Don't make multiple visa runs

[Jun]

One of my ASEAN friends was denied entry at DMK. I gather he has spent most of the last 2 years in Thailand.
He spent 2 days in the airport and then flew to Vientiane. He re-entered Thailand by land 2 days after that and paid them just 200 baht.
Apparently they wouldn't take any amount of tea money at DMK and they even suggested he would be better off using BKK airport.

Once my 90 days up, I'd prefer to go to Cambodia for a few days.
However, given that the land border is closed, my tentative plan is to go to Vientiane.

[Gaybutton]

However, given that the land border is closed, my tentative plan is to go to Vientiane.

You could still go to Cambodia if you want. The land border between Thailand and Cambodia is closed, but there is nothing to prevent you from entering Lao from Cambodia and Thailand from Lao and vice-versa.

Alternatively, why not fly? Flights to and from Thailand to Cambodia and Cambodia to Thailand are operating normally. Unless you have reason to believe Thailand might not admit you, that option is open to you.

You could also opt for spending this holiday only in Thailand. With the situation still as tense as it is. that would be the safest thing to do. If it were me, I would pick one country or the other. but not both - not this trip and not until things settle down and land borders reopen.

[Jun]

Spending the holiday only in Thailand doesn't work, at least not by legal methods. My visa is good for 90 days and the trip is nearer to 4 months.
From what I remember, there are no 30 day extensions available on the 90 day visa. So I either have to go somewhere else or pay an agency to get a bent visa.

Now last time I flew into DMK, there was some questioning by immigration. I'm not the only member who had that. I think this just about swings the balance in favour of going to Laos, as I can use the land border.

[Gaybutton]

This is so typical - changing the rules in the middle of the game without properly publicizing and making the rules crystal clear. I've seen that happen with immigration several times over the years and people are expected to somehow just know and comply. So it comes as no surprise to me that once again people are expected to know the rules without proper clarification and without making certain people won't be boarding long haul flights to Thailand only to find themselves turned away upon arrival.

For example, having to show evidence customs officials will accept as having sufficient financial means. What evidence is acceptable? How much available money constitutes sufficient financial means? How much money is not enough? Anybody know? I don't.

What exactly, step by step, happens next if you do get rejected? I don't know that one either.

Does anyone think if the people who were denied entry had any idea they were not in compliance with the current rules and might be turned away would have made the trip in the first place?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Thai Tourism Industry Urges Clearer Visa Guidelines Amid Surge in Viral Entry Denial Videos and Social Media Posts

By Adam Judd

December 11, 2025

As Thailand’s immigration authorities intensify crackdowns on repeated “visa runs” which are short border hops used to extend short-term stays, tourism operators are calling on the government to ramp up public communication of updated entry rules and enhance pre-arrival screening processes.

The push comes amid a sharp rise in foreigners being turned away at airports and land borders, raising fears that confusion over the new restrictions could deter genuine visitors and harm the kingdom’s vital tourism sector. Viral videos and stories online from people allegedly rejected and having to fly back home or who were detained have led to statements by Royal Thai Immigration stating they were only following policy and that the people involved were breaking various rules.

The Immigration Bureau’s stricter enforcement, which took effect in November, limits visa-exempt entries – allowing up to 60 days per visit for citizens of 93 countries – to no more than two per calendar year without a valid justification, such as proof of onward travel or financial means.

Extensions of these stays are now capped at two instances annually, with the first adding 30 days and the second just seven. Officials say the measures target digital nomads and people working illegally, long-term residents masquerading as tourists, and criminals exploiting the system for activities like online scams and money laundering, particularly in expat-heavy areas such as Pattaya, Phuket, and Hua Hin.

Since January, authorities have denied entry to approximately 2,900 foreigners flagged for suspicious patterns, including those with passports showing seven or more consecutive runs totaling over 200 days in the country. At major gateways like Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, as well as land borders with Cambodia and Laos, officers are now conducting more rigorous interviews, demanding evidence of accommodation, return tickets, and itineraries for repeat entrants. Same-day exits and re-entries, once a common tactic, are outright prohibited and treated as red flags.

While the bureau insists the policy spares legitimate short-term tourists – who typically stay an average of 15 days and provide clear travel plans – the lack of widespread awareness has led to unintended fallout. Reports from Thai media highlight cases of bewildered travelers, including families and business visitors, facing delays or outright refusals due to unfamiliarity with the changes. Pol Maj Gen Choengron Rimpadee, deputy commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, stated that the rules apply equally to all nationalities, countering rumors of bias against groups like Russian or Chinese tourists.

In response, representatives from the tourism industry, including hotel associations and tour operators, have voiced growing frustration over the opaque rollout. “The sudden enforcement is creating panic among potential visitors who fear they’ll be caught off-guard,” said a spokesperson for the Pattaya Tourist Association in a recent interview. They argue that without regular updates via official channels – such as the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) website, embassy alerts, and airline partnerships – innocent travelers may opt for alternative destinations like Vietnam or Malaysia, where entry rules are perceived as more straightforward.

