Confused by 60 day tourist VISA

[cameroncat]

I'm coming to Thailand for two months starting in December. On the Thai Consulate webpage, the VISA fee for US citizens is $35 per entry (maximum 3 entries). Does this mean that if in the middle of my stay I want to take a weekend trip to KL, I will have needed to pay for 2 entries ($70) in order to be allowed back into Thailand for the remainder of my 60 day VISA?

Thanks!

[francois]

First I believe there is a maximum of two entries, not three.
Yes, you would need two entries, maybe! If you were in Thailand for over 30 days and then left the kingdom and returned, you could get 30 days on arrival without needing the second entry.

Do others agree?

[mahjongguy]

Yes, one could go to KL after 5 to 6 weeks and come back to Thailand on a Visa Waiver.

Or, the trip to KL could be made on day 30 and there would be no need for a Tourist Visa at all. In this case, the flight to KL would need to be purchased in advance so that the ticket could be shown at check-in on departing the U.S. (proof of onward travel within 30 days).

NO, I dont agree.
There is no pre visa requirement for US citizens. Just make sure that you have 6 months left on your passport. If not you need to renew your passport before you come. Then you just come and go past the place where you PURCHASE visa's and go right to the passport control area. Immigration where they stamp you in. You get a 30 day visa, NO CHARGE.
You are also allowed 3 - 30 day visas in a 6 month period. It is not 1 year. If you leave to a neighboring country, you may get stamped on the way back in.
They count the DAYS you were here and it cannot exceed 3 months in a 6 month period.

NO, I dont agree.
There is no pre visa requirement for US citizens. Just make sure that you have 6 months left on your passport. If not you need to renew your passport before you come. Then you just come and go past the place where you PURCHASE visa's and go right to the passport control area. Immigration where they stamp you in. You get a 30 day visa, NO CHARGE.
You are also allowed 3 - 30 day visas in a 6 month period. It is not 1 year. If you leave to a neighboring country, you may get stamped on the way back in.
They count the DAYS you were here and it cannot exceed 3 months in a 6 month period.

The limitation on the number of times you can get a Visa Exempt stamp (it is not a visa; nor a visa waiver - citizens of most Western countries are exempt from obtaining a visa to enter Thailand, e.g. UK, USA, Australia, France, Germany, etc.). Most of these citizens are granted a 30 day permitted stay upon arrival at an airport (they only get 15 days if entering through a land border - this was a change made when Immigration did away with the number of trips within a specified time period).

Although you can enter Thailand without a visa, as mentioned the maximum stay is 30 days, which can be extended up to 7 additional days only. If you wish to stay longer, you must have a visa. A Tourist Visa will get you a 60 day permitted stay upon arrival, but it can be extended once for an additional 30 days. A Non-Immigrant Visa (other than O-A) will receive a 90 day stay, it can be extended for up to one year provided you meet the qualifications for extension (retirement, married to a Thai, business, education, etc.). All extensions have a fee of 1,900 Baht.

To answer the posters original question, if you arrive with a Tourist visa, you will get 60 day stay. If it is not a multiple entry (valid for more than one entry), it will be stamped used. Most likely it you have a double entry tourist visa, if you leave before the 60 days are up (or 90 if you have extended it another 30 days), that entry has been used. If it is a double entry, then you could advise the Immigration Officer when returning that you do not want to use the 2nd entry, but want a 30 days stamp (will they go along with that? don't know - if they don't go along with it, they will give you the 60 day stay and stamp the Visa as used - unless it it more than a double entry - not sure, think a double entry is all they are currently issuing; but could be wrong on that, you would have to check with the Embassy/Consulate where you plan to get the Tourist visa -- also, the more entries permitted, the higher the fee for the Visa).

If they do give a 30 day stamp, you would have to leave Thailand on or before the 30 day permitted stay - then returning you could use the 2nd entry on the Tourist visa for a 60 day stay - provided they went along with not using it the 2nd time you entered -- another thing to watch for, visas expire. When they do, they are no longer valid for entry - so, if you have a double entry, your second entry on the tourist visa will need to be before the expiration date on your Visa.

I know for those of us on extended stay, we can get a re-entry permit to keep our extension valid if we leave Thailand -- I don't think they give re-entry stamps for tourist visas - but don't know for sure - anyone out there tried that?

