Hello,

I'm looking for an opinion or perhaps first hand experience from someone with similar history following the recent changes re Visa Exempt entries. There is a lot of confusing information available online, so I’m not 100% sure where I stand.

 

I have been travelling to Thailand since December 2021, 3 times a year. I have EU passport, have never obtained extension or done a border run. After each trip, I return back to my home country and stay there for 2,5 – 3,5 months. I’m bellow 50 years (close to 50 but not there yet)….

 

- I arrive in April and stay for 4 – 6 weeks for extended Easter vacation, using VE (used to stay for 4 weeks, started staying for 6 weeks after VE was extended to 60 days).

- Then I arrive in August and stay for 4 – 6 weeks for summer vacation, using VE (and again, used to stay for 4 weeks, started staying for 6 weeks after VE was extended to 60 days).

- And then arrive in December and stay for 7 – 8 weeks for winter vacation. Up until the time when VE was extended to 60 days, I was getting SETV issued by embassy in my home country. In 2024, I entered using VE.

I have an upcoming trip booked for the annual winter vacation and was planning to enter using VE. I’m not sure if that is viable option due to recent change? I’m not sure if applying for SETV is better approach?

 

Thanks for any insights or hints.

Do you have time to get an SETV?  If so why not just do that and eliminate any worries.

If possible time-wise, apply for a SETV before your trip.

@Upnotover, @Caldera

Thanks for the fast response and hints. Yep, should be doable time-wise (tight, but should be doable). Going to take the SETV approach.

1 minute ago, jhn9001 said:

@Upnotover, @Caldera

Thanks for the fast response and hints. Yep, should be doable time-wise (tight, but should be doable). Going to take the SETV approach.

 

Good plan.  It's an e-visa now so you can get your application in today.

1 minute ago, Upnotover said:

 

Good plan.  It's an e-visa now so you can get your application in today.

Thanks again. Yes, I'm aware of the e-visa (done that in the past when getting previous SETVs for winter vacations). Appreciate your hints! 

What are the recent visa exempt changes that you are enquiring about ?

 

 Has anything been made official ? If not why worry ?

you are returning to your home country between each trip, right? i don't think you have anything to worry about...

+

On 11/27/2025 at 11:17 AM, TimLMT said:

you are returning to your home country between each trip, right? i don't think you have anything to worry about...

+

This was actually mentioned in the recent announcement. They are after people doing back-to-back VE via border bounces

38 minutes ago, Jaggg88 said:

This was actually mentioned in the recent announcement. They are after people doing back-to-back VE via border bounces

But returning to your home country for a couple of days then going back to Thailand using visa exempt isn't going to fool them.  They know exactly what's going on and will not allow it.

58 minutes ago, BrandonJT said:

But returning to your home country for a couple of days then going back to Thailand using visa exempt isn't going to fool them.  They know exactly what's going on and will not allow it.

What is going on then, I don't get the suspicious mindset?

 

My busiest year travelling to Thailand (from Europe) was in 1997. I had 5 return flights to Thailand during that calendar year, the shortest trip was arriving Friday evening and flying back home Monday evening.

Just so I could spend some quality time with my new girlfriend 🤣 

 

Would have been horrendous to be stopped at immigration and questioned like some criminal.

36 minutes ago, BrandonJT said:

But returning to your home country for a couple of days then going back to Thailand using visa exempt isn't going to fool them.  They know exactly what's going on and will not allow it.

The OP goes back for weeks and even months, so is not in the same category as border runners

 

20 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

But returning to your home country for a couple of days then going back to Thailand using visa exempt isn't going to fool them.  They know exactly what's going on and will not allow it.

i disagree, i am sure there are businesspeople who do this often and they will not bother them...

24 minutes ago, TimLMT said:

i disagree, i am sure there are businesspeople who do this often and they will not bother them...

Business people are not coming, maxing out a visa exempt stay for 60 or 90 days, and then leaving and returning after a few days, over and over.  It's obvious who the abusers are, and just because you returned home for a few days does not change the pattern that is obvious to any immigration agent.

3 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

Business people are not coming, maxing out a visa exempt stay for 60 or 90 days, and then leaving and returning after a few days, over and over.  It's obvious who the abusers are, and just because you returned home for a few days does not change the pattern that is obvious to any immigration agent.

he isn't doing that...

9 hours ago, TimLMT said:

he isn't doing that...

If you can make up scenarios, then so can I.  

On 12/3/2025 at 12:20 PM, Jaggg88 said:

This was actually mentioned in the recent announcement. They are after people doing back-to-back VE via border bounces

 

I read somewhere that someone was stopped returning from China. Correct me, if I'm wrong, but China doesn't have a border with Thailand, and neither does Vietnam... 😆 - Wonder, what would happen, if I travelled for a few days to the other end of the world. Would that also be seen as a 'border bounce'?

On 12/5/2025 at 2:09 PM, StayinThailand2much said:

 

I read somewhere that someone was stopped returning from China. Correct me, if I'm wrong, but China doesn't have a border with Thailand, and neither does Vietnam... 😆 - Wonder, what would happen, if I travelled for a few days to the other end of the world. Would that also be seen as a 'border bounce'?

If you had a history of staying long-term in Thailand using visa-exempt entries, then yes, it would be considered a border bounce. As the minister said, people are not even returning to their own countries