Thailand Overstay New Rules 2022 | What Happens If You Overstay?

Like with many other Thai laws you don’t want to face Thailand overstay consequences because it will be costly and you could even end up being banned from re-entering the country for up to 10 years.

So, what happens if you overstay in Thailand? If your overstay is a couple of hours, then your overstay fine can be waived. For one day overstay in Thailand, the penalty is 16 USD (500 Baht). The maximum fine for overstay is 627 USD (20 000 Baht), and chances of getting into Thailand overstay blacklist. For visa overstay of 90 days, temporary Thailand re-entry ban of 1 year is applied.

Read this article to find out what recent Thailand overstay rules have changed and how to avoid hefty fines for overstaying your visa in Thailand.

 

Thailand Overstay New Rules

Depending on how long have you overstayed your visa in Thailand consequences can be different. In some occasions, the penalty can be waived, but in most cases, it will be applied.

Let’s take a look at what to expect from Thailand overstay policy if you have overstayed your visa for a couple of hours, days and years.

Here is a list of things that might occur if you overstay your visa in Thailand:

• Overstay fine can be waived off
• Fine of at least 500 Baht will be applied
• Maximum fine of 20 000 Baht will be applied
• Fine of 20 000 Baht will be applied together with temporary re-entry ban

Note that if an immigration officer catches a person who has overstayed his visa in Thailand, he or she might be taken to jail or nearest immigration office for further investigation.

 

On what occasions overstay fine can be waived?

Fine for overstay in Thailand can be waived if it wasn’t your fault that caused the overstay.

For example, your visa expires on 15th March. The same day when you have booked a flight to your home country. In case that flight would be delayed most likely you won’t have to pay the fine.

If such a situation occurs and you have to explain yourself to Thai authorities, it is always recommended to keep your cool.

 

On what occasions fine of 500 Baht has to be paid?

It is what happens if you overstay your visa in Thailand by one day. The minimum fine is 500 Baht (15.84 USD, 14.00 EUR, 12.02 GBP).

Overstaying in Thailand for two days will cost you 1000 Baht (31.70 USD, 27.99 EUR, 24.05 GBP).

Basically, for every next day that you overstay in Thailand, you have to pay an additional 500 Baht.

 

On what occasions fine of 20 000 Baht has to be paid?

Fine of 20 000 Baht (627 USD, 560 EUR or 480 GBP) has to be paid if you have overstayed your visa in Thailand for more than 40 days.

Anywhere between 40 to 90 days the fine 20 000 Baht.

It gets complicated if you overstay your visa longer than 90 days.

 

On what occasions fine of 20 000 Baht together with temporary re-entry ban is applied?

I can not imagine why would anyone overstay his visa in Thailand longer than 90 days, but if it has happened a penalty of 20 000 Baht has to be paid as well as it will be forbidden to re-enter the country for at least one year.

 

Avoid Overstaying In Thailand Get A Multiple Entry Tourist Visa For Thailand (METV)

Multiple Entry Tourist Visa is a must have for those travelers who would like to visit Thailand for longer than 90 days.

Many people online (blogs, forums, youtube, etc.) talk about double-entry and triple-entry visas although since 2015 they are non-existent. Instead, now there are Single Entry Tourist Visa (SETV) and Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV).

Getting a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa and reapplying for it is the best way how to stay in Thailand long term. Getting a multiple entry visa and renewing it every 60 days is the way how many digital nomads can stay in Thailand for longer legally.

First of all, you have to apply for a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa before your flight to Thailand.

Here is an example, a scenario of how to stay in Thailand as a tourist for 180 days or even more:

• Apply for a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa in your home country or any other Thai embassy or consulate
• Go to Thailand with your visa allowing you to stay in Thailand for 60 days
• When those 60 days are soon to expire, do a visa run by visiting another country and coming back as soon as you want
• Now you can stay in Thailand for another 60 days
• When those 60 days are about to expire, do your second visa run
• Now you can stay in Thailand for another 60 days

At this point, you have spent 180 days in Thailand (60 + +60 + 60 days).  It is legal, and you have done it without overstaying your Thai visa.

Thailand overstays law allows re-entering Thailand with a valid Multiple Entry Tourist Visa for as many times you want. 

 

Where To Pay Overstay Fine In Bangkok?

