I am planning on a move back to SE Asia.  The plan would be to travel often but to set up a small apartment in Thailand and use it as a base.  I would probably spend a month or two in Thailand then head off for another month or two before returning.  I do qualify for a retirement visa but would prefer to avoid the bureaucracy and the moving the 800K over.  I know there is so no certain rule but has anyone had experience doing this?  Is it possible to do this?   I have a USA passport if it matters. 

[DrJack54]

11 minutes ago, wornoutcowboy said:

.  I would probably spend a month or two in Thailand then head off for another month or two before returning.

You plan to visit these other countries via air and reenter via air? 

How long is the time frame? 

Meaning total stay in SEA over next 12 months? 

Sounds like 6 months in and 6 out. 

Currently borders closed with Cambodia however that should resolve at some point.. 

For a Non O in own country the 800k does not need to be in Thai Bank .  For 12 month extension it does. 

[BrandonJT]

Certainly not a risk I'd be willing to take right now given how many people are being pulled up at the airports and how many are being denied entry for not having a long-term visa.

[GanDoonToonPet]

I agree with above that it's not a good time for your plan.

 

You'll be OK for the first 1-2 months but returning is a major problem now. Firstly, the Cambodian borders are closed so there's no quick, easy land border runs available.

 

Secondly, if you fly back in you'll have a high risk of being denied entry. This is because corrupt officials at the airports benefit from a 'safe entry' scam, which costs ฿5000+, so gives them all the reasons they need to deny you entry.

 

I spent 6 months here last year, as a tourist on VE, followed by 6 months back in the UK. Upon return, I was grilled at immigration about how long I was staying, what I was doing here (doh!) and told 'you can't keep doing this'.

 

If you want my advice, enjoy your short stay in Thailand and never come back.  

[thai006]

use the safe  entry by air  around 4000b and you can use it for unlimited 😛

[GanDoonToonPet]

31 minutes ago, thai006 said:

use the safe  entry by air  around 4000b and you can use it for unlimited 😛

 

...and when you go to a shop to buy a TV, pay them ฿4000+ for the privilege of giving them your custom. After that, you can buy as many TVs as you want. 🤔

[Caldera]

If you're visa exempt in Vietnam, you could consider basing yourself there for your travels around Southeast Asia instead. They certainly wouldn't have any issue with the pattern of entries you describe, and as an added benefit, you wouldn't need to bother with the silly TDAC that often.

[Upnotover]

6 minutes ago, Caldera said:

If you're visa exempt in Vietnam

USA passport, needs a visa.

[Caldera]

3 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

USA passport, needs a visa.

 

Right, I missed that.

[frank83628]

7 hours ago, GanDoonToonPet said:

I agree with above that it's not a good time for your plan.

 

You'll be OK for the first 1-2 months but returning is a major problem now. Firstly, the Cambodian borders are closed so there's no quick, easy land border runs available.

 

Secondly, if you fly back in you'll have a high risk of being denied entry. This is because corrupt officials at the airports benefit from a 'safe entry' scam, which costs ฿5000+, so gives them all the reasons they need to deny you entry.

 

I spent 6 months here last year, as a tourist on VE, followed by 6 months back in the UK. Upon return, I was grilled at immigration about how long I was staying, what I was doing here (doh!) and told 'you can't keep doing this'.

 

If you want my advice, enjoy your short stay in Thailand and never come back.  

Thats because they want you to buy tourist visas.

[DrJack54]

43 minutes ago, Caldera said:

If you're visa exempt in Vietnam, you could consider basing yourself there for your travels around Southeast Asia instead.

As pointed out he would require a visa however thinking your suggestion a good one. 

In my first 7 years in Thailand I went to Vietnam pretty much every month. 

During that time I (Oz) would buy 4 three month multi entry visas/year.

From memory 80usd each. 

Think eVisa has came down in price. 

 

Never understand why folk have desire to spend as much time as possible in Thailand. 

 

[DarthChuckler]

On 6/30/2025 at 11:45 PM, BrandonJT said:

Certainly not a risk I'd be willing to take right now given how many people are being pulled up at the airports and how many are being denied entry for not having a long-term visa.

