Good news for holders of UK, USA, Japan, Germany, France, Canada and Italy

[KhunBENQ]

I crossed the border at Mae Sai on March 7th and came straight back. No angry faces, no comments of any kind and a 30-day stamp. I'll be doing it again on April 5th so can report what happens again if anybody wants to know.

You are welcome to do so!

[blackion]

Here is the source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-clampdown-coming-on-multiple-tourist-visa-runs-45216.php.

And, I can certainly confirm that 30 days is in effect. I have both seen the notice posted in banner size letters in front of Thai immigration and I was stampted 30 days in my passport too, might be by mistake or some unknown inner instructions, (I'm from Israel, not G7).

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I would like to point out, that according to: "Now, however, Immigration has announced that anyone arriving in Thailand across a land border will receive only 15 days. This will not apply to the first arrival in Thailand, whether by land or air, but will apply for subsequent arrivals by road or rail."

first time arrivals from all visa-exempt countries will receive 30 days.

It is not clear however how 'first time entry' will be perceived: per life, per passport, etc. But it's safe to assume that it will be per passport.

When and where was this "announcement" made ?

Or is this just another example of misinformation ?

[thepool]

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Here is the source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-clampdown-coming-on-multiple-tourist-visa-runs-45216.php.

And, I can certainly confirm that 30 days is in effect. I have both seen the notice posted in banner size letters in front of Thai immigration and I was stampted 30 days in my passport too, might be by mistake or some unknown inner instructions, (I'm from Israel, not G7).

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

I would like to point out, that according to: "Now, however, Immigration has announced that anyone arriving in Thailand across a land border will receive only 15 days. This will not apply to the first arrival in Thailand, whether by land or air, but will apply for subsequent arrivals by road or rail."

first time arrivals from all visa-exempt countries will receive 30 days.

It is not clear however how 'first time entry' will be perceived: per life, per passport, etc. But it's safe to assume that it will be per passport.

When and where was this "announcement" made ?

Or is this just another example of misinformation ?

What are you reporting ?

We know the 30 days is in effect for G7 passport holders crossing a land border into Thailand.

That newspaper "report" is pure speculation and should be disregarded as it is seriously flawed and contains a number of errors

Edited March 28, 2014 by thepool

[inthepink]

I crossed the border at Mae Sai on March 7th and came straight back. No angry faces, no comments of any kind and a 30-day stamp. I'll be doing it again on April 5th so can report what happens again if anybody wants to know.

You are welcome to do so!

Crossed on Saturday (5th April), same procedure, no comments from immigration but they did write a 2 in a circle next to my visa exempt stamp when I returned. Not a problem for me as I'm not going on another border run but I assume if I did, it would be the last time I could do it at Mae Sai.

[KhunBENQ]

A mate did a border run last week in Nong Khai.

He told me, that at the immigration checkpoint there is a signboard describing the "G7" rule.

"Did you take a picture?" -> "No"

(although we had talked about the topic before he left to Nong Khai)

Edited April 7, 2014 by KhunBENQ

[hawker9000]

So I guess the suggestion is that with one hand Thailand "gives" (30d instead of the old 15d, at land border crossings), but with the other takes away (the number of back-to-back visa exempt entries that will be permitted at these crossings).

It would be useful to know (1) what the limit actually is, and (2) whether that limit, if it actually exists, applies to just ONE crossing, or to back-to-back entries generally, no matter whether the same crossing or different ones are used.

Edited April 7, 2014 by hawker9000

[Maestro]

No numeric limit actually exists. The undefined limit is reached when you come under suspicion that you might not be using the visits to Thailand for the purpose of tourism but instead to work illegally in the country. The closest thing to an official announcement is this notice that some Thai consulates put up in their offices:

[ubonjoe]

At some crossings it is limited to 3 or 4 visa exempt entries. Others may have no limits. The ones that limit them will put the number of entries on each entry stamp and warn you when you have reached the limit.

It is best to get a tourist visa rather than worrying about reaching the limit.

[PREM-R]

I entered Thailand at Nong Khai yesterday (8th April) with a UK citizen who had 3, back to back, 30 day entry without visa stamps, he was given a further 30 day stamp without comment and without any numbering of the entries in his passport.

[lemonjelly]

11th April, Chiang Rai night market; Immigration officials handing out leaflets stating that G7 get 15 days now, would post a pic of the leaflet but I biinned it.... I'll see if I can get another tomorrow night.

Edited April 17, 2014 by lemonjelly

[ukrules]

11th April, Chiang Rai night market; Immigration officials handing out leaflets stating that G7 get 15 days now, would post a pic of the leaflet but I biinned it.... I'll see if I can get another tomorrow night.

This is an interesting development, are you sure they were immigration officials ? Were they in uniform ?

The whole tourist visa thing is annoying.

I don't come to Thailand as a tourist, I come here because I live here but the only option for me is tourist visas and due to my age I can't get a retirement visa yet.