Here is a list of places where to pay overstay fine in Bangkok:

• In the immigration office in Bangkok
• In the Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) immigration office
• On the border when leaving Thailand

If you are planning to pay the overstay penalty at the Suvarnabhumi Airport turn yourself in to immigration authorities at the airport. Do not waste your time waiting in long lines just to find out that you have to head to the immigration office.

 

What Is The Penalty For Overstaying In Thailand?

The math is simple. For each day that a person overstays in Thailand, there is a 500 Baht fee to be paid.

Here is the list of how much is the overstay fine in Thailand:

• Thailand overstay 1 day – 500 Baht fine
• Thailand overstay 2 days – 1 000 Baht fine
• Thailand overstay 5 days – 2 500 Baht fine 
• Thailand overstay 20 days – 10 000 Baht fine 
• Thailand overstay 30 days –  15 000 Baht fine (473.65 USD, 414.90 EUR, 358.84 GBP)

It means the largest penalty without getting a ban for overstaying a visa in Thailand is 20 000 Baht. That is 627 USD, 560 EUR or 480 GBP.

Fine of 20 000 Baht is what you have to pay for overstaying your visa longer than 40 days.

The penalty for overstaying visa longer than 90 days is a fine of 20 000 Baht and a ban for re-entering Thailand for one year.

As visa extension in Thailand costs 1 900 Baht (60.01 USD, 52.55 EUR, 45.45 GBP) it is an easy decision either to extend it or to pay a fine.

 

Where To Extend Visa In Bangkok?

To extend a tourist visa in Bangkok visit the Thai Immigration Office in Bangkok.

Its address is 120 3 Thanon Chaeng Watthana, Khwaeng Thung Song Hong, Khet Lak Si, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon 10210, Thailand.

Bangkok Immigration Office in Bangkok opening hours are from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. It is opened on workingdays only.

Thai Immigration Bureau Division

 

Here is a list of immigration offices in Thailand where to extend visa:

• Chiang Rai – 117 10 Tambon Wiang Phang Kham, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Rai, Chang Wat Chiang Rai 57130, Thailand. Chiang Mai Immigration opening hours are from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. It is opened on workdays only.
• Chiang Mai – 71 Moo 3, Sanaam Bin Road, T. Suthep, A. Muang Chiang Mai 50180.
• Phuket (Phuket Town) – 482 Phuket Rd, Amphoe Mueang Phuket, Chang Wat Phuket 83000, Thailand. Phuket Immigration opening hours are from 8:30 AM to 4 PM. It is opened on workdays only.
• Phuket (Patong Beach) – Pa Tong, Kathu District, Phuket 83150, Thailand. It’s opening hours are from 10 AM to 3 PM.

Note that it is not the complete list as I have included only the most popular tourist destinations.

Note that to apply for a visa extension in Thailand you can do it 14 days before it expires. 

To avoid getting a Thailand overstay, stamp in your passport it is highly recommended to extend the visa on time. Getting red colored overstay check mark in your passport won’t ban you from the country but be prepared to explain yourself to Thai authorities when entering Thailand for the next time.

 

How Much Does It Cost To Extend Visa In Thailand?

Visa extension in Thailand costs 1 900 Baht. It is 60.01 USD.

It doesn’t take long to get a visa extension in Thailand. Normally it is a process of up to 1,5 hours.

 

What Do You Need To Extend Your Visa In Thailand?

Similar to other rules and laws in Thailand they are constantly changing. Here below I’ve listed the basic things needed for visa extension although I am aware that sometimes Thai immigration officers ask for flight ticket out of Thailand as well.

Here is a list of things needed for a visa extension in Thailand:

• A passport with validity of over 6 months beyond the date of application
• 1 900 Baht (60.01 USD, 52.55 EUR, 45.45 GBP)
• 2 photographs in size of 35mm x 45mm
• 1 copy of your passport
• 1 copy of your tourist visa for Thailand (stamp in your passport)

 

Can I Leave Thailand On The Day My Visa Expires?

Yes, there is no problem with that. It is not against Thailand overstay policy.

Let’s say if your visa expires on the 15th of March, you are allowed to leave the country on the 15th of March until midnight.

Hopefully, it will not happen but in case your flight out of the country will be delayed, and you will overstay your visa for a couple of hours most likely you will not have to pay any penalties because it was not your fault.