[mahjongguy]

You are also allowed 3 - 30 day visas in a 6 month period. It is not 1 year. If you leave to a neighboring country, you may get stamped on the way back in.
They count the DAYS you were here and it cannot exceed 3 months in a 6 month period.
Entirely incorrect. That rule was thrown out back when they changed land border arrivals to 15 days.

The OP wanted to know if he needed to spend $70 instead of $35. Asked and answered. It's $35 or $0, depending on when he wants to go to KL.

My mistake as I did not see that he wanted to stay 2 months. I focused more on the times in a 6 month period and his desire to PURCHASE his initial entry visa. My apologies!

[mahjongguy]

The OP will be fine. He's got some choices, all of them good.

I am puzzled by this from 2lz2psawng:
"...you can get a Visa Exempt stamp (it is not a visa; nor a visa waiver.."
I am not aware of any difference between the terms "visa exempt" and "visa waiver". The Thai Ministry of Affairs uses "visa exempt" while many other countries use "visa waiver". The moderators at ThaiVisa consider them synonymous.

[pong]

though he is not entirely clear on it, I assume:
1.that OP wants to stay a max of 60 days
2.and wants to pay a visit to KUL-by AIR (this is important!) somewhere in that period.
|In that case he does not need ANY pre-arranegd visa, provided he does his homework and books- AirAsia or whatever if he wants bisnis- a return BKk-KUl to leave BKk before/at day 30 of first entry and returns with a time left of also max 30 days. depending on how long he wants to spend in MY-he can even have a total stay of 60+the days in between in MY.
The ONLY requirement for this is a AIRticket OUT of Thaild to be shown when checking in (Thai immigration wont give a damn) if so asked. ONLY when arriving by AIR he will get the 30 day visa=exempt (the usual term used in Thaild).
A pre-arranged tourist visa lets him:
a.stay longer as the 30 days, if he so wishes
b.exempt him from showing a ticket out-f.e. going by land to any other country nearby
However, from more specialised fora I gather that SOME=not all consuls in the USA now want to see a return ticket also before issuing one.

[cameroncat]

OK. Too clear up what I have planned, I was planning on getting the 60 day VISA, Then towards the end of my 60 days, getting the 30 extension while in Thailand to give me a couple extra weeks of stay past the original 60 day visa.
I assume that if I go to KL 45 days into my 60 day VISA, I will NOT get a 30 day extension when reentering Thailand. That's why I was thinking I would need the two entry VISA, and after returning from KL, get my 30 day VISA extension at the appropriate Thai govt office.

All a bit confusing...

[francois]

All a bit confusing...

Now that you explained everything I am even more confused.

[thonglor55]

Based on what you say you need a single-entry tourist visa for 60 days. If you leave at (say) day 45 the visa ends. If you then return and plan to stay no more than 30 days you get a visa exemption when you arrive which you get simply by queuing up at the Immigration line on arrival like you did the first time when you had a visa. Westerners (and many others) don't need a visa for stays that don't exceed 30 days. Alternatively you don't get a visa at all, go to KL on Day 30, return, stay for no more than 30 days and you get visa exemptions both times. "Visa exemption" is NOT "visa on arrival" which is intended for people from countries that must have a visa but didn't get one before they left home. That is NOT American passport holders. If you decide you need more than 30 days once you have arrived you can get a 15-day extension by going to an Immigration office and paying a fee.

[mahjongguy]

Thonglor, you were doing fine until your last sentence.
"...you can get a 15-day extension by going to an Immigration office...".
Visa exempt entries can only be extended for 7 days.

[thonglor55]

Thonglor, you were doing fine until your last sentence. "...you can get a 15-day extension by going to an Immigration office...". Visa exempt entries can only be extended for 7 days.I stand corrected.

[cameroncat]

Thanks Thonglor, Sounds like you've come up with my best option

Oops - in my earlier post, I meant to say visa on arrival rather than visa waiver - the person noting the error is correct - visa exempt and visa waiver are the same thing.

