General Reports

To stay in Thailand for longer than 30 days, you must either apply for a Tourist Visa (TR) before arrival or extend your current visa-exempt stamp at a local immigration office.

[B]Option 1[/B]: Tourist Visa (TR).

Apply for a Single-Entry Tourist Visa at a Thai embassy or via the e-Visa portal before traveling.

Grants an initial stay of 60 days, which can be extended once for an additional 30 days at a Thai immigration office for a fee of 1,900 THB.

Total potential stay: 90 days without leaving the country.

[B]Option 2[/B]: Extend Visa-Exempt Stamp.

If you entered under the visa exemption program you can apply for a 30-day extension at any immigration office.

Requires a passport photo, completed TM. 7 form, and the 1,900 THB fee.

This allows a total stay of 60 days.

I have done [B]Option 2[/B] twice without a problem.

Option 3: 6-month, multiple entry E-Visa. I've been informally told that this still exists, which will be my choice.

There are other longer term options, but these are the 3 quick and easy options of which I am aware.

[QUOTE=SubCmdr;3082052]To stay in Thailand for longer than 30 days, you must either apply for a Tourist Visa (TR) before arrival or extend your current visa-exempt stamp at a local immigration office.

[B]Option 1[/B]: Tourist Visa (TR).

Apply for a Single-Entry Tourist Visa at a Thai embassy or via the e-Visa portal before traveling.

Grants an initial stay of 60 days, which can be extended once for an additional 30 days at a Thai immigration office for a fee of 1,900 THB.

Total potential stay: 90 days without leaving the country.

[B]Option 2[/B]: Extend Visa-Exempt Stamp.

If you entered under the visa exemption program you can apply for a 30-day extension at any immigration office.

Requires a passport photo, completed TM. 7 form, and the 1,900 THB fee.

This allows a total stay of 60 days.

I have done [B]Option 2[/B] twice without a problem.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=HorseTrader;3082057]Option 3: 6-month, multiple entry E-Visa.[/QUOTE]True.

But some details were left out.

The METV is good for 6 months. Allows multiple entries. The length of each visit is capped at 60 day.

Official Website of the Thailand Embassy in WashingtonDC.

[URL]https://washingtondc.thaiembassy.org/en/index[/URL]

Official Website of Thailand Electronic Visa.

[URL]https://www.thaievisa.go.th/[/URL]

Legal, Financial, Tax and Immigration information about Thailand provided by [B]International Tricks[/B] should not be relied upon and should always be verified at the source or a Thai professional in the field in question.

[QUOTE=HorseTrader;3082057]Option 3: 6-month, multiple entry E-Visa. I've been informally told that this still exists, which will be my choice.
[/QUOTE]As long as you keep in mind you can still only stay in Thailand for 180 days per year on a METV. You also need to leave Thailand every 60 days unless you pay another 1900 baht to extend 30 days. You can only make 2 land border runs per year now so you may need to take a flight out of Thailand over a year. Initial cost of METV is 5000 baht so depending on your plans it may be cheaper to opt for Option 1 or 2 to get your 180 days per year in Thailand.

For those who want to stay over 180 days per year or want a 5 year Visa DTV likely your best bet.

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;3082084]Initial cost of METV is 5000 baht so depending on your plans it may be cheaper to opt for Option 1 or 2 to get your 180 days per year in Thailand.[/QUOTE]Options 1 and 2 are probably cheaper for almost everybody. For me, the appeal of option 3 is that one visa covers multiple trips of 30 to 60 days without ever setting foot inside an immigration office.

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;3082084]As long as you keep in mind you can still only stay in Thailand for 180 days per year on a METV. You also need to leave Thailand every 60 days unless you pay another 1900 baht to extend 30 days. You can only make 2 land border runs per year now so you may need to take a flight out of Thailand over a year. Initial cost of METV is 5000 baht so depending on your plans it may be cheaper to opt for Option 1 or 2 to get your 180 days per year in Thailand.

For those who want to stay over 180 days per year or want a 5 year Visa DTV likely your best bet.[/QUOTE]I am for whatever is easiest. I plan to visit LOS in 2027. My total time in country will be 32 days interspersed with a side trip to CGK. After that I do not know when or if I will return as it will depend on how good a time I have. But let's say I have a great time, and I decide to return 6 months after the first visit for around a 40-day visit. If the DTV is good for 5 years, it might be the way to go and not have to deal with the entry issue again for that entire length of time.

[QUOTE=AxelHeyst;3082169]I am for whatever is easiest. I plan to visit LOS in 2027. My total time in country will be 32 days interspersed with a side trip to CGK. After that I do not know when or if I will return as it will depend on how good a time I have. But let's say I have a great time, and I decide to return 6 months after the first visit for around a 40-day visit. If the DTV is good for 5 years, it might be the way to go and not have to deal with the entry issue again for that entire length of time.[/QUOTE]Effective 31 August, all new DTV applications now require criminal background check in home country and application must be done in country of legal residence. Thailand keeps tightening the screws on immigration. 60 days visa exempt going back to 30 days from the middle of this month. Anutin is going to get rid of dirty foreigners one by one. AR.

[URL]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b29uJR9WKo[/URL]

Mexico has significantly tightened visa and residency requirements in 2026, implementing stricter criteria for employment, specialized professionals, and long-term stays while introducing higher fees.

Portugal's immigration and nationality laws have undergone significant reforms effective 20252026, shifting from an open-entry model to a controlled, visa-based system focused on highly qualified talent and sustainable integration.

