30-Day Visa On Arrival - Know The Rules !!

[Feed The Cat]

Excuse one if this has already been covered elsewhere - likely as its a key issue for many.

I was not aware of this - but you should be - it might save you an unpleasant shock at the airport in Thailand !! 

Despite some helpful info on the internet there seems still be some confusion, even contradictions, about the rules relating to the 30-Day Visa Exemption LIMITS. 

 

If you arrive by air in Thailand - from a qualifying country e.g. UK.... then they will normally give you a 30-day visa on arrival.

BUT there is a limit - and this is no more than 3 times in the preceding 6 month (counted back from the day you arrive - NOT from January or July!).

I have checked this with a Thai consulate in the UK and was given a very clear and helpful answer.

If you over do it and come in more than this .... you 'might' get away with it at the discretion of the immigration officer .... but i wouldn't hold your breath, you are more likely to be 'returned to sender' !! (has anyone had this shocking experience?)

 

Moral of the story - keep track of your travel dates and if necessary apply for a different visa before you set off.

Incidentally i was also informed that the number of re-entries allowed by LAND crossing is currently TWO (30 Day Visa Exemption Entries) within any rolling 12 month period (i.e. the 12 months prior to the arrival date - but note some ambiguity regarding this in the link below which seems to imply the clock starts ticking again in JANUARY ?? - anyone know for sure?).

 

This information come directly from the Royal Thai Consulate in Hull this month (Jan. 2020).

In their own words:

"Persons entering Thailand by air are allowed a maximum of three 30-day Visa Exemption Entries within any rolling 6-month period.

Persons entering Thailand via a land border are allowed a maximum of two 30-day Visa Exemption Entries within any rolling 12-month period."

I have attached the official rules that i was sent. I hope this all helps you to avoid any unpleasant shocks at immigration. 

Journey well. Enjoy Thailand!

 

Here is a useful link:

https://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand/new-visa-rules.php 

 

 

A - 0 - Vex - Thai Visa Exemption Rule.pdf

Edited January 20, 2020 by metisdead
Oversize font reset to normal.

[The Fat Controller]

I think someone needs to have a word with Hull !

 

It seems they are also adding their own ideas and interpretations to further muddy the waters.

 

I am sure the real experts will confirm the land crossing rule remains unchanged and the clock runs to the calendar year.

[orchis]

a 30 day exemption stamp (NOT a visa on arrival as title of thread erronously states) can be extended by 30 days. The information in the attachment is blatantly wrong and the initial posting should be deleted.

Edited January 20, 2020 by orchis

[glegolo]

With a thread like this. the confusion is total. Plsr dont dig into this, you are all over the place with wrong info.

 

glegolo

[jacko45k]

36 minutes ago, orchis said:

a 30 day exemption stamp (NOT a visa on arrival as title of thread erronously states) can be extended by 30 days. The information in the attachment is blatantly wrong and the initial posting should be deleted.

The subject seems to be about limits on 30 day Visa Exempt entries, both by air or land border. Why are you focusing on an Extension? 

[samsensam]

what's a '30 day visa on arrival'? perhaps you could explain that first as i'm not sure such a thing exists?

 

if there's a factual error in the heading i dont hold much hope for the accuracy of the content.

[jacko45k]

26 minutes ago, samsensam said:

what's a '30 day visa on arrival'? perhaps you could explain that first as i'm not sure such a thing exists?

 

if there's a factual error in the heading i dont hold much hope for the accuracy of the content.

Likely he means a 30 day Visa Exempt, often wrongly referred to as a Visa on arrival.

[Caldera]

We know for a fact that the limit for land border visa exempt is two per calendar year, not per rolling 12-month cycle. So I've got to wonder what else they got wrong. Probably pretty much all of it!

 

[ThaidDown]

Quote

Here is a useful link:

https://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand/new-visa-rules.php 

The link  is to a commercial site, nothing to do with any Thai Embassy.

 

It has been quoted many times on this forum and has always been shown to contain erroneous information, so not very useful.

