30 Day Tourist Visa Limitation

[adamski]

Before coming out to Thailand from the UK I spoke to the Thai Embassy and asked of there was a limit to the amount of 30 Day Tourist Visas you can get and they said no not at the moment. Does anyone know if this is still the case?

[true blue]

my mate who works on a 2 month on 2 month off basis in saudia, for at least the last 10 years that i rember, has always only ever got a tourist visa on arrival at los, then he does 1 air trip to vietnam/hong kong,or somewere,seems happy doing this????

[adamski]

Thanks for your reply. Yeah the Thai embassy were quite helpful and said there is no limit to the 30 day tourist Visa. I've been back to the UK twice in the last 12 months for a 3 month period and also spent time in Singapore and Cambodia. It has worked out fine up until now but have a fair few stamps in my passport now and each time I go and come back it becomes more of a concern if they will let me back in.

[beechguy]

Thanks for your reply. Yeah the Thai embassy were quite helpful and said there is no limit to the 30 day tourist Visa. I've been back to the UK twice in the last 12 months for a 3 month period and also spent time in Singapore and Cambodia. It has worked out fine up until now but have a fair few stamps in my passport now and each time I go and come back it becomes more of a concern if they will let me back in.

The 30 day entries aren't visas, they are visa "exempt entries" and there are no limits.

[TerryLH]

I suspect you don't actually have a visa. More likely you have a 'visa exempt' entry.

No limits on those at the moment.

[IsaanUSA]

I'm assuming we are talking about the entry stamp and not a proper visa.

I don't understand the problem with people trying to get tourist visas. There's a big thread this week about not being able to get them in Phnom Pehn. Why don't they just do the 30 day entry stamp and skip the visa? I thought you could only get a couple tourist visas per year before they put some big stamp in your passport saying you can't come back for awhile?

What am I missing here? Is it that the visa is more convenient for the people who want to "live" in Thailand since they don't have to fly out every month? Is it a cost issue?

So you're forced to take a vacation to another country once a month. What's the problem?

[TerryLH]

"I'm assuming we are talking about the entry stamp and not a proper visa."

That's correct. The OP and at least one other were calling a 'visa exempt entry' a visa.

"I don't understand the problem with people trying to get tourist visas."

It didn't sound like the OP had a problem getting a tourist visa. In fact, it didn't sound like he tried to get one. But, that wasn't the question.

[IsaanUSA]

"I don't understand the problem with people trying to get tourist visas."

It didn't sound like the OP had a problem getting a tourist visa. In fact, it didn't sound like he tried to get one. But, that wasn't the question.

Oh sorry, I meant in general. In general people on ThaiVisa complain all the time about getting tourist visas. Why not just do the entry stamp every month then?

[stoneyboy]

"I don't understand the problem with people trying to get tourist visas."

It didn't sound like the OP had a problem getting a tourist visa. In fact, it didn't sound like he tried to get one. But, that wasn't the question.

Oh sorry, I meant in general. In general people on ThaiVisa complain all the time about getting tourist visas. Why not just do the entry stamp every month then?

Why would anyone wanting to stay in Thailand for say 6 months leave the country every 30 days the cost and time would be horrendous,it's simply not a viable means to do it,I never have a problem obtaining a tourist visa any how.

[IsaanUSA]

Why would anyone wanting to stay in Thailand for say 6 months leave the country every 30 days the cost and time would be horrendous,it's simply not a viable means to do it,I never have a problem obtaining a tourist visa any how.

Cost and time? You're a tourist, you have all the time in the world. What's the hurry to pack 6 months of time in one location? Bangkok is an excellent hopping off point to visit Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, etc. As for cost, I found Cambodia and Vietnam to be cheaper than Bangkok but about the same price as upcountry.

[stoneyboy]

Why would anyone wanting to stay in Thailand for say 6 months leave the country every 30 days the cost and time would be horrendous,it's simply not a viable means to do it,I never have a problem obtaining a tourist visa any how.

Cost and time? You're a tourist, you have all the time in the world. What's the hurry to pack 6 months of time in one location? Bangkok is an excellent hopping off point to visit Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, etc. As for cost, I found Cambodia and Vietnam to be cheaper than Bangkok but about the same price as upcountry.

Believe it or not,some people who travel to Thailand on tourist visas do so not for tourism but for the purpose of living there for extended periods due to having homes and families but not meeting or wanting to use other visa methods.

The same can be said for education visas,many people use them also I've met these people first hand.

[IsaanUSA]

I see. Thanks for that explanation.

[adamski]

Ahh I see I didn't realize that the 30 day on arrival stamp was an exempt entry Visa. I have only one multiple entry (full page) Thai tourist Visa in my passport, which was at the beginning of last year. Thanks for explaining this. It is an expense but you do get to travel and see lots of different places for a short time each month, which was the whole point about coming to Asia.