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Will I get problems when entering Thailand by plane next time?

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Hi,

 

I’ve been coming to Thailand for a long time and lived there for several years in the past. Recently I’ve become a bit paranoid after reading multiple reports about people being refused entry, questioned for hours, etc.

 

To keep it short and factual:

 

• I worked and lived in Thailand for several years in the past
• I always held a proper work permit + visa
• I never stayed more than 180 days per year
• I flew in and out regularly

 

Around 15 months ago I ended my work and work permit in Thailand and moved my business back to Europe.

In 2025, I visited Thailand exactly four times on Visa Exemption (60-day stamp each time):

• Mid-January: stayed 35 days
• End of April: stayed 38 days
• Mid-August: stayed 41 days
• End of October: stayed 28 days

 

Total time spent in Thailand in 2025: 144 days

 

I have never overstayed, never extended, and have never been questioned by immigration.

Now I’m planning to return mid-January for another 30–40 days max.

Based on experience and actual practice (not theory):
Is this travel pattern realistically likely to cause issues at entry now?

 

I’m specifically looking for insights from people with similar histories.
Please no generic replies like “laws can change anytime” or “it depends on the officer” — I’m aware of that already.

Thanks in advance.

  • Popular Post

While you spend quite a, bit of time in total in Thailand.... the fact is you have gaps between visits. Also you don't max out the 60 days and obtain 30 day extensions. 

Cannot imagine immigration having an issue your next entry. 

Clearly your a tourist. 

 

Small concern is that previously you had a Non O. Immigration might suggest a Non O + multi reentry permit is better option

  • Author
  • Popular Post
8 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

Work it out

Screenshot_2025-12-23-12-49-35-005_com.facebook.katana~2.jpg

 

That screenshot refers to land-border rules and has been misinterpreted countless times, beside it's even not from an official source.

There is no current official regulation limiting Visa Exemption entries by air to two per calendar year.

Unless there’s an official Immigration source backing this up, it doesn’t really answer my question. But thanks for the reply 🙂

 

You should not have a problem and will be allowed in (2026 is a new year).

There is however a chance you will be questioned and asked to provide proof that you abide by the minimum requirements to be allowed in on a visa excempt entry, so make sure you are prepared:

  • Be able to show the equivalent of 20,000 Baht, prefereably in cash (Baht or foreign equivalent), best not to trust good internet and being able to log into internetbanking. CAsh is easy to show on the spot.
  • Have a confirmed outward ticket within 60 days of your arrival (again, best be prepared and print out).
  • Have a confirmed booking of hotel, o some sort of proof of where you'll be staying.

If you have i's dotted and the t's crossed, you will be allowed in.

 

This said, if you expect 2026 to be a repeat of last year, I would just get on with it and apply for a visa. The process is fairly easy nowadays, no visits to embassies or consulates needed, just a little extra expense for the E-visa and the peace of mind that comes with it.

Which one to go with would depend on your personal circumstances, but tourist visa has virtually no requirements, apart from the ones you need anyway to get in on visa excempt!

You seem to be the perfect tourist, and most welcome.  Not abusing to stay long term.  ENJOY

2 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, assume you are 50+ ..... have you even considered the Non O retirement + annual extensions + multi reentry permit. 

 

I understand that tying up money in a Thai bank is an issue. 

With a bit of extra paperwork (police clearance in home country, health insurance, ...) a Non O-A (multiple) can be applied for, and then only need to show funds in homecountry, no need to move it into Thailand and lock it up...You do need to have equivalent of 800,000 Thai Baht in your european home bank!

 

It's not the best of times to move big chunks of cash with the current strength of the Thai Baht!

 

Once you have one of those, you do as many trips as you want in one year!

As far I have understood from both agents and IO's they simplified everything by simply looking at the calendar year from now on.

So basically they flag anything above 150 days in the calendar year, as well just 1x 30 days extension if <150 days in the year and otherwise 7 days max. The safe entry already started to ask about people their specific history within the calendar year too.

 

Just wonder how long it will last, I doubt long as tourism numbers keep going down too. Ping pong as usual is my best bet, I would try to use the safe entry if possible, as long it remains unclear. Or else a land border if entering in 2026 fresh (but no 30 day extension on that at all).

 

They even enforce this new rules so far in places like Phangan so that means they are pretty serious about it if it comes to those extensions.

Oh yes, and reducing the visa excempt back to 30 days is also once more talked about.

 

As usual with Thailand, might happen tomorrow, might not happen at all and stay at 60! Not the first time it is talked about without it actually happening.

 

But could end up being a pain in the behind if it does happens, a few days before you fly out (as I am sure Murphy would time it), and you were planning on staying more then 30 days...

