Hello,

I am 28 and traveling on tourist visas.

I have just come back to Bangkok after going to Singapore for 3 days to get another tourist visa. However, this time, the immigration officer asked unusally many question about how long I plan on staying, where I travel next and when i go back home.

This time it's my 3rd 30-day-visa within 180 days. I couldn't find any information about this restriction on the german gov website regarding thai travel information and at my latest visit at the Thai immigration office, the lady told me that I can come as often as I want with the tourist visa (although I am unsure of how much she understood my concern).

So, is it true that you can only get 3 30-day tourist visa as a german within 180 days? And if so, is there a way around this rule? Do I need to get a real visa from a different country before coming to Thailand?

Thanks

Rolf

You do not have had tourist visa. You have used visa exempt entries.

Since now there are restriction on these, you should get a tourist visa from a nearby country. e.g Laos for a dual-entry visa.

It's got nothing to do with your nationality - there has been a clampdown on visa-exempt entries in the last few weeks. How much longer do you intend to stay in Thailand?

It is not the number of visa exempt entries over a period of time it is how you have done them that would put them into the out/in category

An out/in is staying for the full 30 days and then going out with the sole intent of getting another 30 days. A look at your previous trips out and back would indicate that.

It's got nothing to do with your nationality - there has been a clampdown on visa-exempt entries in the last few weeks. How much longer do you intend to stay in Thailand?

Your nationality can make a huge difference in how long you can stay and how you are treated.

Edited July 24, 201411 yr by tropo

It's got nothing to do with your nationality - there has been a clampdown on visa-exempt entries in the last few weeks. How much longer do you intend to stay in Thailand?

Your nationality can make a huge difference in how long you can stay and how you are treated. Not in a German's case, but many countries cannot enter without a visa.

Yes, so as Pattszero said, it has nothing to do with his nationality. After all he is German, and as you said 'not in a German's case'.

Your contradicting here just because you want to contradict, not to clarify, expand or explain something.

Thanks for the answers so far.

First time I just flew to Singapore and came back the same day. The second time (this week), we flew to Singapore and stayed for 3 nights.

I intend to stay another 2-3 months as my thai girlfriend is just completing a german language course here in Bangkok.

I already pre-booked my flight to Singapore on the 19th of August and back on the same day for the next 30 day visa. But I am now worried that they might not let me in again.

Thanks!

I would get a tourist visa on your next trip to Singapore. That way you don't have to do any more trips to cover your two to three months and you can remain in Thailand for 60 days and this can be extened for another 30 days at immigration (1900 baht).

That makes sense. Finally, I also understood that there is a a difference between an actual tourist visa and the visa on arrivals that you get via stamp in.

And the restriction / the changes regarding the visa-run only regard the stamp-in visa?!?!

I'll probably go for the tourist visa solution and stay a few days longer in Sinagpore to apply for one.

Thanks for your help!

That makes sense. Finally, I also understood that there is a a difference between an actual tourist visa and the visa on arrivals that you get via stamp in.

And the restriction / the changes regarding the visa-run only regard the stamp-in visa?!?!

I'll probably go for the tourist visa solution and stay a few days longer in Sinagpore to apply for one.

Thanks for your help!

Again: what you have is called visa exempt entry, not visa on arrival.

The restrictions are what you can read in many threads. Singapore is not a good place to apply for a Tourist visa, Laos an Malaysia are better - double entry.

That makes sense. Finally, I also understood that there is a a difference between an actual tourist visa and the visa on arrivals that you get via stamp in.

And the restriction / the changes regarding the visa-run only regard the stamp-in visa?!?!

I'll probably go for the tourist visa solution and stay a few days longer in Sinagpore to apply for one.

Thanks for your help!

Again: what you have is called visa exempt entry, not visa on arrival.

The restrictions are what you can read in many threads. Singapore is not a good place to apply for a Tourist visa, Laos an Malaysia are better - double entry.

