30 Days in Thailand Without Needing Visa?

eDicky

The fine for overstay used to be Bt500 per day but may have increased, being waived if you're only one day late. It's no big deal going to an officer's desk to fill the form and pay, taking just a few minutes unless there's a queue. It doesn't affect your ability to visit the Kingdom in future unless you overstay so long that it becomes a more serious offence.

FusionFury

tightauldgit said:

FusionFury said:

kazwookie said:

If you do overstay you will get fined and a stamp in your passport.

If you want to stay longer apply for a 3 month visa before you go.

How do I do that? Online? 

Yep. https://london.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/84451-tourist-visa

Though you will have to submit your passport to them either by post or in person at the embassy in London. 

The other option would be to extend your visa in thailand at an immigration office but to do that you would still need to have an onward ticket within 30 days when you arrive. 

I have just changed my flight to return on the 30th March 

Could i just extend the Visa in Thailand as I don't fancy a trip to London? And after I've got the visa change my return flight.. or just cancel the flight if I can't change it and get a cheap flight from Thailand to U.K. at a later date? 

FusionFury

The_Fat_Controller said:

@tightauldgit passports DO NOT need to go to the RTE.

All tourist visas are e-visas and delivered by email to print at home.

All done online since June 2019 as it says in the link YOU provided !

I don't fancy posting my passport either. If I can just do it when I get to Thailand it'll be better, and cheaper than travelling to London etc 

eDicky

It used to be possible to extend the 30 day by ten days at an immigration office, probably still is but I couldn't say for sure. There's a cost and hassle so the fine could be cheaper for just a few days. But there's a risk of landing in the immigration detention centre if found by police to be in the country without visa, that's not a pleasant experience and can take time to resolve. There's a forum called Thaivisa or similar where you could obtain up-to-date info.

The_Fat_Controller

@FusionFury

PLEASE read my post timed at 4:13, passports do not need to be sent anywhere.

What is you planned arrival date in Thailand ?

If it is the 1st March the you will automatically be allowed to stay until the 30th, nothing more is needed.

If you arrive on the 1st and wish to stay longer than 30 days you can apply for a 30 day extension in Thailand, but you will have to change your return date after arriving and before applying as immigration will require to see a flight out within the 30 day extension period.

DO NOT try to fly from the UK on a return ticket dated more than the 30 day visa-exempt period unless you have an onward flight out of Thailand in that period or a visa.

Airline check in staff may deny you boarding. 

Prior to Covid, many people purchased or booked an onward ticket to a third country with no intention to use it just to satisfy the check in Nazties at the UK airport.

The_Fat_Controller

@eDicky there were never any 10 day extensions.

They are all 30 days.

The moral of the story is actually.

If you want to stay 30 days or less just enter visa exempt

If you anticipate you may wish to stay between 31 and 60 days get a tourist visa, all online and delivered by email.

The cost is only £30

Getting an in country extension at immigration involves getting a few forms together and a trek to the office, the current cost is 1900 THB (£44), more expensive and more hassle.

eDicky

The_Fat_Controller said:

@eDicky there were never any 10 day extensions.

They are all 30 days.

The moral of the story is actually.

If you want to stay 30 days or less just enter visa exempt

If you anticipate you may wish to stay between 31 and 60 days get a tourist visa, all online and delivered by email.

The cost is only £30

Getting an in country extension at immigration involves getting a few forms together and a trek to the office, the current cost is 1900 THB (£44), more expensive and more hassle.

Your advice is obviously more up-to-date and valid than mine, including costs.

I did in the past extend the visa-free stay by ten days on at least two occasions, when no longer than that (at the office where I applied at least) and no further extension was possible. A thirty day extension was only possible on a tourist visa.

You're correct about denial of boarding a flight to Thailand without return or onward booking within the permitted stay period. It's so strict that Thai immigration don't check anything apart from passport/visa on entry.

FusionFury

Thanks guys for all the help 

So now I'm flying back on the 30th March (30 days) if I don't extend my Visa 

what happens in the unlikely occurrence that my return flight gets cancelled and I go over my 30 days because of a missed flight that wasn't my fault? Do I still get punished? 

FusionFury

I paid for a hotel in Thailand for 30 days.. guess how much?! £200!!! Absolute daylight robbery.. it's not a hostel either it's a proper hotel room, own toilet and the type of hotel room you'd pay about £50 a night in the U.K. for! Plus Thai people are so caring, do your washing etc they are so friendly! 

The_Fat_Controller

A cancelled flight can easily be proved and immigration should be lenient.

If you miss your return because you cannot tear yourself away from your girlfriend/boyfriend/ladyboyfriend then depending on how many days you overstay you will pay 500 THB/day at the airport.

The maximum charge is 20,000 THB but a long overstay can result in a ban on returning for a number of years.

If you get caught for breaking the law or by an immigration police check prior to getting to the airport you may be detained until you buy a new ticket home and pay your overstay fine.

The Immigration Detention Center (IDC) is not a place you wish to see the inside of.

If in doubt get a visa for £30