[paz]

I think that there has been an internal battle within the relevant gov.t departments, the 30-days proponents have lost and things will go now in the direction that the Phuket Immigration had indicated. Of course you can say that is "unfounded rumors" now, but please when the new regulation will be in effect come back here to say your was "unfounded incredulity".

Edited April 17, 2014 by paz

[thepool]

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11th April, Chiang Rai night market; Immigration officials handing out leaflets stating that G7 get 15 days now, would post a pic of the leaflet but I biinned it.... I'll see if I can get another tomorrow night.

Good idea !

Obtain a leaflet and post it !

This would be a "first" for the immigration service!

Announcing a major change of National policy , in a small , unimportant, night market by means of leafleting !

[enuff said]

.

They are prolly adverts for a visa service.

~

[hawker9000]

At some crossings it is limited to 3 or 4 visa exempt entries. Others may have no limits. The ones that limit them will put the number of entries on each entry stamp and warn you when you have reached the limit.

It is best to get a tourist visa rather than worrying about reaching the limit.

Tourist visas have their limits, too, and seem to have become steadily more problematic:

1) Last fall in the states the honoraries were saying you couldn't mail in your applications anymore;

2) Triple entries seem to have gone away;

3) Shorter validity windows;

4) Require at least an overnight wherever you go to get them.

All these things can usually be planned around for sure (and all the usual thai "variance" continues to exist), but being able to get a 30d exempt stamp at a land border crossing kind of changed the calculus. If it goes back to 15d, that'll tip the scales yet again. The return to 15d seems like an odd thing to do when tourism, and the economy generally, is down.

[paz]

The return to 15d seems like an odd thing to do when tourism, and the economy generally, is down.

Not in Thailand. Tourism is steadily increasing every years, and economy has, maybe, grown less, but still growing.

http://www.tatnews.org/thailand-welcomed-26-7-million-visitor-arrivals-in-2013-exceeding-target/

Thailand is clearly in the position to do whatever they want on the subject, without being affected economically.

[riclag]

I gave it effort to go through this topic(8) pages but haven't seen anything related to answering several questions.

I'm American my triple entry visa with all the extensions date to leave is May 10.

I usually to my boarder runs to Thakhek,Lao.

I plan on going there for my 30 day visa exempt and enter Thailand and fly back to the states June 8 .

Does this sound correct?

Is there a Thai visa exempt fee?

Has anybody done consecutive 30 day visa exempt boarder runs from Thailand to Thakhek trouble free?

I might ask more questions as I go

Edited April 19, 2014 by riclag

[ubonjoe]

No problem to get a 30 day visa exempt entry there. There is no fee for it anywhere.

[canadian90]

I'm a Canadian who will be crossing into Thailand overland from Cambodia (Siem Reap) on the 26 or 27th of June. Lemonjelly's post about the leaflets and the reversion to the 15 day overland visa for the G7 countries has me concerned since I am planning to stay for 21 days. Are the G7 rule signs still up?

Has there been any further news about the switch back to 15 days? Or will I still get 30?

Edited May 15, 2014 by canadian90

[ubonjoe]

I have not heard or read of any changes. You will get 30 days.

[canadian90]

I have not heard or read of any changes. You will get 30 days.

Thanks ubonjoe - much appreciated. And if anyone else has any recent experiences (either positive or negative) I'd be grateful to hear those as well.

[oldsailor35]

I was at the two Ranong border offices on monday. They told me there are no problems with 30 day tourist entry visa and if i wanted i could get one. However i was just doing a border visa run with my non imm O.

[wondercul]

Is it 15 days or 30 days for UK passport holders as of now 2016?

[ldiablo]

Is it 15 days or 30 days for UK passport holders as of now 2016?

I thought it was more good news for us Canadians but just someone posting on a very old topic.

It's still 30 days for UK passport holders

[Eclipse]

30 Days for Brits.

[wondercul]

30 Days for Brits.

And the rest of the g7 countries also still 30 days?

[ubonjoe]

30 Days for Brits.

And the rest of the g7 countries also still 30 days?

Yes

See the remarks at the bottom of this MFA info dated February 10th of this year. http://www.consular.go.th/main/th/customize/62281-Summary-of-Countries-and-Territories-entitled-for.html

[wondercul]

It must have been hurting tourism giving only 15 days.

Evidently it seems broken logic to exclude the smaller wealthy countries from the 30 day deal though.

Edited March 31, 2016 by wondercul

[gk10002000]

It was a crazy attempt in my opinion to induce people to fly out and in versus doing a land crossing run or to make people have to do more land border runs every 15 days which would put a little more money in the land crossing visa companies. In the past I had done an occasional land crossing and I was there when the G7 rule came out putting the 15 day back to the previous 30 day. I made a land run to Cambodia, had lunch in the casino and went back to Thailand for another 30 days.