Simple explanation of tourist visa?

[Scorpion364]

I expect all of the information I require is on this site already, if I can search all of the posts, but while I can't I'd hope to get all of the information I require in one post. I already know that If I go abroad, then return to Thailand, I can get a Visa exemption for 30 days. The following questions lead on from that premise. I want to be able to stay in Thailand for as long as possible.

 

- I have heard about a 30-day extension to the visa exemption, equalling 60 days. Can you get the extension when you actually arrive, or must it be a local immigration office?

          - Is there a certain number of days one must have remaining on the initial visa exemption, when applying for the extension?

- I seem to find contrasting advice whether arriving by plane or on land. Can I get a 60- or 90-day tourist visa on the border, (by land or at airport)?

- Would it be better to go to the Thai consulate in a foreign country to apply for and obtain the visa prior to arriving in Thailand?

          - And in this instance, do they really require to see proof of travel to and from Thailand? What if I don't yet have it booked, because I'm not sure exactly when I'll be leaving?

[ubonjoe]

You can apply for a 30 day extension of a 30 day visa exempt entry during the last week or so of the 30 days at a immigration office for a fee of 1900 baht. You can apply for it on the last day of the 30 days if you want to.

You can only apply for tourist visa at a Thai embassy or consulate. A tourist visa allows a 60 day entry that can be extended for 30 days at a immigration office.

Whether you to show a ticket out of the country depends upon where you apply for the tourist visa.

[elviajero]

1. You can't apply for the extension when you arrive. You apply at the immigration office that covers the area of the address you're staying at.
2. Most offices should let you apply within the last 2 weeks of your 30/60 day entry. You can apply on or before the last day of your permit to stay.
3. You can't get any visas at the border by air or land. You can get a 30 day visa exempt (no visa) entry. Visas are only available from Thai embassies/consulates.
4. It is good practice to enter with a visa whenever possible.
5. Almost all embassies/consulates in countries neighbouring Thailand will only issue visas if you have a booked onward flight. They will usually accept a ticket to anywhere so some people buy cheap tickets that they never use. The embassy in Vientiane, Loas currently doesn't enforce this booked flight rule.

[JackThompson]

A bit more info, to clear up what may seem like "contradictory" info - if you are reading older posts (old being relative, in a fast-changing environment).  This is the current situation as of today:

 

• You may only get 2 Visa-Exempt entries by land per calendar year max - a new hard and fast rule - no exceptions (yet).
• In the past, land-entries were 15 days only, then 30 days if your passport was G7 - now all visa-exempts are for 30-days, except for a few countries with bilateral agreements (Brazil gets 90, I think).
• You may be questioned and/or rejected from coming in repeatedly, even by air, for multiple Visa-Exempt entries
• Every Thai consulate makes up its own "special" rules on what they require. 

 

Consulate "rules" for obtaining Tourist Visas include:

• Some just want the visa-fee + passport + application-form (Vientiane). 
• Others also want to see an air-ticket out. 
• Others also want a hotel-booking. 
• Others also want to see evidence of 20K Baht in a bank-book or account statement. 
• Some want a (random) combination of those (varies by day, week, applicant, how many previous Thai-visas in your passport, your age, how you are dressed, etc). 
• Some will deny you a Tourist-Visa, if you recently left Thailand, even with all of those things and looking sharp (Taiwan). 
• Some seem to deny almost everyone, all the time (Singapore, Kuala Lumpur) - either outright, or inventing new requirements with each attempt to apply.
• Some only provide Tourist-Visas to those who are citizens or permanent residents of the country where the office resides (Japan)

 

If planning to stay "as long as possible" - my advice is to not use Visa-Exempts, except in an emergency (if denied a Tourist Visa because the ever-changing rules catch you unprepared).  Read this forum religiously for what Consulates are requiring what documents this week/month, etc. 

 

Also, in case your (our) options to stay should be rescinded by decree or policy: 

• Be prepared with a "bug out plan" to get your stuff and go. 
• Be prepared to have any of your "stuff in Thailand" brought to a border when you go out for a new visa or at least moved to a storage-unit.
• Be prepared to "forgetaboutit" any deposit you have on an apartment or condo.

Change could happen at any time.  Being prepared reduces the stress-factor.

[riclag]

Is there a site that has the new 30 day visa exempt rule(2x a calendar year) written in Thai. I want to copy this and show it to the IO at the Lao boarder in case I have any problems.

[ubonjoe]

32 minutes ago, riclag said:

Is there a site that has the new 30 day visa exempt rule(2x a calendar year) written in Thai. I want to copy this and show it to the IO at the Lao boarder in case I have any problems.

For the 2 entry rule it here in the Royal Gazette. http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2559/A/100/1.PDF

But is does not mention the 30 day entries if that is what you concerned about it should not be a problem since it has been in effect since 1 January.

[riclag]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

For the 2 entry rule it here in the Royal Gazette. http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2559/A/100/1.PDF

But is does not mention the 30 day entries if that is what you concerned about it should not be a problem since it has been in effect since 1 January.

Thanks Joe

[YetAnother]

On 3/4/2017 at 1:55 PM, ubonjoe said:

Whether you to show a ticket out of the country depends upon where you apply for the tourist visa.

UJ: i truly respect all you do and contribute here; i do not understand the underlying thai policy here ; nothing to do with you per se;

many folks , seasoned international travelers, do not HAVE an outbound ticket; so long ago, i had one way here ; the requirement of having an outbound ticket does not mean you are a tourist ; as you and other experts here have commented often , there are ways to stay here indefinitely (yes, annual hoops and such) without any outbound; my departure card has been blank and the ink has largely faded (separate problem) for years and years

i DO understand debating thai immigration policy is fruitless.....