Long Term Visitor from Another ASEAN Country

[Lieberdavid]

Hello Everybody,

I hope some people here can tell me what the current situation is regarding an expected visit from a friend, a Filipino, who may be coming here shortly. He would like to stay in Thailand for several months before returning home.

As I recall, several years ago, such a person would get a 30 day permission to stay upon arrival, and this could be renewed for another 30 days by doing a "visa run". Theoretically, a visa run could be done, what, only 3 times? But as I have gathered that restriction to 3 renewals is/was not usually enforced. Am I mistaken on that? The other question is that I have heard lately that one gets only a 15 day extension now at a land border crossing, not 30 days as before. Is this true? If it is true, is it normally enforced?

My friend will be staying in Chiang Mai, and it is quite a long ride to a border. It is doable once a month, but something of a real pain if it has to be done every two weeks.

Anybody here have some information that might be helpful?

Many thanks.

David

[ubonjoe]

He will only get 15 days doing border runs. Only those from the G7 countries or that have bilateral agreements get 30 days a border crossing. The crossing in Maie Sai limits the number of entries to 4.

The best option would be to get a tourist visa before traveling. A single entry visa would give an entry of 60 days that could be extended for 30 days.

If not then a tourist visa from Vientiane or any other nearby embassy or consulate.

[Lieberdavid]

Ubonjoe,

Thanks for your reply. Here's some follow up.

Let's suppose he gets a tourist 60 day visa in the Philippines before he arrives. When he arrives will he need to have an onward plane ticket?

What happens after the 90 days? Can he go to Vientiane and get another tourist visa?

Or can he come here without a visa, then before his 30 days runs out, go to Vientiane and get a 60 day tourist visa?

I get the general ideas here, but the details are not quite clear.

Thanks for your help.

Cheers!

David

[ubonjoe]

If he has a tourist visa he will not need a return or onward ticket when checking in for his flight. If he does not have a visa he will need a onward ticket within 30 days of his arrival.

If he does not a get tourist visa before traveling he could get a tourist visa in Vientiane or if he does get one before traveling then he could get another one there.

[Lieberdavid]

Thanks for your help, Ubonjoe. Much appreciated.