Friends,

Most of us get the 30-day 'visa exemption' stamp when we fly into LOS without a visa. I havent had to bother with a Tourist Visa since 2010, and back then I was given to understand that 'two visa exemptions in a 90-day period and you need a Visa (Tourist or long-stay) to get back into the country'. Subsequent 2-week millionaire trips havent been within the 90-day limit and I've had no issues with Immigration.

I was informed in another thread recently that said rule was no longer in effect, leading me to wonder why Thai Immigration would (reportedly) make it harder to get a Tourist Visa if all people had to do now was simply fly out of the country and come back a couple of days later to get another 30-days in country. Still - TiT and mine is not to question why

Given that I'll be living in Penang and flying into Thailand on a regular basis from April, I would appreciate an update re. the situation with the visa exemption - it's very easy for me to get a Tourist Visa in Penang, but they take up a full page in my passport. Any advice greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance,

MrWW

Edited January 14, 201412 yr by MrWorldwide

There has been no limit on visa exempt entries for over 5 years now. This was done when the 15 days at the border rule came into effect.

If you are from one of the G7 countries you now can get 30 days at a border crossing.

Just bear in mind, though, that, should you show up for a flight to Thailand without a return or onward flight booking out of Thailand within 30 days, you may be denied boarding. A tourist visa should avoid this possibility.

Edited January 14, 201412 yr by OJAS

Why a tourist visa?

Because it means:

• No "onward ticket" check by the airlines when coming to Thailand.
• You get a 60 day entry stamp, not only a 30 day entry stamp
• That 60 day entry can be extended in Thailand for another 30 days by paying a 1900 Baht fee at your local immigration.
• If you do the math, even with the cost of the initial visa, it cab be less hassle and sometime cost, to enter Thailand for 3 months on a 3 month tourist visa than without the cost and hassle of going across the border every 30 days (by air) or 15 days (by land entry).

But, it's your choice, do as you want.

Just bear in mind, though, that, should you show up for a flight to Thailand without a return or onward flight booking out of Thailand within 30 days, you may be denied boarding. A tourist visa should avoid this possibility.

Not a problem in my case - no shortage of cheap seats on Air Asia flights between BKK and Penang. I could even fly to Phuket from Penang if I was feeling sufficiently motivated to do so. That said, I have never been asked for evidence of an onward flight anywhere in Asia - the only place that happens to me is in Oz, and they always look teed off when I show them I've booked a cheaper flight with another carrier. The budget airlines have made certain routes - particularly flying into Perth - insanely cheap compared to the choices we had in the bad old days.