Japan has implemented significant tightening of immigration regulations under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's administration, balancing expanded labor recruitment with stricter long-term residency controls.

Colombia's immigration law has undergone significant restructuring under Resolution 5477 of 2022, effective October 22,2022, introducing new visa categories and stricter compliance requirements.

USA Immigration law has undergone significant changes under the current administration, focusing on stricter enforcement, reduced humanitarian protections, and major shifts in application procedures.

[QUOTE=AsianRain;3082184]Thailand keeps tightening the screws on immigration. 60 days visa exempt going back to 30 days from the middle of this month. Anutin is going to get rid of dirty foreigners one by one. AR.[/QUOTE]There are a lot of different countries in the world to post in. There is always another country to post up in if Thailand does not want me to post up here anymore. That is life until you get permanent residence in the country of your choice.

[QUOTE=AxelHeyst;3082169]If the DTV is good for 5 years, it might be the way to go and not have to deal with the entry issue again for that entire length of time.[/QUOTE]You need to to qualify for a DTV by taking extended courses in things like Muay Thai and cooking, or undergo extended medical procedures, or be a digital nomad.

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;3082267]You need to to qualify for a DTV by taking extended courses in things like Muay Thai and cooking, or undergo extended medical procedures, or be a digital nomad.[/QUOTE]OK, Eu entendo. I would have been interested in getting something like 5 to 10 year visa if one were available, but the bottom line is forget about all that and just enter Thailand (BKK) with a Visa Exemption (good for 60 days + a 30 day extension) and a TDAC or Thim app notification and be happy.

So how many times per year is this Visa Exemption plan allowed? As long as the answer is at least 3 or 4 times, I have absolutely nothing to worry about since only 2 entries would cover my booked travel plans IE GRU-BKK-CGK-BKK and 3 would allow a 2nd side trip to PNH in case I get bored or fed up with the LOS. The old visa on arrival program was good for only 30 days. I once stayed over for 31 days (actually 30.5 days if you count hours) and I was flagged, interviewed by a nice female Thai official, and then let go without a fine or penalty. I intend to never do that again.

[QUOTE=AxelHeyst;3082274]So how many times per year is this Visa Exemption plan allowed? [/QUOTE]Wrong question.

Two (2) land entries allowed for individuals from countries with visa exempt status.

[QUOTE]Land border entries limited to twice per calendar year
The new 30-day regulation also reintroduces an important rule for travelers entering Thailand through land borders.

Travelers using the visa exemption will generally be permitted to enter Thailand through a land border checkpoint no more than twice per calendar year, as specified in the regulation establishing the new 30-day visa exemption.

This restriction will not apply to nationals of:

Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Thailands Minister of Interior may also decide to exempt additional nationalities from this restriction in the future.

The rule applies specifically to land border crossings and does not impose a general two-entry-per-year limit on international arrivals by air.[/QUOTE][URL]https://visasnews.com/en/thailand-to-officially-cut-visa-free-stay-to-30-days-on-september-15-2026/[/URL]

[QUOTE=AxelHeyst;3082274]So how many times per year is this Visa Exemption plan allowed? As long as the answer is at least 3 or 4 times,[/QUOTE]As Sub said, the new law makes it clear that only 2 land border entries are allowed per year. No stated maximum entries if you arrive by air. But we need to be reasonable and not push our luck with 10+ entries per year for those who may use BKK as a hub. An uptight IO may deny entry. Of course, the unwritten rule is 180 days per year. My understanding is they've been cracking down on the 20,000 Thai baht (or equivalent?) on entry thing too.

[QUOTE=Axel Heyst;3082274]Visa Exemption (good for 60 days + a 30 day extension) [/QUOTE]

Visa exemption is 30 days (+extension) effective September 15.

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;3082416]No stated maximum entries if you arrive by air. But we need to be reasonable and not push our luck with 10+ entries per year for those who may use BKK as a hub. An uptight IO may deny entry. Of course, the unwritten rule is 180 days per year. My understanding is they've been cracking down on the 20,000 Thai baht (or equivalent?) on entry thing too.[/QUOTE]I agree with everything [B]Banana Boi[/B] said. If I understand correctly they are looking for abuses of the visa exemption rules. So, if you are visiting in such a way where another type of visa would fit your visiting patterns that will indeed draw increased scrutiny.

20000 THB = 515 Euros (more or less). That should be pocket change for most International Tricks. Just carry the cash my brothers. It isn't like you aren't going to spend it on prostitutes (amongst other things) during your visit.

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;3082416]As Sub said, the new law makes it clear that only 2 land border entries are allowed per year. [/QUOTE]But you will get access for 30 days, if I understand the new law right. In the past you got access for only 15 days, if you made a land border entry.

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;3082416]My understanding is they've been cracking down on the 20,000 Thai baht (or equivalent?) on entry thing too.[/QUOTE]In cash? It would be something new if they are doing this on a large scale now. In over 20 years of visiting Thailand, I have never been asked to prove that I have enough money.

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;3082416]As Sub said, the new law makes it clear that only 2 land border entries are allowed per year. No stated maximum entries if you arrive by air. But we need to be reasonable and not push our luck with 10+ entries per year for those who may use BKK as a hub. An uptight IO may deny entry. Of course, the unwritten rule is 180 days per year. My understanding is they've been cracking down on the 20,000 Thai baht (or equivalent?) on entry thing too..[/QUOTE]They only use the 20,000 baht cash requirement when they want an excuse to deny entry to someone they think is undesirable.