Cameroncat:

OK. Too clear up what I have planned, I was planning on getting the 60 day VISA, Then towards the end of my 60 days, getting the 30 extension while in Thailand to give me a couple extra weeks of stay past the original 60 day visa.
I assume that if I go to KL 45 days into my 60 day VISA, I will NOT get a 30 day extension when reentering Thailand. That's why I was thinking I would need the two entry VISA, and after returning from KL, get my 30 day VISA extension at the appropriate Thai govt office.


Thanks, you did clear it up. Get your Tourist visa and toward the end of the 60 day stay, extend it for 30 days for your couple of extra weeks. When you leave Thailand your first tourist visa entry has been used. When you re-enter, you will not need a visa if you want only a 30 day stay. If you want more than that, I would suggest getting the double entry Tourist visa so that when you return you will get 60 days and that can be extended another 30 days.

Your assumption is correct if you leave to KL after being in Thailand 45 days. When you reenter Thailand, again you will get 30 days without a visa -- you cannot go to Immigration to extend your first stay based on your first entry as that visa will no longer be valid. As mentioned above, if you initially get a double entry Tourist Visa, you would get 60 days when entering on that 2nd visa when you return from KL - that stay can be extended another 30 days so long as you have not left Thailand again.

Also factor in that each extension of stay is 1,900 Baht (approx $63US). If you get the double entry for US$70 (as I understand it, that was the fee mentioned) and you leave for KL before the 60 days are up, you do not incur the 1,900 Baht extension fee. When you return using the 2nd entry, you will get 60 days - if you do not plan to extend beyond that period, than your cost will be only the double entry Tourist Visa fee of US$70.

[rincondog]

60 day tourist visa with 2 entries is one price $35.

[anonone]

NO, I dont agree.
There is no pre visa requirement for US citizens. Just make sure that you have 6 months left on your passport. If not you need to renew your passport before you come. Then you just come and go past the place where you PURCHASE visa's and go right to the passport control area. Immigration where they stamp you in. You get a 30 day visa, NO CHARGE.
You are also allowed 3 - 30 day visas in a 6 month period. It is not 1 year. If you leave to a neighboring country, you may get stamped on the way back in.
They count the DAYS you were here and it cannot exceed 3 months in a 6 month period.

The limitation on the number of times you can get a Visa Exempt stamp (it is not a visa; nor a visa waiver - citizens of most Western countries are exempt from obtaining a visa to enter Thailand, e.g. UK, USA, Australia, France, Germany, etc.). Most of these citizens are granted a 30 day permitted stay upon arrival at an airport (they only get 15 days if entering through a land border - this was a change made when Immigration did away with the number of trips within a specified time period).

Although you can enter Thailand without a visa, as mentioned the maximum stay is 30 days, which can be extended up to 7 additional days only. If you wish to stay longer, you must have a visa. A Tourist Visa will get you a 60 day permitted stay upon arrival, but it can be extended once for an additional 30 days. A Non-Immigrant Visa (other than O-A) will receive a 90 day stay, it can be extended for up to one year provided you meet the qualifications for extension (retirement, married to a Thai, business, education, etc.). All extensions have a fee of 1,900 Baht.


Is there any restriction on the number of entries under the "visa exempt" qualification? As US citizen, I have never bothered with a Visa, just showed up at airport and stamped on into my favorite country.

I tend to visit often, but for short (7-10 day) durations. As I continue upping my visit frequency, is there any reason for concern? I have read that I cannot be in country for more than 3 months out of any 6 month period, which I do not come close to (unfortunately). But there seems to be some indication here that more than 3 VISITS during a 6 month period is restricted. Any truth to this?

I think I am OK, but never hurts to double check. I am not well versed in Visa/Immigration type stuff. Thanks.

[thonglor55]

Is there any restriction on the number of entries under the "visa exempt" qualification? As US citizen, I have never bothered with a Visa, just showed up at airport and stamped on into my favorite country.Unfortunately this sort of question gives "This Is Thailand" type answers. As someone remarked in another thread and on another topic, laws here are more indications of possibilities of what might happen. For visa matters it's what the Immigration Officer you encounter on the day decides he's going to do based on who knows what. As a general rule, what they're looking out for with these rule-of-thumb guidelines is the person who is really living in Thailand for extended periods of time without the right paperwork. Frequent trips to Thailand with extended breaks between them are very unlikely to trigger Immigration displeasure, especially if you don't stay exactly 30 days on every Thailand trip you make. But that's about the best anyone can say with any certainty.