I had a two month tourist visa, 1 mo tb extension, visa run, repeat. Then flew home for three months. On return, got flagged at airport

 I wax told that visa runs are not ok with airport immigration (local offices have their own rules 🙄 😅🤣🤣🤣. After show bank accounts, rent agreement. A 4000 bhat donation to the officers bank. He allowed me in.  Thailand seems to be trying to bring in the cheap tourists, nomads etc and making it hard for retires with funds.  

[Caldera]

25 minutes ago, DarthChuckler said:

I had a two month tourist visa, 1 mo tb extension, visa run, repeat. Then flew home for three months. On return, got flagged at airport

 I wax told that visa runs are not ok with airport immigration (local offices have their own rules 🙄 😅🤣🤣🤣. After show bank accounts, rent agreement. A 4000 bhat donation to the officers bank. He allowed me in.  Thailand seems to be trying to bring in the cheap tourists, nomads etc and making it hard for retires with funds.  

 

A "retiree with funds" currently has at least FOUR different "retirement visa" options at their disposal: Non O, Non-OA, Non-OX and LTR.

 

Living in Thailand on visa exempts or tourist visas obviously isn't among those options, but you can try and take your chances. 

[garzhe]

Its a risk flying back in to Thailand if youve had too many entries. You can get Fast track through an agent if you fly in to Svarnabhumi but now costs 7000 baht. Cambodia borders closed so no visa runs. 

[Caldera]

8 minutes ago, garzhe said:

You can get Fast track through an agent if you fly in to Svarnabhumi but now costs 7000 baht.

 

I think you'll find that the price is quite variable and depends on your "history".

[newbee2022]

Seems you don't have the required money.

What about the monthly minimum of 65.000 Baht? 

Maybe that's an option for a "retirement visa".

[DrJack54]

8 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

What about the monthly minimum of 65.000 Baht? 

He would need to show 12 monthly transfers of 65k which he cannot. 

[VocalNeal]

On 7/1/2025 at 8:56 AM, frank83628 said:

Thats because they want you to buy tourist visas.

 

To make the whole process "legal"? 

 

Don't do visa "runs"

[newbee2022]

32 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

He would need to show 12 monthly transfers of 65k which he cannot. 

Is it so?

If he gets a pension (recurring monthly payments) on his Thai account...? Op said he's in retirement age.

 

[DrJack54]

1 minute ago, newbee2022 said:

Is it so?

If he gets a pension (recurring monthly payments) on his Thai account...? Op said he's in retirement age.

 

He would first need to obtain a Non O and that would require 800k (or equivalent in Bank) 

To obtain a 12 month extension he would need to show 12 months of previous transfers of 65k + . 

Which he cannot. He is USA = no income letter from embassy

[SunsetT]

On 6/30/2025 at 8:31 PM, thai006 said:

use the safe  entry by air  around 4000b and you can use it for unlimited 😛

What is this all about? Please explain.

[newbee2022]

15 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

He would first need to obtain a Non O and that would require 800k (or equivalent in Bank) 

To obtain a 12 month extension he would need to show 12 months of previous transfers of 65k + . 

Which he cannot. He is USA = no income letter from embassy

USA. Ok, I didn't realize that. Sorry.

[DrJack54]

2 hours ago, SunsetT said:

What is this all about? Please explain.

For those with possible issues entering visa exempt via air they can use "safe entry service" 

Issues can be repeat visa exempt entries (history) or eg refused entry., past ED visas etc 

[thecyclist]

On 7/1/2025 at 1:29 AM, GanDoonToonPet said:

I agree with above that it's not a good time for your plan.

 

You'll be OK for the first 1-2 months but returning is a major problem now. Firstly, the Cambodian borders are closed so there's no quick, easy land border runs available.

 

Secondly, if you fly back in you'll have a high risk of being denied entry. This is because corrupt officials at the airports benefit from a 'safe entry' scam, which costs ฿5000+, so gives them all the reasons they need to deny you entry.

 

I spent 6 months here last year, as a tourist on VE, followed by 6 months back in the UK. Upon return, I was grilled at immigration about how long I was staying, what I was doing here (doh!) and told 'you can't keep doing this'.

 

If you want my advice, enjoy your short stay in Thailand and never come back.  

Maybe you just got the wrong IO. 

I have been shuttling back and forth, Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam for 3 years now .Usually, Vietnam for 3 months, fly to Thailand for a stay of 1 to 3 months, a couple of weeks Cambodia, back to Vietnam. Never been asked a single question by IOs at DM or Suvarnabhumi.