 

At the bottom of the site you will see ....

'Copyright © 2019 ThaiEmbassy.com. This is NOT the official website of the Thai Embassy. '

 

[BritTim]

6 hours ago, Feed The Cat said:

I have checked this with a Thai consulate in the UK and was given a very clear and helpful answer.

... and the consulates are so convincing. It is natural to believe that Thai consulates should be aware oi Thai immigration rules, but the fact is that they are both convincing and totally unreliable when it comes to anything other than the services they provide themselves. Never accept what a Thai consulate website or consular officials tell you about immigration matters without verifying it from other sources.

[rastlin]

If I had confidence that those rules would actually be *followed* on arrival to the airport I would be fine.  The thing is, I have no confidence that they will be followed.  Although I visit frequently, my visits are under the limits you list.  Yet, on entry, I have been getting lots of questions, looks and frowns.  

 

I get the feeling they are looking for ways to deny me, although I was stamped in.

[Enoon]

1 hour ago, BritTim said:

... and the consulates are so convincing. It is natural to believe that Thai consulates should be aware oi Thai immigration rules, but the fact is that they are both convincing and totally unreliable when it comes to anything other than the services they provide themselves. Never accept what a Thai consulate website or consular officials tell you about immigration matters without verifying it from other sources.

 

A new one for me in this text:

 

Foreigners who enter Thailand under this Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme may only do so for 30 days at one time with a maximum of 3 times in a 6-month period by flight and 2 times a year for overland crossing.

 

http://www.thaiembassy.org/london/en/services/7742/84451-Tourist-Visa.html#1

 

 

 

[steve187]

this was a sign on display at hull in september 2019, so don't trust everything hull tells you

Edited January 20, 2020 by steve187

[Billpro785]

2019 I entered Thailand 7 times with  a US passport and nothing was ever said to me. Always got the 30 day visa exempt stamp. I did ask the immigration office where I do my TM 30, and was told there is no limit to entering on a visa exempt by air. This was last month.   

[ubonjoe]

2 hours ago, Enoon said:

Foreigners who enter Thailand under this Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme may only do so for 30 days at one time with a maximum of 3 times in a 6-month period by flight and 2 times a year for overland crossing.

 

Just incorrect wording for the total of 90 days in 6 months rule for visa exempt entries that was rescinded in 2008.

They left out the total of 90 days out of it and replaced it with 3 times.

They left out per calendar year for the 2 visa exempt entries limit at land border crossings part.

[shy coconut]

3 hours ago, Billpro785 said:

2019 I entered Thailand 7 times with  a US passport and nothing was ever said to me. Always got the 30 day visa exempt stamp. I did ask the immigration office where I do my TM 30, and was told there is no limit to entering on a visa exempt by air. This was last month.   

Why did he answer your (odd) TM30 question with information regarding visa exempt

entries?

[jimn]

OP. I wish you would not post incorrect information.

1 No such thing as a 30 day visa on arrival. There is a 30 day visa exempt entry or a 15 day visa on arrival. What you get depends on your nationallity

2 No such thing as a limit on visa exempt entry at airports. As UbonJoe said any previous limit was recinded years ago. Some rogue IO's in airports still use this unofficially.

3 Correct there is a limit of 2 visa exempt entries by land, but its per calender year not a rolling 12 month period.

 

You really should check that your information is 100% right before you posted. It just makes you look silly.

 

 

[TechnikaIII]

12 hours ago, jacko45k said:

The subject seems to be about limits on 30 day Visa Exempt entries, both by air or land border. Why are you focusing on an Extension? 

I don't see that was focussing on it, .. just mentioning it, and I am glad he did. ????

[gk10002000]

7 hours ago, steve187 said:

this was a sign on display at hull in september 2019, so don't trust everything hull tells you

That 15 day limit went away 5 or 6 years ago and was only in force for a year or two as I recall.  I remember the week it ended as I did a visa run to get another 30 days and only a few visa tour agents were aware that it was back to 30 days.

