Thailand immigration changes visa rules again - yet more confusion!
As if the rules for visas in Thailand weren’t already ludicrously confusing, it has now been announced that the rules for visas on arrival have changed again. The report from the Phuket Gazette doesn’t quite clear the issues up, however:
“From October 1, 2006 to March 31, 2007, we counted all the days from the foreigner’s first day regardless whether the foreigner was actually in Thailand or not.
“Also, foreigners were not permitted to stay in Thailand after their 180-day period had expired [counted from the foreigner’s first day], regardless whether the foreigner had stayed a full 90 days in Thailand or not,” Capt. Krissarat said.
“However, the rule has been changed. From April 1, we now count only the days the foreigner has stayed in Thailand – and foreigners are now allowed to stay past the 180-day period,” he said.
The number of consecutive visa exemptions allowed is no longer limited to three, he added.
What this seems to be saying is that nothing has actually changed. Pol. Capt. Krissarat Nuesen seems to be under the impression that days in Thailand were not being counted and that after a first visa on arrival, you could only stay for 90 days, and then had to leave for 90 days. This isn’t how the system has been working. What he seems to be saying is that now only days spent actually in Thailand will be counted, which was the case anyway, was it not?
Thai immigration is renowned for doing things that utterly baffle foreigners. The rules often make little sense.
I first found this story on Thai Visa.
April 29th, 2007 at 3:32 am
Opened up your blog and the following Ads by Google were on your upper left side:
Thailand Gay
Gay Thailand
Thailand Massage
Thailand Bars
Not sure if those are really the kind of links you would want appearing on your blog
Just an FYI
When I clicked to comment they changed to Thai Visa links btw
April 29th, 2007 at 3:59 am
Yes I’ve noticed those. I’m not quite sure where they come from. I’m working on changing them.
April 30th, 2007 at 3:55 pm
oops, the internet ate my post.
anyhow, the old rule was they’d count your first entry then fast forward 180 days and that was the end of a cycle. if you entered the country on day 179 they’d tell you you had to leave the next day, even if you spent only a couple of days in country both trips.
seems irrational but it was to speed things up for the immigration officers who could simply add up the number written down from the previous officer and see it exceeds 90 days. now they’ll have to do a lot more adding but at least it stops those strange cycle problems from happening.
May 15th, 2008 at 4:53 am
Is there anyone who can help me please?
I have been mostly living in Thailand for the past six years on a variety of Visa’s. I am English with a British Passport, 69 years old. Until three years ago I was going back to the U.K. to see family and friends every year and so was able to get a one year Multi-Entry Visa. I also worked and lived in Hong Kong for 20 years until I retired 10 years ago and so was also able to get the same Visa there.
I sold my property in the U.K. in January and brought into my Thai Bank saving’s account about 1.5 Million Baht and the balance has never gone below One Million.
Now I have sold my property in the U.K. and want to retire in Thailand I came back to Thailand last week from visiting friends in Hong Kong on a 30 day Visa and was preparing to go to the Immigration offoce and formally apply for a one year retirement Visa but now friends have told me that you must have a ” Non Immigrant O ” Visa to apply for it to be changed to a retirement Visa. But I asked for this at Penang as well as Hong Kong earlier in the year and neither would issue me one. I was only issued with a single entry 60 day Visa which I could extend for 30 days.
So my question is Where do I have to go ( which Country ) to get a Non-Immigrant Visa issued?
Thank you.