Thailand Visa News: Tourist Visa Crackdown, Stricter Requirements, Overstay Regulations

Thailand Visa News - Updates on Thai Visa Regulations

August 2011
Stricter Requirements for Tourist Visa Applicants (?)
According to a report on ThaiVisa.com, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Bangkok has instructed Thai embassies abroad to be "stricter with requirements when applicants are applying for 60-day tourist visas for Thailand."
Royal Thai Embassies and Consulates will from now require a "confirmed airline ticket with flight numbers and date of entry/exit," when applying for the 60-day Tourist visa, "plus confirmed hotel reservations with name and dates of checking in/out." Previously, an air ticket (return ticket) had only been an officially required document that in practice no-one would ask for. Evidence of hotel reservation is a completely new item on the list.
ThaiVisa reports that "if a required document is missing, an explanation letter must be provided" to embassy officials;" which probably means that when you stay with friends, in your own condo etc. you will at least need to indicate the address. The new requirements are reportedly in effect immediately, i.e. since the end of August 2011.
To avoid "panic": In practice it may, as usual, depend on a lot of factors how strictly these official new requirements will be enforced in the future, most importantly at which embassy or consulate you apply for your tourist visa. Traditionally, it's always been easier to apply for a 'TR' visa in your home country (less documentation required) and so far, it seems, these new regulations are only being enforced at Thai embassies around SE Asia, and even there only on a case-by-case basis (as of September 2011, reports at ThaiVisa - see here and here - are still pretty conflicting.)
(Regarding whether the new requirements also applied to "visas on arrival," an immigration officer at Suvarnabhumi Airport told the Phuket Gazette that they would only be applied to tourists from countries granted visas on arrival valid for 15 days, but not to people from countries granted “visa exemptions” allowing stays up to 30 days.
“In case you are not staying in a hotel, you will need to provide the address of a friend, or where you will be staying while you are in the Kingdom," the officer was quoted as saying. "You do not have to provide any letter of invitation; just a valid address in Thailand ...")

July 2011
Pattaya Immigration Crackdown on Education Visas, 'Fake Students'
Thailand's Ministry of Education has warned all schools which offer Education Visas to foreigners to be legitimate and make sure the students adhere to attendance and testing requirements. The ministry has recently summoned all language school owners in Pattaya to address the issue and notify the schools of the crackdown.
“Now any language school found to be selling the Education visa simply to allow the foreigners to stay in Thailand without attending the school will be closed down and lose their license. All of the school’s students - whether attending or not - will have their ED visas cancelled,” a representative of the Ministry of Education stated.
Some schools in Pattaya are reportedly selling discounted "courses" where the "student" pays a reduced fee that gets them a visa but they have no intention of ever attending a class.
Chonburi Immigration police also told the schools that several "foreign nationals are now working undercover on behalf of immigration trying to buy a visa from schools without attending classes."
They will also investigate "visa shops and law firms who offer the ED Visa as it is only registered schools who can offer these visas." Pattaya Times

May 2011
30-Day "Visas On Arrival" for Nationals of Six More Countries
The foreign ministry has added six countries to the list of those whose citizens qualify for 30-day "visas on arrival" in Thailand.
Five of the countries whose nationals previously only qualified for 15-day visa exempt entries, are former Soviet bloc states - the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Poland and Slovenia. The 6th country is the tiny European principality of Lichtenstein.
Nationals of these countries now no longer need to apply for a tourist visa if they wish to visit the Kingdom for longer than 15 days (but not exceeding 30 days!) ThaiVisa.com