He intends to stay another 2-3 months and has already pre-booked his ticket. A single entry should be fine and he should be able to obtain these at Singers.

He intends to stay another 2-3 months and has already pre-booked his ticket. A single entry should be fine and he should be able to obtain these at Singers.

Problem is, OP booked same day flights out/in to Singapore, that is known to not be friendly or accommodating especially for non-residents. So he may as well look to go to another place with better options.

Getting a tourist visa will not guarantee entry in Thailand in this case. It will depend on the mood of the man/woman that has to stamp your passport. If he/she examines the previous stamps in your passport he/she can consider you as a "visa runner" and refuse entry.

The rules and how strict the rules will be applied are far from clear at the moment. It seems to differ from case to case.

He intends to stay another 2-3 months and has already pre-booked his ticket. A single entry should be fine and he should be able to obtain these at Singers.

Problem is, OP booked same day flights out/in to Singapore, that is known to not be friendly or accommodating especially for non-residents. So he may as well look to go to another place with better options.

True, however, since he didn't actually started his journey yet, he might be able to change the second leg with minimum or no fee, depending on the airline.

Edited July 24, 201411 yr by sjaak327

That's a real nasty situation with the upcoming changes in visa rules...

Today, at DMK the immigration officer was already looking very sceptical at my thai stamps I had previously and passed my passport down the line to her colleagues who were counting my stamps. Then they started asking questions like how long i'll be staying, where I go next and when I go back home.

Will be an interesting arrival next time in 4 weeks. I guess visiting the immigration office at BKK or DMK airport wont bring much clarification either as how to approach this situation...

That's a real nasty situation with the upcoming changes in visa rules...

Today, at DMK the immigration officer was already looking very sceptical at my thai stamps I had previously and passed my passport down the line to her colleagues who were counting my stamps. Then they started asking questions like how long i'll be staying, where I go next and when I go back home.

Will be an interesting arrival next time in 4 weeks. I guess visiting the immigration office at BKK or DMK airport wont bring much clarification either as how to approach this situation...

As mentioned before already: You need to come back with a tourist visa. There's nothing "nasty" in that.

I agree, I think you stand a better chance with a stamped tourist visa as opposed to trying to go in on visa exempt. In any case, make sure you can provide them with a confirmed air booking out of the country within 30 or 60 days depending on which route you take.

As it stands now, even that tourist visa is not a guarantee you'll be admitted but having proof of onward travel might tip the scales.

I agree, I think you stand a better chance with a stamped tourist visa as opposed to trying to go in on visa exempt. In any case, make sure you can provide them with a confirmed air booking out of the country within 30 or 60 days depending on which route you take.

As it stands now, even that tourist visa is not a guarantee you'll be admitted but having proof of onward travel might tip the scales.

There are no problems coming to Thailand with a Tourist visa.

I agree, I think you stand a better chance with a stamped tourist visa as opposed to trying to go in on visa exempt. In any case, make sure you can provide them with a confirmed air booking out of the country within 30 or 60 days depending on which route you take.

As it stands now, even that tourist visa is not a guarantee you'll be admitted but having proof of onward travel might tip the scales.

There are no problems coming to Thailand with a Tourist visa.

There is one thread right on here that claims otherwise. Not saying this will apply to this case of course.

Within the past 5 months, where I have lived here in Bkk, I've gotten one tourist visa (Laos) and 2 30-days exempt stamps. When I arrived here last time to get the second stamp, I had not problems getting in, everything seemed normal. I entered through Don Muang Airport.

So, get a tourist visa from Laos with some visa company. I think the likelihood they will not let you in with such visa, will be small.

Good luck!

PS: Sh** rules!! ...sorry...

There is one thread right on here that claims otherwise. Not saying this will apply to this case of course.

Related to repeated visa runner, suspected of working illegally, at land borders in the South. That was days ago already and was not reiterated, no current reports.

People that have a visa has problems.