Operators are advocating for expanded use of digital pre-screening tools, including the mandatory Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), which requires submission of travel details at least 72 hours before arrival. “Pre-approvals could flag issues early, allowing us to guide clients toward proper visas like the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) for remote workers or Elite Visa for long-stayers,” the spokesperson added. The TAT, which has promoted 2025 as the “Amazing Thailand Grand Tourism Year” with visa exemptions for 93 nations, echoed these sentiments in a policy briefing, stressing the need for “seamless experiences” to sustain the projected 40 million foreign arrivals.

Thailand’s tourism rebound remains robust, with nearly 28 million international visitors through the end of 2024, surpassing pre-pandemic levels and generating over 1.4 trillion baht ($41 billion) in revenue. However, a 5% dip in arrivals earlier this year amid global economic headwinds and regional competition shows the stakes. Immigration Bureau chief Pol Lt Gen Panumas Boonyalug has defended the measures as essential for “quality tourism,” promising they won’t impact genuine economic contributors.

As the high season continues, industry leaders are urging swift action from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports. “Clear, multilingual advisories and tech-driven checks aren’t just helpful – they’re critical to keeping Thailand the top choice for the world,” one Phuket-based operator told Thai media. With the policy still evolving, travelers are advised to consult official sources or apply for long-term visas in advance to avoid surprises at the gate.

https://tpnnational.com/2025/12/11/thai ... dia-posts/

[Dodger]

If foreign tourists were refused entry at most airports or border-crossings in the modern world for failing to comply with a brand-new policy which WAS NOT communicated to travelers ahead of time - it would usually result in people in high places being fired from their jobs.

In this case it appears as if Thai Immigration, TAT, and/or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs dropped the ball, but this being Thailand with it's third-world behaviors, not a single feather will be ruffled. Only the feathers of the unsuspecting tourists.

I know that if I was a frequent visitor to Thailand who stayed 90 days or more per visit I'd just go ahead and obtain a retirement visa. That's actually what I did 3 years before I retired. It was much simpler. And simpler is best.

TIT

[Jun]

My understanding is that we are now permitted 2 visa free entries per year.

In 2025, I will have been in Thailand for 124 days, with 2 visa free entries and a 90 day visa. I believe that complies.

I'd rather not go for a retirement visa until I'm here for around or over 180 days.

For a start, I'm not sure what they accept as income. Most of mine is dividends. Whilst the monthly average will comfortably exceed the minimum, it varies from month to month. Also, it's in several different broker accounts.

Leaving 800,000 in a bank account is a cost. I'd say at least 4%, or 32,000 baht per year in lost investment returns. I'd accept that as the price of residency here, but I'm not going to sign up until I have to.

Incidentally, one of my Lao friends was warned about this policy when crossing into Thailand. Now, if bar boys were ever limited to 60 days in Thailand, spending more of my time in Cambodia and Laos becomes attractive. I already miss some of the Cambodians. If they were to really control the entry of the Lao boys as well, Pattaya becomes a lot less attractive.

[Gaybutton]

I'm not sure what they accept as income. Most of mine is dividends. Whilst the monthly average will comfortably exceed the minimum, it varies from month to month. Also, it's in several different broker accounts.

Why not go to immigration, tell them you are anticipating retiring in Thailand, explain your income, and ask them how it would work and what you would need to do and provide when the time comes? The time to find out would be before getting serious about retirement in Thailand.

[Jun]

Why not go to immigration, tell them you are anticipating retiring in Thailand, explain your income, and ask them how it would work and what you would need to do and provide when the time comes? The time to find out would be before getting serious about retirement in Thailand.

Various reasons:

Partly because I like setting foot in that immigration office about as much as I like the idea of root canal treatment without anasthetic.

I've probably also been making the mistake of assuming that they wouldn't accept uneven dividend income. I should reconsider that.

Also, I like things in writing, wherever possible.

However, it's about time to research this further, by one means or another.

[christianpfc]

For example, having to show evidence customs officials will accept as having sufficient financial means. What evidence is acceptable? How much available money constitutes sufficient financial means? How much money is not enough? Anybody know? I don't.

That's very clear in immigration rules, and has been for a long time, but rarely enforced: 20,000 THB per person or 40,000 THB per family, or equivalent in other currency. There reports that there are no ATMs in that area before you clear immigration (I have to check next time), and arrivals are not allowed to access an ATM elsewhere. You might have enough money on your bank account, and you might have your card with you, but will not be allowed in for lack of cash!

When I travel, I have 1000 EUR or USD with me anyway, but there seem to be a lot of people who rely on cards and don't carry that amount of cash. However, there have been reports of people being denied entry for lack of funding, despite having the required amount with them.

[Gaybutton]

there have been reports of people being denied entry for lack of funding, despite having the required amount with them.

Why am I not surprised?