UK Citizen travelling in and out of Thailand over a 31/32 day window: what visa will I need?
In June, I will be travelling to South East Asia. I land in Bangkok on the 6th of June, before beginning a tour of countries. My partner and I move across the border to Cambodia and circle east and upwards, before heading back west and crossing at the MeKong river on 02nd July. I leave Thailand again by train over the Malaysian border on the 6th or 7th(on a night train). My partner will be following the same route and dates, except for flying out of Bangkok on the 6th. We are both UK residents.
Will we have to apply for a full tourist visa, or if we are able to enter under the tourist visa exemption? Onwards travel has already been arranged in all circumstances, but we are unsure whether the border crossings by land transport will count for valid leaving, or if we must instead treat our visit as spending 31 days in Thailand.
Best Answer
For the 30 day visa exemption you need to document that you are leaving Thailand before the 30 days are up. And the only real proof is an airplane ticket out. A bus ticket to the border does not count.
You will need to prove this first the airline flying you to Bangkok as they have the legal responsibility to check before boarding you. Immigration rarely checks unless you look slovenly or broke when you arrive. Because your partner's flight and your train trip are 31 days, you are safest getting a tourist visa before going, then the 30 day exemption when you return from Cambodia (or re-reading perhaps you are turning via Laos, but either way the same advice).
Pictures about "UK Citizen travelling in and out of Thailand over a 31/32 day window: what visa will I need?"
Do I need a visa to stay in Thailand for 30 days?
The VISA EXEMPTION RULE allows tourists from 64 countries1 to enter Thailand without a visa. They are granted to stay a maximum of 30 days if they are entering Thailand via an international airport or entering through a land border checkpoint from neighboring countries.Can I extend my 30-day visa on arrival in Thailand?
It is also possible to extend a 30-day entry stamp/visa on arrival at an immigration office. The fee is 1,900 Baht and it is possible to apply for an extension of another 30 days, though in some cases you may only receive an extension of 7 days; this is at the discrepancy of the immigration official.How many times can you enter Thailand on a 30-day visa?
You can enter Thailand through a land border using the 30-day visa exemption 2 times in one year. If you need to enter by land more than this, you'll need to get the appropriate visa before you travel. For more information, contact the nearest Thai embassy or consulate.Do I need a visa to visit Thailand for 2 weeks?
Foreigners may also apply for a Tourist Visa from their local Thai embassy or consulate. There is the normal 60-day tourist visa that can be extended for an additional 30 days, or the 90-day special tourist visa (STV), which can receive two 90-day visa extensions at the local immigration office.HOW TO GET A 30 DAY VISA EXTENSION IN THAILAND
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: shalender kumar, Engin Akyurt, Red Zeppelin, Ethan Wilkinson