One day over stay

[Hal65]

I'm going to fly into Chiang Mai on the 26th to cancel my visa. It's my final day. Then I'll have a multi leg flight from Chiang Mai to DMK and DMK to VTE.

 

The problem is DMK to VTE happens at 5:30 AM on the 27th, and this is not from the same airline. Kiwi emailed me saying this was a "travel hack ticket" and it'll effectively be like two separate flights.

 

Do you think immigration will likely overlook my one day overstay?

 

Chet GPT says it will likely not be overlooked and I'll get an overstay stamp.

 

Quote

Thailand does not overlook overstays, even for one day, and especially not at an international airport like Don Mueang (DMK).

Here’s what you’re dealing with:

---

❌ Overstaying — Even 1 Day — Is a Legal Violation

• Penalty: 500 baht per day, up to 20,000 baht max.

• 1-day overstay = 500 baht fine at the airport

• Immigration will see it and flag it in their system. There's no such thing as “they might not notice.”

• You’ll be stamped as having overstayed — it goes into your record.

---

🤬 Why This Matters

Even if it seems minor:

• It gets logged into the Thai immigration system.

• Future visas or re-entry can be impacted.

• Enough overstays (or even one with bad timing) can trigger a blacklist or border denial later.

---

✅ What You Should Do

You still have a window to avoid this. You’re in Chiang Mai on the 26th. Your flight out is 5:30 AM on the 27th. That means you’ll technically still be in Thailand past midnight = 1 day overstay.

Your options:

---

🛂 Option 1: Extend Your Stay 1 Day Legally

Go to Chiang Mai Immigration early on the 26th and request a 1-day extension.

• This is normal, and they grant it for 1,900 baht.

• You’ll get a stamp extending your stay until the 27th.

• No risk, no overstay.

📍 Chiang Mai Immigration Office
Location: Promenada Mall
Hours: 8:30 AM–4:30 PM, Mon–Fri
Get there early (before 8:00 AM) to beat the crowd.

---

💵 Option 2: Accept the 1-day overstay and pay the fine

• You’ll pay 500 baht at the airport.

• They’ll stamp “overstay” on your passport.

• It’s unlikely to cause problems if this is your first time, but it will be on record.

---

💡 My Advice?

Get the 1-day extension. It’s 1,900 baht instead of 500, but it keeps your record clean — and that can matter later, especially with re-entry or long-stay visas.
Thailand is friendly but strict on immigration. A single 1-day overstay won't get you blacklisted, but you lose your clean sheet.

 

[DrJack54]

Often one day overstay is not be subject to fine. 

In any event seems you don't have an option. 

Just accept the overstay if imposed. 

 

[BrandonJT]

1 hour ago, Hal65 said:

Do you think immigration will likely overlook my one day overstay?

That depends on your definition of "overlooked."

Generally policy at the main airports is that you will not be fined for a 1 day overstay, but you will still receive the overstay stamp in your passport.

 

You might have a last ditch option.  You can apply for an extension at Chiang Mai immigration even though you do not qualify for one.  If they accept your application (they don't have to), they will then give you a stamp that says along the lines of "extension denied, you have 7 days to leave Thailand."  This would prevent you from going into overstay.

[Hal65]

22 minutes ago, BrandonJT said:

That depends on your definition of "overlooked."

Generally policy at the main airports is that you will not be fined for a 1 day overstay, but you will still receive the overstay stamp in your passport.

 

You might have a last ditch option.  You can apply for an extension at Chiang Mai immigration even though you do not qualify for one.  If they accept your application (they don't have to), they will then give you a stamp that says along the lines of "extension denied, you have 7 days to leave Thailand."  This would prevent you from going into overstay.

 

The flight is scheduled to arrive in DMK at 12:40 AM. So let's say it gets there at 1:00 AM and I get through Immigration for the Vientiane (international) flight around 1:30 to 2:00 AM. You think they would still consider it overstay?

[Nick Carter icp]

29 minutes ago, Hal65 said:

 

The flight is scheduled to arrive in DMK at 12:40 AM. So let's say it gets there at 1:00 AM and I get through Immigration for the Vientiane (international) flight around 1:30 to 2:00 AM. You think they would still consider it overstay?

 

At   What time does the day change to the next day ?

[Hal65]

47 minutes ago, Nick Carter icp said:

 

At   What time does the day change to the next day ?

 

Don't get clever. I am obviously asking if they typically have an allowance for around midnight exits.

[Nick Carter icp]

6 minutes ago, Hal65 said:

 

Don't get clever. I am obviously asking if they typically have an allowance for around midnight exits.

 

   No, 12 midnight is the cut off point and its when you go through immigration 

[thai006]

just pass thru immigration before midnight  🙂 if possible 

[BrandonJT]

1 hour ago, Hal65 said:

 

The flight is scheduled to arrive in DMK at 12:40 AM. So let's say it gets there at 1:00 AM and I get through Immigration for the Vientiane (international) flight around 1:30 to 2:00 AM. You think they would still consider it overstay?

No, there is no allowance. 12:01 is the next day.

[Maestro]

2 hours ago, Hal65 said:

 

The flight is scheduled to arrive in DMK at 12:40 AM. So let's say it gets there at 1:00 AM and I get through Immigration for the Vientiane (international) flight around 1:30 to 2:00 AM. You think they would still consider it overstay?

 

There is some ambiguity about the meaning of 12:40 AM.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/12-hour_clock?wprov=sfla1

 

What airline issued you a ticket using the AM/PM system instead of the 24-hour system?

