FAQ - Thailand - Visa

Just bought the 60 day tourist visa, was definately the best option! Thankyou very much algore! haha can't wait to go!

OK, I totally get the Visa requirements!! Were going to be flying to Bangkok, stay a while, go to Cambodia, come back,do Laos, come back etc (90 days in a 6month period, that bit I get!) the bit I'm not too sure about is the onward travel bit. Were flying to bangkok from London and that is all we have planned travel wise! We plan ont aking as it comes but I dont really want to get into any trouble when we arrive in the country with no evidence of onward travel. The first idea was just to book a return flight for 6or so months after we fly in so it looks like were leaving and then just not use it but this is quite an expensive option! We just dont want to limit ourselves to plans, what if we dont like somewhere and want to move on or what if we want to extend our stay? any help would be appreciated!

whoops sorry should have posted here

here is my problem!

This is the plan

I fly into Kuala Lumpur on the 10th of June ?

Then I fly to Bali on 12th June

Back to KL by plane on the 1st July

Then it gets more complicated..

My first entry to Thailand is on 17th July - we then get a flight up to BKK from Hat Yai to meet our friends.

20th July we take a flight to Hanoi - our stay in Vietnam is 9 days so I think we are going to get a prearranged visa before we leave home.

Then we fly back to Bangkok on 28th July. This is our second entry.

We will get the overnight bus from Bangkok to Laos (visa at the border) and stay there a week or so before re-entering Thailand into Chiang Mai - around 2nd August.

Then we stay in Thailand on the islands hopefully until the first week of September before travelling back down to KL for our flight home on 8th September..

Do I need to prearrange a visa?...

Hien (I was going to send you a PM but I can't? Can you have a look at it for me please)
Anyway mate... About the Thai Visa, I am from the UK and believe I can enter Thailand for 90 days in a 6 month period (say 20 days in Jan, 20 days in Feb and 20 days in March) Is this ok? So long as I had proof of funds and onward travel.
Also could I have 30 days in Jan (border run) 30 days in Feb (border run) and then 30 days in March?
Also again... When does the 6 month period start and finish?? Aniversary of your first entry or second or last?

If I went to Thailand in January, March and May for a week at a time when would I next be able to enter the country?

Why can't it be like Hongkong (*BANG*) 180 day stamp when you arrive at the airport. (Don't worry I already know the answer to that one)!
Paul.

Quoting Paul3879

Hien (I was going to send you a PM but I can't? Can you have a look at it for me please)

Was there any error when you tried to send me a PM?

Anyway mate... About the Thai Visa, I am from the UK and believe I can enter Thailand for 90 days in a 6 month period (say 20 days in Jan, 20 days in Feb and 20 days in March) Is this ok? So long as I had proof of funds and onward travel.
Also could I have 30 days in Jan (border run) 30 days in Feb (border run) and then 30 days in March?
Also again... When does the 6 month period start and finish?? Aniversary of your first entry or second or last?

The Thai Immigration never mentioned that on their website. But for the EU Schengen Visa, this is the rule:

Quoting Danish Immigration Service

The six-month period is calculated from the date of 'first entry' into the Schengen region, i.e., the date on which you first entered the region, or the date of any other subsequent entry into the Schengen region which takes place after the expiration of a six-month period.

Source: http://www.nyidanmark.dk/en-us/coming_to_dk/visa/how_long.htm

If I went to Thailand in January, March and May for a week at a time when would I next be able to enter the country?

Your stay is only 21 days in total. You can still enter at any time after that.

Why can't it be like Hongkong (*BANG*) 180 day stamp when you arrive at the airport. (Don't worry I already know the answer to that one)!
Paul.

Blame it on your ancestors for not colonising Thailand as well back then!

Quoting cerulean

My first entry to Thailand is on 17th July - we then get a flight up to BKK from Hat Yai to meet our friends.

20th July we take a flight to Hanoi - our stay in Vietnam is 9 days so I think we are going to get a prearranged visa before we leave home.

First entry: 4 days (17, 18, 19, 20 July)

Then we fly back to Bangkok on 28th July. This is our second entry.

We will get the overnight bus from Bangkok to Laos (visa at the border) and stay there a week or so before re-entering Thailand into Chiang Mai - around 2nd August.

Second entry: 1 day (28 July)

Then we stay in Thailand on the islands hopefully until the first week of September before travelling back down to KL for our flight home on 8th September..

Do I need to prearrange a visa?...