April 2011
No More Free Tourist Visa for Thailand
The "free tourist visa scheme," which was first implemented in early 2009 to stimulate Thailand's suffering tourism industry, and which allowed visitors to the Kingdom to obtain a Tourist Visa free of charge, has apparently not been extended after the measure expired on March 31, 2011.
On April 21, 2011, TAN reported that the Thai Cabinet had "decided to discontinue three [tourism stimulus measures] as the sector has recovered significantly. The three [discontinued] measures included exemption of [tourist] visa fees for foreign tourists ... and insurance for foreign tourists in case of being affected by riots or other [protest-related] violence." The measures, which were still implemented in the first three months of 2011, have allegedly "accomplished their intended task."
So apparently, from April 2011 onwards, regular tourist visa fees will apply again.
Normally tourist visa fees vary slightly from country to country. The standard fee is around US$25 for single-entry visas, respectively US$50 or US$75 for double or triple-entry visas. The consulate in Vientiane, Laos charges 1,000 Baht for single-entry visas (2,000 Baht for double-entry). Please also note that visa fees may be changed without prior notice. (For more details on the application process, fees etc., please visit our extra Thailand Tourist Visa page.)

January 2011
Thai Education Visa - An Alternative for Thailand Long-Stayers
You wish to stay in Thailand for a full year or longer, but don't qualify for a retirement, business or marriage visa? Tired of frequent "visa runs" to the Cambodian border or Laos? Problems with "too many" tourist visa in your passport? If your answer to one of these questions is "yes," and you're interested in learning new languages, then how about learning some Thai and, at the same time, solving your visa problems, all fully legally? All you need to do is enroll in a one-year Thai language course to be eligible to apply for a one-year non-immigrant ED visa ("student visa").
With this visa you do not have to leave Thailand every now and then but can stay here continually for a full year. All students need to do is extend their stay every 90 days at the immigration office for the duration of the course. Even better, you can study Thai for three years using the same ED visa!
The Ministry of Education make no distinction among students coming from different countries or continents, no prior knowledge or specific qualifications are required, and students from 12 to 99- year-old qualify for an ED visa. Most Thai language schools charge around 25,000 Thai Baht only for a one-year Thai course (at least 180 lessons over the course of a year) and many schools are conveniently located in Bangkok or Pattaya.
For more details on the visa application and extension process, fees etc. and language schools in the Pattaya area, please visit our dedicated Thailand Education Visa page.

September 2010
Immigration Enforces Stricter Overstay Regulations, Jail Time for Overstayers?
UPDATE: According to the online edition of the Pattaya Times newspaper, reports on changes to visa overstay regulations are false. In an article posted later on September 24, the Pattaya Times quotes Immigration sources as saying that "visa overstay penalties have not changed. Foreigners [on overstays exceeding 21 days] must not be afraid to leave the Kingdom of Thailand when they wish. They will not be arrested for overstays of less than 365 days." (The Pattaya Times report is based on "sources in Bangkok and Pattaya Immigration Bureaus.")
"If the overstay is less than one year the fine is 500 baht per day to a maximum of 20,000 baht. If the offender is arrested or stopped by any Thai police officer .. and found to be overstaying his or her visa, then they will be detained." This statement is in line with Thailand's Immigration Act and how overstay regulations have been enacted for years.
The "Bangkok officer" is quoted as saying, however, that "in case of overstays beyond 364 days, he or she [the offending foreigner] must be detained. A background check for wants and warrants is conducted. If the overstayer is found to be in no other violation, then he appears before a judge in Bangkok and is generally fined 20,000 Baht plus court costs and must return to his country of passport issuance. He or she is NOT blacklisted." Source: Pattaya Times
According to the Phuket Gazette newspaper, the Phuket Immigration chief also denied an online media report on ThaiVisa "stating that foreigners ... face arrest and detainment if their permits-to- stay have expired by 42 days or more." The Immigration chief is quoted as saying he's "confused about how this kind of news is spread. It is possibly a misunderstanding." Phuket Gazette
Please note that the original post on ThaiVisa.com excerpted below, is based on an article which is to be published only in the October 1 edition of the newly-established Pattaya One newspaper. The article has not been published on the Pattaya One website, though.
EARLIER REPORT (excerpted from a thread on ThaiVisa.com):
Allegedly tired of overstaying foreigners arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport with a valid air ticket and the maximum fine of 20,000 baht in their hands, the Immigration Department is now arresting and jailing people before permitting them to leave Thailand.
Anybody, who has overstayed his valid visa in Thailand beyond a period of six weeks (42 days) is no longer permitted to simply turn up with the cash and an air ticket, and leave the Kingdom after filling in a few forms. This has now altered, and anybody whose visa overstay is 42 days or longer is likely to be arrested.
People on an overstay of less than three weeks (21 days) are still able to arrive at the airport with the correct amount of folding stuff, pay the fine due and leave Thailand.
The grey area is for those whose overstay falls in the period between 3 and 6 weeks (between 22 and 41 days.) They can potentially have a problem. It is therefore being suggested anyone whose overstay falls into this time frame, should be aware that it will be up to the Immigration officer and his superiors to decide whether to detain the offending foreigner or permit him, or her, to leave the country unhindered, after payment of the overstay fine has been levied.
As with many legal situations in Thailand involving foreigners and money, the official rules tend to bend with the circumstances, and the mood of the relevant official or officials.
Nonetheless, it is being stated quite unequivocally that anyone on overstay exceeding 42 days (6 weeks) will be arrested. They will then spend at the very least one or two days behind bars, while waiting for the necessary paperwork to be processed. Tourists whose visas have expired are also advised to clear up long overstay issues in Bangkok rather than in Phuket, Pattaya or elsewhere.
Summary of current overstay regulations in Thailand:
- Overstay 1-21 days: Pay a fine 500 Baht/day at airport/land border crossing.
- Overstay 22-41 days: Pay a fine 500 Baht/day, possible arrest/detention, deportation, possible blacklisting.
- Overstay 42 days or more: Pay a fine up to 20,000 Baht, arrest/detention, deportation, possible blacklisting. Source: ThaiVisa.com