A friend recently left Thailand at Suvanabhumi, they have been going thru his passport for a long time, mentioning his many visa exemption stamps, asking what he does here, where he stays when in Thailand and a few more questions.

Actually he is not a visa runner at all, he is a Tourist coming here 2 or 3 times a year for 2 to 3 weeks each time for many years already.

Strange things going on here these days. I really wonder what kind of people they want here

A friend recently left Thailand at Suvanabhumi, they have been going thru his passport for a long time, mentioning his many visa exemption stamps, asking what he does here, where he stays when in Thailand and a few more questions.

And that when leaving? Either your friend is a very interesting type, or the officer was very, very bored.

A friend recently left Thailand at Suvanabhumi, they have been going thru his passport for a long time, mentioning his many visa exemption stamps, asking what he does here, where he stays when in Thailand and a few more questions.

And that when leaving? Either your friend is a very interesting type, or the officer was very, very bored.

Don't think that is strange at all, he was checking to make sure he is a tourist.

If he had deemed him to not be a tourist he might have warned him of problems getting back in.

Thanks for all the advice.

I will go for the tourst visa option in Singapore and will bring as much documentation with me when I get back in to thailand (bank statement, booked flight back to Germany for in 2/3 months and so on)....

It's got nothing to do with your nationality - there has been a clampdown on visa-exempt entries in the last few weeks. How much longer do you intend to stay in Thailand?

Your nationality can make a huge difference in how long you can stay and how you are treated. Not in a German's case, but many countries cannot enter without a visa.

Yes, so as Pattszero said, it has nothing to do with his nationality. After all he is German, and as you said 'not in a German's case'.

Your contradicting here just because you want to contradict, not to clarify, expand or explain something.

No so - unlike you, I attempted to make a useful comment here,

I made the statement because it is important to realize that nationalities are not all treated equal at arrival desks in Thailand.

I realize the OP is German, but people from all around the world read these threads.

The statement Pattszero made could easily mislead people.

Edited July 25, 201411 yr by tropo

It's got nothing to do with your nationality - there has been a clampdown on visa-exempt entries in the last few weeks. How much longer do you intend to stay in Thailand?

Your nationality can make a huge difference in how long you can stay and how you are treated. Not in a German's case, but many countries cannot enter without a visa.

Yes, so as Pattszero said, it has nothing to do with his nationality. After all he is German, and as you said 'not in a German's case'.

Your contradicting here just because you want to contradict, not to clarify, expand or explain something.

No so - unlike you, I attempted to make a useful comment here,

I made the statement because it is important to realize that nationalities are not all treated equal at arrival desks in Thailand.

I realize the OP is German, but people from all around the world read these threads.

The statement Pattszero made could easily mislead people.

Can you tell me which nationality has been excused from the recent visa-exempt crackdown?

Any way you read it, my post was accurate.

Can you tell me which nationality has been excused from the recent visa-exempt crackdown?

Any way you read it, my post was accurate.

Nationalities which require VOA, or pre-arrival visas.

Were did I mention that anyone was excused? I merely mentioned that not all nationalities are treated equally and they will be tougher on some than others. Without going into details, I've already run into trouble listening to people like you on here who think all are treated equally.

Now, please give it up. I didn't post here to get into silly arguments.

Nationalities which require VOA, or pre-arrival visas.

Were did I mention that anyone was excused? I merely mentioned that not all nationalities are treated equally and they will be tougher on some than others. Without going into details, I've already run into trouble listening to people like you on here who think all are treated equally.

Now, please give it up. I didn't post here to get into silly arguments.

Which is unavoidable when you come with silly posts.

Nationalities which require VOA, or pre-arrival visas.

Were did I mention that anyone was excused? I merely mentioned that not all nationalities are treated equally and they will be tougher on some than others. Without going into details, I've already run into trouble listening to people like you on here who think all are treated equally.

Now, please give it up. I didn't post here to get into silly arguments.

Which is unavoidable when you come with silly posts.

It doesn't much matter. You'll argue no matter what people post.