Overstay fine for children ?

[Pietr S]

My children visit Thailand every year for the long summer holidays. Last year they were here for just over 5 weeks and when leaving my wife (she is Thai) had to pay the overstay charges. They were 5 years old then. They were travelling on their British passports.

I have just read here that children under 7 are exempt from paying the overstay fine. We are currently here in Thailand, again for just over 5 weeks and I'd like to avoid the overstay charge for the children this time (they are now 6 years old). I was wondering if someone can direct me to an official document in Thai language that says they won't be charged for overstaying, which I can then print for my wife in case she is asked to pay it again.

Thanks
PS

[samran]

Having seen numerous threads on this, it appears that not charging overstay for children is purely at the discretion of immigration and not set in stone written policy. Meaning, for the most part children are exempted from paying it, but there is nothing in the offical rules which say this.

The only real options for you if you want to avoid it are:

- get 60 tourist visa's for the children

- get the children Thai passports for which they are entitled.

[lopburi3]

Actually it is policy not to impose fine for those under the age of 15 and that policy is normally posted at exit points. Do not believe it is a law but only policy but have never seen any report of payment being required so would ask where wife departed from and who exactly did she make payment and did she obtain a receipt for that payment (if you know)?

[Pietr S]

Actually it is policy not to impose fine for those under the age of 15 and that policy is normally posted at exit points. Do not believe it is a law but only policy but have never seen any report of payment being required so would ask where wife departed from and who exactly did she make payment and did she obtain a receipt for that payment (if you know)?

It was at Suvarnabhumi Airport.

After checking the details with my wife, there is more to the story. When leaving through immigration she was told she had to pay the fine there and then. She called her brother-in-law who is a policeman and had just dropped them off at the airport. He came back in, took the children and they went through with him and met up with my wife on the other side, somehow having avoided paying the fine.

[lopburi3]

I suspect your wife was told she had to report to the overstay desk and pay fine - but if she want there no fine would have been collected but only a stamp placed in passport. This happens to many every day so any change in policy should be reported here quickly.

[Pietr S]

I suspect your wife was told she had to report to the overstay desk and pay fine - but if she want there no fine would have been collected but only a stamp placed in passport. This happens to many every day so any change in policy should be reported here quickly.

That sounds possible.

Where is this policy written down ? Is there a link ?

[lopburi3]

As I posted it is normally displayed at exit points on the wall as it is not a written regulation AFAIK. It is policy. Below Tourism Authority of Thailand provieds:

The penalty for overstaying your visa is typically 500B per day, with a 20,000B limit. Fines can be paid upon departure at the airport. If you've only overstayed one day, you may not have to pay any fine or you may have to pay 1,000 baht, depending on the current regulations. Children less than 14 years old who are traveling with a parent or guardian are not required to pay any fines for overstays.

http://www.tourismthailand.org/travelers-essentials/detail/834/0

[mrbojangles]

My Daughter is 5 and every year comes for the full summer holiday (circa 6-8 weeks). The wife just has to go to the overstay desk and get a stamp (sometimes they haven't even bothered doing that) and we haven't ever paid a fine. The daughter also has her Thai birth cert but as of yet, we haven't bothered getting her a Thai passport.

[Wat dee]

Children under 15 are not fined.

[bkk_mike]

My daughter entered once on her British passport (because her Thai passport had expired at the time)

The next time she left the country was almost a year later, and I made a point of telling her to use her UK passport when leaving so that she'd end the overstay while she was still a child.

They did take her to the overstay counter and were getting ready to ask for the maximum, until they saw the date of birth on her passport and realised she was 12. (She's taller than most adult Thai women, let alone Thai girls her own age).

[kyrre]

i went through imigration yesterday with my daughter 14 with 7 day overstay and they say that up to 15 wont get overstay fine, but 15 and up will. They only put some extra stamps in passport and departure slip.

I asked my wife to ask spesific about the age.

[Mario2008]

My daughter entered once on her British passport (because her Thai passport had expired at the time)

The next time she left the country was almost a year later, and I made a point of telling her to use her UK passport when leaving so that she'd end the overstay while she was still a child.

They did take her to the overstay counter and were getting ready to ask for the maximum, until they saw the date of birth on her passport and realised she was 12. (She's taller than most adult Thai women, let alone Thai girls her own age).

No problem entering Thailand on an expired Thai passport. But would have to get a new Thai passport before leaving, as that is not allowed on an expired Thai passport.

[GirlDrinkDrunk]

She called her brother-in-law who is a policeman and had just dropped them off at the airport. He came back in, took the children and they went through with him and met up with my wife on the other side, somehow having avoided paying the fine.

and why dos corruption thrive, because any thai who knows anyone at all gets on the phone very time they have an issue.

having your policeman brother in law walk you through immigration. truly ridiculous.

[Confuscious]

I had the same problem a few years ago with my child.
Lucky for me, I explained the first time (5 years old) and they dropped the fine.

The next year, I went a few days before she left the country to Immigration and they stamped her passport.

No question was asked at the airport.

Every official in Thailand has his own rules.

Just depend on which leg he/she got out of bed.