October 2009
Red Stamp Warnings: Crackdown on Back-To-Back Tourist Visas Enforced
In September 2009, ThaiVisa reported that in a crackdown on 60-days tourist visas, several Thai embassies and consulates in neighboring Southeast Asian countries (possibly around the world) were going to get tough on issuing back-to-back 60-day tourist visas. Applicants would now face stricter screening measures to make sure they are actually "tourists" and use the tourist visa not as a way to work in Thailand illegally. Applicants with too many back-to back tourist visa stamps or stickers in their passports may have a new tourist visa application refused.
The original announcement by the Immigration Bureau in early September stated that tourist visa applications by those applicants, who have "misused tourist visas" to illegally "work" in Thailand, were now "subject to rejection" as their applications weren't "based on tourism but on continuing their illegal employment."
This new regulation, the announcement continues, was in accordance with the Immigration Act, which stipulates that visa applicants are required to clearly express their purpose of visit.
Should it be found that an applicant's "real" purpose of visit was being concealed, the application would be rejected. Thai Immigration points out that "the intention of applicants in recent years to repeatedly depart and re-enter Thailand by the use of 60-day tourist visas issued in neighbouring countries will be considered as a concealment of the applicant’s real purpose in visiting Thailand. As a result, their applications will be rejected."
In other words, if you are "living" in Thailand as a tourist and just go on a visa run to Vientiane or so every couple of months to obtain another 60-day tourist visa, embassy staff might check your passport, count how many consecutive tourist visa stickers there are, and eventually refuse your visa application, presuming you're not a "genuine tourist". (So far it is unclear how many previous back-to-back tourist visas in your passport are okay, and if this new regulation would be enforced around the world or only regionally.)
Now reports abound that this new regulation is being actually enforced by Thai embassies in the Southeast Asian region, including the popular Thai embassy in Vientiane. Visa applicants report that Thai Embassies around Southeast Asia, including Laos, have started placing red stamps in applicant's passports. There have been numerous reports in recent weeks that tourist visas were still being issued to applicants with "too many" back-to-back tourist visas in their passports BUT they were given red warning stamps.
The remark on the red stamp reads as follows: "The holder has travelled to Thailand with Tourist Visa _ times. The Embassy may not accept the application next time." The image below shows such a red stamp, which was placed in the passport of a tourist visa applicant in Vientiane, who uploaded it to the Thai Visa forum upon return to Thailand. Positive evidence that the crackdown on tourist visa "long-stayers" is finally being enforced:

Thai Immigration has earlier advised foreigners living in Thailand (provided they are qualified to do so) to apply for a Non-Immigrant visa. But, what if one doesn't qualify for a "retirement visa", isn't married to a Thai national, or doesn't (want to) run a business or work in Thailand??
Well, the only viable option for Thailand "long-stayers", who don't qualify for one of the going Non-
Immigrant visas mentioned above, seems to be a Non-Immigrant visa "ED" (aka Education Visa).
The idea is that you enroll for a Thai language course (for example) at a local school or university and then, with your acceptance letter from the Thai school, apply for a Non-Immigrant ED visa at a Thai embassy (preferably abroad). Basically, with an ED visa you can stay in Thailand for a full year without any visa runs whatsoever (only 90-day reports to a local Immigration Bureau).
Another option may be a visa run to the Thai embassy in Perth, Australia, or Hull in the UK, that both have a good reputation for hassle-free tourist visa issuance; however, for most "professional tourists", frequent flights to Australia or the UK - just to get another silly tourist visa sticker, may not be very attractive ...

September 2009
Immigration Bureau Moves to New Location
On September 28 2009, the Office of the Immigration Bureau in Bangkok, formerly on Soi Suan Plu, moves to a new location. The Nation has a map. Here's the new address:
Office of the Immigration Bureau
Bangkok Government Center, Building B
Chaengwattana Road, Laksi District, Bangkok 10210
Tel. 0-2141-9889, Fax 0-2143-8228, www.immigration.go.th

June 2009
Crackdown on Visa-Runners: Now Only Four Consecutive Border Runs
In a crackdown on foreigners who "abuse" the visa exemption rule allowing 15-day extensions at land border checkpoints, Thai Immigration has confirmed a new regulation, effective from June 1, 2009.
A foreigner who has entered the Kingdom four consecutive times on 15-day entry stamps will not be allowed to leave the country and re-enter by land.
The only option is to exit the Kingdom and re-enter via an international airport, which will allow a further 30-day extension of stay in the country. ThaiVisa.com

February 2009
Changes in Immigration Office Areas
From February 2009 on, all Immigration bureaus have been strictly instructed that foreigners have to use only the Immigration office, which has administrative jurisdiction over the areas where they live.
For example, if you stay or live in Pattaya, you must use exclusively the local Immigration office in Jomtien Soi 5. This applies to re-entry permits, visa extensions etc.
Pattaya Immigration Bureau

December 2008
30-Day Border Runs Now Only 15 Days
As of December 2008, the Thai Immigration bureau has issued a new, strict regulation regarding the 30-days visa exemption.
Effective immediately, travellers who have not obtained a regular (tourist) visa prior to their entry, and arrive in the Kingdom via a land border checkpoint, will receive only a 15-days permission of stay. Tourists arriving at international airports still get a 30-days entry stamp.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

November 2008
Non-Immigrant "Marriage Visa": Bank Deposit, Income Must Be Husband's
As Thai Immigration law requires the proof of a family income, it had become a popular option for less 'wealthy' partners of Thai spouses to apply for a Non-Immigrant visa "type O" on the grounds that they're being supported by their spouse provided he/she has a sufficient monthly income and can proof this by submission of tax statements.
However, it seems, in November 2008 Thai Immigration have changed the rules yet again and the minimum income of 40,000 Baht per month, or the 400,000-Baht deposit on a local bank account must be the husband's.
From Police order 777/2551: In case of marriage with a Thai woman, the husband who is an alien must have an average annual income of not less than 40,000 Baht per month or a money deposit in a local Thai bank of not less than 400,000 Baht ...

October 2008
Pattaya Immigration Requests Early Visa Renewals
Pattaya Immigration have announced that holders of 1-year Non-Immigrant "retirement visas" are requested to renew their visa not less than 7 days before the expiry date.
In addition, foreigners of all age groups holding a "marriage visa" are also advised to re-apply not less than seven days before the visa expiry date.