5 minutes ago, pdebuck456 said:

Oh yes, and reducing the visa excempt back to 30 days is also once more talked about.

 

As usual with Thailand, might happen tomorrow, might not happen at all and stay at 60! Not the first time it is talked about.

 

But could end up being a pain in the behind if it does happens, a few days before you fly out (as I am sure Murphy would time it).

Doubt the 60 days change as they effectively changed it by doing the max 1x 30 days extension now instead. If they did that on top it would be the last nail in the coffin for real. Vietnam is already 20-30% cheaper by FX rates alone, people could double rent a house and be better off.

Not sure what Thailand has against lower long-term staying spenders to begin with as they do want dozens of millions extra tourists, who over the past few years fit around the same spendings as a long-term lower budget spender spends. While the ratio is 1 long stayer for 5-10 of those to earn the same. 

 

Sure you casually see a few lost foreigners or homeless ones in BKK but nobody usually stays here if being absolute broke too.

9 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Doubt the 60 days change as they effectively changed it by doing the max 1x 30 days extension now instead. If they did that on top it would be the last nail in the coffin for real.

I'm kind of confused about that nail/coffin thing.

 

The rules are pretty clear, and there are lots and lots of people simply abusing the system.

 

Long term stay, get proper visa.

Short term stay (actual tourism), visa excempt.

Medium term stay tourism, get tourist visa (up to 90 days with extension after 60 days, or get multiple entry tourist visa for even longer).

 

For a lot of nationalities getting a visa takes little time/effort, not even having to come out of your chair for it (E-visa).

 

Yes, tourism is not doing good, but that was with up to recently very liberal visa exempt entry rules, the current lull has none to very little to do with visa's.

 

The best booming years in Thai tourism was when visa rules were way stricter (90's, with only 15 days visa excempt)!!!

2 minutes ago, pdebuck456 said:

I'm kind of confused about that nail/coffin thing.

 

The rules are pretty clear, and there are lots and lots of people simply abusing the system.

 

Long term stay, get proper visa.

Short term stay (actual tourism), visa excempt.

Medium term stay tourism, get tourist visa (up to 90 days with extension after 30, or get multiple entry tourist visa for even longer).

 

For a lot of nationalities getting a visa takes little time, not even having to come out of your chair for it (E-visa).

 

Yes, tourism is not doing good, but that was with up to recently with very liberal visa exempt entry rules, the current lull has none to very little to do with visa's.

 

The best booming years in Thai tourism was when visa rules were way stricter!!!

Same horse sht that some people keep repeating, far from reality is what the facts and truth are. This also is why it is all going backwards since years, and it only gets worse by this. To expect people to have 500,000 baht as a startup 18-20-25 year old in 2025 in order to get a digital nomad visa is just as delusional, if having that money it would be tied up logically as cashflow inside the actual business itself to begin with. 76% of westerners barely has a 1/5th of that, at that age, in cash savings. Meanwhile this same group spends the same or more as retirees.

2 minutes ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Same horse sht that some people keep repeating, far from reality is what the facts and truth are. This also is why it is all going backwards since years, and it only gets worse by this. To expect people to have 500,000 baht as a startup 18-20-25 year old in 2025 in order to get a digital nomad visa is just as delusional, if having that money it would be tied up logically as cashflow inside the actual business itself to begin with. 76% of westerners barely has a 1/5th of that, at that age, in cash savings.

Last one on this as we are digressing...

 

Yet heaps and heaps on the DTV visa! And I am sorry, not having a back-up plan worth a few 100k Thai Baht, Thailand is not the place for you...Be smart, save up and then come over here.

21 minutes ago, pdebuck456 said:

Once you have one of those, you do as many trips as you want in one year!

The biggest Con on the Non O-A is the insurance. Pain IMO. 

Note the 800k only needs, to be in bank for the the application. 

Also can obtain up to two years from one Non O-A

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

Work it out

Screenshot_2025-12-23-12-49-35-005_com.facebook.katana~2.jpg

 

That's disturbing to me since I just completed my 34th consecutive monthly entry via visa exempt.  That was last week.  I even flew into DMK this time.

1 minute ago, impulse said:

 

That's disturbing to me since I just completed my 34th consecutive monthly entry via visa exempt.  That was last week.  I even flew into DMK this time.

Surprising you haven't been pulled up, it could be you

For what it's worth, I think you will be fine, as your pattern of visits is clearly "touristy".

4 hours ago, pdebuck456 said:

You should not have a problem and will be allowed in (2026 is a new year).

