Thai Visa

New Visa rules for long term visitors announced 21st September 2006 Click HERE

Thai Immigration "Clarifies" 90-day Rule Change

PHUKET: -- Following a spate of complaints from confused foreigners entering Thailand on “visa exemptions”, Pol Capt Krissarat Nuesen of the Phuket Provincial Immigration Office has made a statement to clarify the 90-day rule and how it was changed, effective April 1.

Visa exemptions, allow tourists from certain countries who arrive at the border without a visa to have permits-to-stay, typically for a period of 30 days, issued by Immigration officials.

“People who enter Thailand on a ‘visa exemption’ are permitted to stay only 90 days in a six-month period,” he said, adding that the six months is calculated as a 180-day period starting from the first day that the foreigner enters Thailand on a visa exemption.

“From October 1, 2006 to March 31, 2007, we counted all the days from the foreigner’s first day regardless whether the foreigner was actually in Thailand or not.

“Also, foreigners were not permitted to stay in Thailand after their 180-day period had expired [counted from the foreigner’s first day], regardless whether the foreigner had stayed a full 90 days in Thailand or not,” Capt Krissarat said.

“However, the rule has been changed. From April 1, we now count only the days the foreigner has stayed in Thailand – and foreigners are now allowed to stay past the 180-day period,” he said.

The number of consecutive visa exemptions allowed is no longer limited to three, he added.

As for foreigners who complain about discrepancies in the counting of days, K. Krissarat reminded those who choose to enter on multiple visa exemptions that it is up to the discretion of the Immigration officer on duty how many days to grant the new arrival, provided it is 30 days or fewer.

Capt Krissarat stressed that the 90-day rule does not affect people who have been issued a visa from the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate.

“If you want to stay longer, then apply for a visa from a Royal Thai Embassy outside Thailand. That way the rule will not apply to you,” he said.

Regarding parents bringing children into Thailand to attend school, Capt Krissarat said, “Foreign parents whose children will study in Thailand can apply for non-immigrant ED visas for their children at any Royal Thai Embassy outside Thailand.

“The parents can apply for non-immigrant O visas for themselves so they can enter the country and care for their children here, and then they can apply for permits to stay at the Immigration office after entering the country.

“Alternatively, if the parents are not going to be staying in the country long, they can get a tourist visa from an embassy or enter on a visa exemption,” he said.

“Many international schools in Thailand help parents prepare applications for permits to stay,” Capt Krissarat said, adding that children under 14 years old are not fined for overstay.

-- Phuket Gazette 28.04.2007

There, that's nice and simple now, isn't it!

This "onward ticket" business is important as some major carriers will not let you board a flight with a one way ticket, and no one tells you this, not even the UK Foreign Office despite me asking them to amend the information on their website on numerous occasions.

In the UK, Visa are granted at The Royal Thai Embassy in London, but to be quite honest, their system is far from user friendly, and if you telephone them and just mention the word "visa", the operator connects you to a recorded message. So unless you know what you are doing, use a Consulate office instead.

Thai Consulates are staffed by UK citizens, and in all my dealings with them, they have been extremely helpful.

At a consulate, visas can be issued "while you wait" for an extra £5.00, or by post. If you want to do it by post you have to consider the implications of releasing your passport to the postal system and its employees. More important than you may at first think.

Main Types of visa

This is the most commonly mistaken aspect of travel to Thailand, not helped by some of the Immigration Department's own literature calling a visa exemption entry stamp a "visa on arrival", and now in Suvarnamhumi Airport the immigration desks are signposted as "Visa On Arrival". No wonder we are confused if they don't even know the difference!

Visa On Arrival*:- Although some websites suggest this is possible, it is only available to residents of the following 14 countries :-

*Sometimes, the term Visa On Arrival is mistakenly used for the 30 day visa exemption entry stamp, they are 2 completely different things.

Extending Your Stay

It is viewed as a serious offence to overstay your visa, so don't even think about it!
If you are caught on "overstay" anywhere other than departing from an airport, you WILL be arrested, thrown in jail, then deported. So make sure you get an extension or a renewal. Overstay at the airport is a much easier process, you are taken away to a room where you sign a lot of forms in Thai only, and you are charged 500 Baht per day with the first day free. This was changed after protests from people going to the airport on the last day of the visa, and not actually leaving until after 12:00 midnight.

Renewing or extending your visa is quite simple, in recent years the Immigration Department has lost it's joke name of The Department of Intimidation, and become much friendlier and more helpful. They have even stopped closing down for lunch now!

All major cities have immigration bureaus, as do tourist destinations.

In Bangkok you can take your passport and drop into one of the shops opposite the bureau to get your photocopies and passport sized photos. You CAN get them elsewhere, but the officials sometimes complain about the quality and size. Buy them from one of the outlets opposite and they will be OK even if they are lousy copies. (I am not suggesting there are any financial links of course)! Outside Bangkok, you will find someone just outside the immigration bureau set up with a photocopier and camera, this is the place to go for no hassle about picture sizes etc. It should be obvious which service is run as a sideline.

The process usually takes about an hour. Here is a map showing the location of The Immigration Department, which is just about walking distance from Lumphini MRTA subway station, although if it's hot, take a taxi to Sathorn Soi 3, or where you see this sign:-

Look for this sign and you are in the right road!

Local Time

Main Types of visa

Visa On Arrival*:- Although some websites suggest this is possible, it is only available to residents of the following 14 countries :-

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Extending Your Stay