[Tim16]

Cardiff Consulate are showing  similar information on their web site

TOURIST VISA EXEMPTION

The Visa Exemption rule permits UK Nationals (and some other nationalities) a stay of up to 30 days in Thailand without a visa.

To enter under the visa exemption rule, you must provide evidence to Immigration on arrival that you will not over stay the permitted 30 days. Evidence is a booked outward/departure ticket from Thailand (Plane, Coach or Train ticket)

Under the visa exemption, you are permitted:

3 Entries in 6 months when entering by Air.

If entering over a land border, then it is a maximum of 2 Entries in 1 year.

If mixing the Entries, you must not exceed 3 entries in 6 Months.

If you are staying in Thailand for longer than 30 days, or you do not have an outward ticket within the permitted 30 days, then you MUST obtain a visa prior to arrival in Thailand

[ubonjoe]

10 minutes ago, Tim16 said:

Under the visa exemption, you are permitted:

3 Entries in 6 months when entering by Air.

Completely false and outdated info.

Screenshot of a police order issued in 2008 that rescinded a order done in 2006 limiting visa exempt entries to a total of 90 days in 6 months.

Source: visa exemp tPO 778-2551_en.pdf

The 15 days at land borders was rescinded when the 2 visa exempt entries per calendar rule went into effect.

[Vascoda]

On 1/19/2020 at 6:06 PM, Feed The Cat said:

Persons entering Thailand by air are allowed a maximum of three 30-day Visa Exemption Entries within any rolling 6-month period.

If this the rule, one can stay in Thailand for perpetuity on Visa Exempt. I don't think it applies. IO has full discretion of denying you entry and at BBK/DMK, you would most probably get denied entry.

[Just Weird]

22 hours ago, shy coconut said:

On 1/20/2020 at 3:57 PM, Billpro785 said:

2019 I entered Thailand 7 times with  a US passport and nothing was ever said to me. Always got the 30 day visa exempt stamp. I did ask the immigration office where I do my TM 30, and was told there is no limit to entering on a visa exempt by air. This was last month.   

Why did he answer your (odd) TM30 question with information regarding visa exempt

entries?

He didn't ask a TM30 question, (oddly enough).   He asked about VE entries at the office at which he submits his TM30.

[Salerno]

Where's this mob when you need them 

 

[Myran]

Completely wrong and you're also confusing visa on arrival with visa exempt entry. Know the terms!!

[treetops]

8 minutes ago, Myran said:

Completely wrong and you're also confusing visa on arrival with visa exempt entry. Know the terms!!

I think that may already have been mentioned.  Read the thread!!

[Tim16]

42 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

1 hour ago, Tim16 said:

Under the visa exemption, you are permitted:

3 Entries in 6 months when entering by Air.

Completely false and outdated info.

Screenshot of a police order issued in 2008 that rescinded a order done in 2006 limiting visa exempt entries to a total of 90 days in 6 months.

I realise the information on the Cardiff web site might not be accurate but how do you connect 3 Entries in 6 months when entering by Air with 90 days in 6 months nothing is mentioned about 90 days in 6 months.

[Salerno]

12 minutes ago, Tim16 said:

I realise the information on the Cardiff web site might not be accurate but how do you connect 3 Entries in 6 months when entering by Air with 90 days in 6 months nothing is mentioned about 90 days in 6 months.

3 x 30 = 90

[ubonjoe]

18 minutes ago, Tim16 said:

I realise the information on the Cardiff web site might not be accurate but how do you connect 3 Entries in 6 months when entering by Air with 90 days in 6 months nothing is mentioned about 90 days in 6 months.

Just stating the old rules incorrectly. There has never been a 3 entry rule within 6 months. 

They just divided the 90 days by 30 to get the 3 entry part in the their incorrect info.

[Tim16]

The old rule/law which allowed you to stay in Thailand for only 90 days in any 6 months period(rescinded  in2006) is not same as 3 Entries in 6 months when entering by Air