Third entry: 38 days (2 August - 8 September)

With the third entry alone, you need a Tourist visa. The 60-day tourist visa does not count into the 90-day / 180-day rule.

Anyway, you mentioned in a post in another thread that: "there is a very big chance i will not take that flight and stay longer in thailand as it is ramadan in malaysia." What's wrong with Ramadhan? It's only a time when the Muslims in Malaysia fast. It starts from 1 September and lasts for about 29-30 days. If your main concern is food, I can assure you that there's no problem with that. Muslims consist of only 60% of the population. The non-Muslims (mainly ethnic Chinese and Indians) still need to eat. Restaurants will still be open. Plenty of places to eat in cities and towns. Though you might have some difficulties getting food if you are in a small town or village on the east coast with majority Muslims. But if that plact is a tourist area, then no worries.

I have only read some of this topic, but as i am going to Thailand on 30July for 88days , would it be best to get a Tourist Visa from the Thai Embassy for 60 days then go to Malasia for a few weeks after the 60 days?

I have been told that all you need to do once in thailand is do a visa run that loads of places do. (im guessing this is just a cross over the border then straight back again?) I will obviously need to do 3 of these whilst i am there. Also, i am guessing a visa run would allow me to see other parts of thailand too

Oh, im on a budget of £20 a day including accom, food, drink and travel so i hope these runs are not that expensive. Failing this 500baht at day charge and 58 days is about £460, so not the end of the world

thanks

Quoting alex1236

I have only read some of this topic, but as i am going to Thailand on 30July for 88days , would it be best to get a Tourist Visa from the Thai Embassy for 60 days then go to Malasia for a few weeks after the 60 days?

That would be the best way as the return/onward ticket requirement is not imposed on visitors with the 60-day Tourist Visa. Check out AirAsia and FireFly for cheap flights to Malaysia and aroud the region.

I have been told that all you need to do once in thailand is do a visa run that loads of places do. (im guessing this is just a cross over the border then straight back again?) I will obviously need to do 3 of these whilst i am there. Also, i am guessing a visa run would allow me to see other parts of thailand too

Oh, im on a budget of £20 a day including accom, food, drink and travel so i hope these runs are not that expensive. Failing this 500baht at day charge and 58 days is about £460, so not the end of the world

Yes, visa run is crossing over the border and return to Thailand on the same day or immediately. But the problem here is not whether or not if you can afford to pay the THB500/day penalty. It's a big problem if you were so unlucky to be arrested by the police for overstaying. You would be put into the police lockup and possibly charged in court. This has happened before based on accounts from foreigners living in Thailand. Would you want to risk that?

Thanks for the quick reply.

No not really. Plus there no point in risking it as the days are added up and you are fined when leaving from singapore airport anyway.

Options are to get a 60 visa from a thai embassy then do one crossing or

Do 3 border crossings.

How much is a thai 60 day visa and would it be even worth it as i could make a night of travelling on a train to cross a border maybe?

That leads me to ask - Where are the Thai borders and what islands could i stay in to earn a bit of money if i was to stay there for a week (i can do manual work aswell as bar/restaurant and spin fire)

thanks

Quoting alex1236

Thanks for the quick reply.

No not really. Plus there no point in risking it as the days are added up and you are fined when leaving from singapore airport anyway.

Fined when leaving from Singapore airport??? Err... why is Singapore fining you for an offence in Thailand?

Options are to get a 60 visa from a thai embassy then do one crossing or

Do 3 border crossings.

Either way is possible. But bear in mind that the immigration may require an onward ticket if you get the 30-day social visit pass (tourist visa exemption). The 60-day Tourist Visa is exempted from the onward ticket requirement.

How much is a thai 60 day visa and would it be even worth it as i could make a night of travelling on a train to cross a border maybe?

According to the Thai Embassy in London, it's £28 per entry.

That leads me to ask - Where are the Thai borders and what islands could i stay in to earn a bit of money if i was to stay there for a week (i can do manual work aswell as bar/restaurant and spin fire)

Check out the Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar travel guides (see section Getting There) for more info about border crossings.

As for working, remember that just like in any other country, it is illegal to work (paid or unpaid) while travelling under the social visit pass and tourist visa. Not sure how often the authorities check this at tourist areas, but my brother who works in Bangkok told me that a Malaysian construction company director was arrested last year for being at a construction site located outside the permissible area of his work permit. They can be very strict if they want to.