[anonone]

OK thanks.
I figured I was OK, but a second opinion can be reassuring.
I rarely stay more than a week. 10 days is the longest for the for-seeable future. :crybaby:

I don't think anyone will infer I am living in Thailand with these travel patterns. I have never had any issue at immigration, not even a second look. In fact, I don't think the immigration folks have ever even spoken to me. My greeting gets ignored (or at most a look up from the computer). Fine by me, just let me through the pearly gates. :king:

[cameroncat]

When the Thai Consulate Webpage says "The validity of visa is 3 months". Does this mean I must enter Thailand within 3 months of the VISA being issued or I must conclude my 60 day visit within 3 months of the VISA being issued?

And for Rincondog: The Website definitely sounds like it's $35 PER entry. Here is the direct statement from the website: "The visa fee for Tourist Visas is $35 per entry up to three entries - Payable by cashiers check or money order made payable to "Royal Thai Consulate General - Los Angeles"

[thonglor55]

When the Thai Consulate Webpage says "The validity of visa is 3 months". Does this mean I must enter Thailand within 3 months of the VISA being issued or I must conclude my 60 day visit within 3 months of the VISA being issued?The former - you have 3 months to get the visa operative, so you can arrive on Day 2 before the three months is expired and get a 60-day visa. For example visa issued April 1, visa validity expires June 30, enter on 29 June visa expires roughly 28 August (can't be bothered working out when 60 days from 29 June is, but you get the general idea).

When the Thai Consulate Webpage says "The validity of visa is 3 months". Does this mean I must enter Thailand within 3 months of the VISA being issued or I must conclude my 60 day visit within 3 months of the VISA being issued?

And for Rincondog: The Website definitely sounds like it's $35 PER entry. Here is the direct statement from the website: "The visa fee for Tourist Visas is $35 per entry up to three entries - Payable by cashiers check or money order made payable to "Royal Thai Consulate General - Los Angeles"

The single entry Tourist Visas are usually issued with a 3 month validity period - that means you must enter the country before the expiration date shown on the visa (usually 90 days from date of issue). You can enter the day before the visa expiration date and you will still get a 60 day stay with a Tourist visa - if you enter after the expiration date, you will get the 30 days stay for visa exempt (no visa) - if you enter on the expiration date itself - hmmmm maybe 60 or maybe 30 or maybe the mood of the Immigration Officer.

I think if you get a double entry, they put a 6 month or maybe a little longer expiration on that - any one out there know for sure? If it was only 90 days, then if you stayed your original 60 days and extended another 30 - the visa would expire before you could use the 2nd entry.

I think it has been at least a year if not longer since Immigration had a 3 trips in a 6 month period using visa exempt status - when it was in effect, you would get 30 days whether crossing at a land border or arriving by air. This restriction was done away with - but, when it changed, Immigration changed the period of stay from 30 to 15 days if coming into Thailand at a land border (the route of choice for most border runners that were actually living here) - you still get 30 days if arriving by air (the route of choice by most tourists).

So, currently there is no limitation on the number of times you can enter Thailand using visa exempt status -- of course if a person has a significant number of exits/entries every 30 (by air) or 15 (by land), the Immigration Officer could decide to refuse entry on the basis the traveler was abusing the visa exempt rules and actually living in Thailand.

[mahjongguy]

1) I advise anyone who wants the facts about Thai immigration to go to ThaiVisa.com where there is a great FAQ. If that doesn't meet your needs then pose a question in the forum there.

2) Immigration policy is somewhat technical in nature so it is important to use correct terminology. To that end, the mods at ThaiVisa are very picky, for example, about "visa waiver" versus "visa on arrival", etc. It also helps to think of a visa as permission to enter the country. Once you have entered, you are now under the conditions of the Permission To Stay (not the visa). Using that way of looking at it, the various aspects of a multiple-entry Tourist Visa make more sense. Like, the fact that the visa expires on a certain date has nothing to do with whether or not you can remain in the country past that date. And, when you go to Immigration to get an extension, you are not extending the visa, you are extending the Permission To Stay.