 

Re-Entering Thailand After Overstay

You shouldn’t have any issues reentering Thailand if you have overstayed your visa during your previous visit unless your overstay was longer than 90 days.

If your overstay does not incur a ban, you are free to enter the country.

Also, there is no need for a new passport. Thai immigration system will know your travel record, and it will allow for immigration officers to recognize you.

Note that when re-entering the country immigration officers might ask you some questions like these:

• Ticket info of a flight out
• Name and address of selected accommodation
• Proof that you have enough money for your stay

By the way, I was asked the same questions when I was entering Thailand for the first time. As I already knew that it is going to happen, I had everything prepared, and the procedure of getting into the country was easy and fast.

I recommend capturing the print screen of your hotel address before your flight to Thailand. Printing the address is an even better idea. This way you will get through the immigration office much faster because you will not have to search for the address of your stay.

 

How Long Can You Stay In Thailand Without A Visa?

Staying in Thailand without a valid visa is illegal.

There are many wrong reports online that Thailand overstay law for tourists allows staying in Thailand only for 90 days during a 180 days long period. Those are wrong.

Until 2014 tourists were allowed to stay in Thailand for a maximum of 90 days during a 180 days long period. Meaning if a tourist had stayed in Thailand for 90 days in a row, he then had to leave the country to be able to return only after another 90 days has passed.

Since 2014 Thailand overstay law has changed and to avoid getting into the Thailand overstay blacklist a tourist visa extension is required every 90 days.

Nowadays every tourist can stay in Thailand for as long as he wants, but every 90 days he has to leave the country to return back with a renewed visa. Visa runs are a real thing in Thailand.

Most often Cambodia, Hong Kong, and Bali are the countries for such visa runs. There are even services that provide visa runs in Thailand.

Can I Get A 90 Day Tourist Visa For Thailand?

There is no such thing as a 90-day tourist visa.

If you want to stay in Thailand for 90 days, you will need a Single Entry Tourist Visa For Thailand. Single entry visa allows staying in Thailand for 60 days, and you can extend it by 30 days. Taking these actions would allow you to stay in Thailand for 90 days in a row.

For how many days can you stay in Thailand with Visa Exemption?

If you are allowed and you plan to visit Thailand without a visa – meaning getting a Visa Exemption (Visa Waiver) when you arrive in Thailand you will be allowed to stay in Thailand for 30 days.

Visa Exemption can be extended at any immigration office in Thailand, but that will add only 30 extra days for your stay in Thailand. So 60 days in total.

Here is a list of countries eligible for Visa Exemption:

1. Argentina
2. Australia
3. Austria
4. Bahrain
5. Belgium
6. Brazil
7. Brunei
8. Canada
9. Chile
10. Czech Republic
11. Denmark
12. Estonia
13. Finland
14. France
15. Germany
16. Greece
17. Hong Kong
18. Hungary
19. Iceland
20. Indonesia
21. Ireland
22. Israel
23. Italy
24. Japan
25. Korea
26. Kuwait
27. Laos
28. Liechtenstein
29. Luxembourg
30. Macau
31. Malaysia
32. Monaco
33. Mongolia
34. Netherlands
35. New Zealand
36. Norway
37. Oman
38. Peru
39. Philippines
40. Poland
41. Portugal
42. Qatar
43. Russia
44. Singapore
45. Slovak Republic
46. Slovenia
47. South Africa
48. Spain
49. Sweden
50. Switzerland
51. Turkey
52. United Arab Emirates
53. United Kingdom
54. United States
55. Vietnam

Note that if you plan to travel to Thailand by land, you can use your Visa Exemption only two times per year.

For how many days can you stay in Thailand with Visa on Arrival?

Visa on Arrival allows to stay in Thailand only for 15 days, and it can be extended only either for 48 hours or 7 days.

Here is a list of countries eligible for Visa on Arrival:

1. Andorra
2. Bulgaria
3. Bhutan
4. China
5. Cyprus
6. Ethiopia
7. Fiji
8. India
9. Kazakhstan
10. Latvia
11. Lithuania
12. Maldives
13. Malta
14. Mauritius
15. Papua New Guinea
16. Romania
17. San Marino
18. Saudi Arabia
19. Taiwan
20. Ukraine
21. Uzbekistan