[Caldera]

12 hours ago, Hal65 said:

Don't get clever. I am obviously asking if they typically have an allowance for around midnight exits.

 

There's no such allowance.

 

Typically, in your situation, you'll get a stamp that basically says something like "overstayed for less than 24 hours. Fine waived.". Worst case scenario, they do fine you 500 baht.

[Briggsy]

On 7/31/2025 at 9:05 PM, Hal65 said:

I'm going to fly into Chiang Mai on the 26th to cancel my visa. It's my final day.

Does this mean you are flying into Chiang Mai from an overseas destination with a permission to stay and a re-entry permit that expire on 26 Aug. So you will be stamped in for less than 24 hours???

 

If so, could you just ask for a Visa Exempt?

[cdemundo]

I had a one day overstay 10+ years ago, so I don't know if policy has changed,

 

I was referred to a higher ranking officer who asked me why I overstayed.

I told her it was just a mistake, that I counted the days wrong,

She handed me my passport and sent me on my way.

 

She didn't even give me the "Be more careful in the future" or anything like that.

[Tod Daniels]

Okay whether you believe it or not this is how they calculate overstay at the airport, 

Example 
if you have a stamp that expires today Aug 1st, you have until 11:59PM August 2nd to stamp out of the country the second it clicks over to Aug 3rd (at midnight) you're going to get a 2 day overstay fine or 500X2=1000baht  

That's just how they count it when exiting by air

• under 24 hours overstay no fine, 
• over 24 hours overstay (even by a minute), you get fined for TWO days.

[Hal65]

Okay, so here's what I'll do:

Instead of 

1. Flying from BKK to CNX to get my cancellation letter (26th)
2. Then CNX to DMK (26th into 27th, literally 11:30pm to 12:40am)
3. Then DMK to VTE (27th, 1 day overstay)

 

I will pay the ED school to do the visa cancellation

1. This means I can skip flights 1 and 2 and pass DMK immigration at 11pm on the 26th (the final day). And sleep in the terminal for 5 hours at night

 

Sucks paying for 2 flights I won't use but since I've been here so long I won't risk an overstay notice.

[newbee2022]

On 7/31/2025 at 9:05 PM, Hal65 said:

I'm going to fly into Chiang Mai on the 26th to cancel my visa. It's my final day. Then I'll have a multi leg flight from Chiang Mai to DMK and DMK to VTE.

 

The problem is DMK to VTE happens at 5:30 AM on the 27th, and this is not from the same airline. Kiwi emailed me saying this was a "travel hack ticket" and it'll effectively be like two separate flights.

 

Do you think immigration will likely overlook my one day overstay?

 

Chet GPT says it will likely not be overlooked and I'll get an overstay stamp.

 

 

I wouldn't ask Chat GPT 5555 😅

Take it how it will come. Good chance they will let you pass, but if somebody got a bad night , then you will pay. It's not a fortune actually.

[BrandonJT]

9 hours ago, Hal65 said:

I will pay the ED school to do the visa cancellation

1. This means I can skip flights 1 and 2 and pass DMK immigration at 11pm on the 26th (the final day). And sleep in the terminal for 5 hours at night

The extension is yours.  It's in YOUR passport.  It is your responsibility to cancel it.  You are the only one who can do so, unless you are mailing your passport to your school and they are taking it to the immigration office that issued it and then mailing it back to you.  Anything else is not valid.

[J Branche]

My advice, plead for a warning and accept a fine if given.  Smile, be nice, say sorry and hopefully you will just get a warning.

[Hal65]

14 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

The extension is yours.  It's in YOUR passport.  It is your responsibility to cancel it.  You are the only one who can do so, unless you are mailing your passport to your school and they are taking it to the immigration office that issued it and then mailing it back to you.  Anything else is not valid.

 

Yes I will mail it to them and they will mail it back

[Unamerican]

On 8/1/2025 at 12:56 AM, BrandonJT said:

No, there is no allowance. 12:01 is the next day.

How do you know this? 

[Unamerican]

Why do you need to “cancel a visa”?
Never heard of someone coming here just to do that! 

[Hal65]

52 minutes ago, Unamerican said:

Why do you need to “cancel a visa”?
Never heard of someone coming here just to do that! 

 

Every ED visa school will tell you it needs to be done prior to exiting the country to come back on tourist or visa exempt status... if you want another ED visa.

 

The letter formally states you no longer plan to study on that visa with the school past X date.

 

It's a nuisance form like many of Thailand's forms. Intentional friction.

[QPRFC]

Be polite and smile, then explain the situation you're facing and ask the IO what they suggest you should have done, ask them to write it down for you......I'm certain that will cause them to pick-up the Outward stamp.
Good luck

 

[BrandonJT]

3 hours ago, Unamerican said:

Why do you need to “cancel a visa”?
Never heard of someone coming here just to do that! 

You don't cancel a visa. You cancel an extension. 

You must do this if you are on an education or work extension. When you get those extensions you sign a form saying you will notify immigration of any change in status.  So if you stop studying or working, you must notify immigration.  Even if your extension ends, you still have to notify immigration per the agreement you signed.

[Tod Daniels]

20 hours ago, Unamerican said:

How do you know this? 

because of the way the COUNT overstay 
Just like I said in my earlier comment 

• under 24 hours overstay no fine, 
• over 24 hours overstay (even by a minute), you get fined for TWO days.