There is however a chance you will be questioned and asked to provide proof that you abide by the minimum requirements to be allowed in on a visa excempt entry, so make sure you are prepared:

  • Be able to show the equivalent of 20,000 Baht, prefereably in cash (Baht or foreign equivalent), best not to trust good internet and being able to log into internetbanking. CAsh is easy to show on the spot.
  • Have a confirmed outward ticket within 60 days of your arrival (again, best be prepared and print out).
  • Have a confirmed booking of hotel, o some sort of proof of where you'll be staying.

If you have i's dotted and the t's crossed, you will be allowed in.

 

This said, if you expect 2026 to be a repeat of last year, I would just get on with it and apply for a visa. The process is fairly easy nowadays, no visits to embassies or consulates needed, just a little extra expense for the E-visa and the peace of mind that comes with it.

Which one to go with would depend on your personal circumstances, but tourist visa has virtually no requirements, apart from the ones you need anyway to get in on visa excempt!

 

"Have a confirmed outward ticket within 60 days of your arrival (again, best be prepared and print out)."

 

Two screenshots from imm.thailand Visa Exemption advice/rules information reel on its Instagram page:

 

Screenshot2025-12-28at14-38-42IMMThailandonInstagramWhatYouMUSTPrepareBeforeEnteringThailandtoAvoidSituationsLiketheViralClipimmigrationthailandthailandt....png.8631f10baf5510d6a3ef1a01b1fe073d.png

 

Screenshot2025-12-28at14-39-34IMMThailandonInstagramWhatYouMUSTPrepareBeforeEnteringThailandtoAvoidSituationsLiketheViralClipimmigrationthailandthailandt....png.fc134bd01ebe43ed3060e094c9e80c78.png

 

 

 

Im sure some offshore workers soon will be able to tell their experience how this will work out for those who come and leaves while working abroad, if they need to make long term visas to continue as before. 

1 hour ago, Enoon said:

 

"Have a confirmed outward ticket within 60 days of your arrival (again, best be prepared and print out)."

 

Two screenshots from imm.thailand Visa Exemption advice/rules information reel on its Instagram page:

 

Screenshot2025-12-28at14-38-42IMMThailandonInstagramWhatYouMUSTPrepareBeforeEnteringThailandtoAvoidSituationsLiketheViralClipimmigrationthailandthailandt....png.8631f10baf5510d6a3ef1a01b1fe073d.png

 

Screenshot2025-12-28at14-39-34IMMThailandonInstagramWhatYouMUSTPrepareBeforeEnteringThailandtoAvoidSituationsLiketheViralClipimmigrationthailandthailandt....png.fc134bd01ebe43ed3060e094c9e80c78.png

 

 

 

This video had multiple things in it that aren't the way things actually work in Thailand.  The immigration officer can deny you entry for not having proof of onward travel within the number of days you will be stamped in for when you arrive.  An extension is not guaranteed, as can be seen from many people who have reported both a 7 day extension and being denied an extension altogether.

Use a safe entry agent if you feel like you may be denied entry.

 

4-5k baht but peace of mind. Out of the airport in 5 minutes as well.

 

Good luck

On 12/28/2025 at 10:11 AM, scubascuba3 said:

Work it out

Screenshot_2025-12-23-12-49-35-005_com.facebook.katana~2.jpg

At the beginning of this month, I asked a question about someone entering on a tourist visa, with whom I want to take a 5-day trip to Malaysia a week later, by car, then back to Thailand, and that person will then leave Thailand for 2 weeks, so everything within a period of 25 days.

I was told that I would need a T.M.8 form for this, including a payment of 1000 THB.

Now I see under “Notice To Tourists” that this is not necessary at all and that a tourist visa is sufficient.

Or am I overlooking something?

5 minutes ago, Peterphuket said:

At the beginning of this month, I asked a question about someone entering on a tourist visa, with whom I want to take a 5-day trip to Malaysia a week later, by car, then back to Thailand, and that person will then leave Thailand for 2 weeks, so everything within a period of 25 days.

I was told that I would need a T.M.8 form for this, including a payment of 1000 THB.

Now I see under “Notice To Tourists” that this is not necessary at all and that a tourist visa is sufficient.

Or am I overlooking something?

Nationality is a factor which you haven't mentioned, but usually can arrive on visa exempt (no need for tourist visa), then leave and get another visa exempt entry on return, per the rules above

Just now, scubascuba3 said:

Nationality is a factor which you haven't mentioned, but usually can arrive on visa exempt (no need gor tourist visa), then leave and get another visa exempt entry on return, per the rules above

The person is from the Netherlands.

20 minutes ago, Peterphuket said:

The person is from the Netherlands.

Fine then, 2 visa exempts per the rules above, no problem

I doubt you will have any issues. I have been doing the same for years, back and forth between Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. On the Thai side with 2 extensions(on VE) in 2025. Just got another one (Jan to Feb 26).

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