I’m holding a Singaporean passport, but currently working in the EU. I’m taking a career break and plan to stay in Thailand as a tourist for a while. I heard that every foreign tourist, entering Thailand, will have their passport stamped with a 30-day entrance visa. After that, if they want to stay, the foreigners often make runs to Cambodia or Malaysia to renew their visas.

Do you know if this process also applies to Singapore citizens and others in the Asean? Can we enter Thailand many times, each less than 30 days, without having to renew our visas at a Thai consulate or an agent?

My sincere thanks,

I’m holding a Singaporean passport, but currently working in the EU. I’m taking a career break and plan to stay in Thailand as a tourist for a while. I heard that every foreign tourist, entering Thailand, will have their passport stamped with a 30-day entrance visa. After that, if they want to stay, the foreigners often make runs to Cambodia or Malaysia to renew their visas.

Do you know if this process also applies to Singapore citizens and others in the Asean? Can we enter Thailand many times, each less than 30 days, without having to renew our visas at a Thai consulate or an agent?

My sincere thanks,

As the law now stands Singapore passport holders can enter Thailand without a visa, you will be given a stamp on entry which will allow you to stay for upto 30 days. You can come in as many times as you wish and you will get a stamp each time but you should not spend more than 90 days in Thailand in any 180 days. You could apply for a tourist Visa in advance which (with an extension) would give you a total of 90days in Thailand but your entry permission would be cancelled when you entered so to reenter on the same Visa you would have to get a reentry visa at an immigration office in Thailand before you left (each time). Not aware of any special priveledges for ASEAN members.

OP should read the pinned topic titled

Nomenclature For Types Of Visa And Permissions To Stay For Thailand

Pay particular attention to the difference between permission to stay stamp and visa.

TH