How many times a year can you visit Thailand.

[mark271]

Hello,

How many times can you visit Thailand in a year. Is it just you can visit as much as you like as long as you dont go over 9 months. Or is it that when you leave that is your first visa gone and you can only visit 3 times.

Thanks Mark,

[MrDK]

Using the visa waiver program (stamp on arrival) you can visit a total of 90 days in any 6 months period, however, you need to leave the country no later than after each 30 days. You can get a 7-day extension while in the country, but it still eats away of the total of 90 days.

A tourist visa is for 60 days with an option to extend for an additional 30 days in Thailand.

That should cover you for the first 180 days (a total of 4 entries to Thailand), as you still have the accumulative 90 days available after the tourist visa has been used.

What I am not sure of is whether you can get a 60+30 day tourist visa, by leaving the country (i.e. Malaysia) and apply at a local consulate. I have a hunch that it is possible at some consulates, but that it is getting more and more difficult.

[mark271]

Not sure if that has fully answered my question as I will never be in Thailand for more than 2 weeks at a time. So my questions is how many times in a year can you go to Thailand for 2 weeks.

[Spector]

Originally Posted by mark271

Not sure if that has fully answered my question as I will never be in Thailand for more than 2 weeks at a time. So my questions is how many times in a year can you go to Thailand for 2 weeks.

I think Mr DK answered your question. You can spend no more then 90 days every 180 days in Thailand on a standard 30 day visa. So that's a lot of 2 week holidays. So you would have to do some math should you keep entering and leaving so as not to exceed 90 days in the last 180.

[MrDK]

Correct Spector. I have entered Thailand 4 times in a less than 6 month period, each getting a 30 day stamp. On the 4th trip the immigration office did calculate and since the three first trip did not total 60 days (not even close) I got my 4th 30 day stamp.

[snakebite911]

Originally Posted by mark271

Not sure if that has fully answered my question as I will never be in Thailand for more than 2 weeks at a time. So my questions is how many times in a year can you go to Thailand for 2 weeks.

Up to two weeks at a time you should be able to manage 10 trips? (Barring a difficult immigration officer)

[MrDK]

Originally Posted by snakebite911

Up to two weeks at a time you should be able to manage 10 trips? (Barring a difficult immigration officer)

Actually 12. If going for two weeks you can go every months, so long as they are evenly spaced. Two weeks is 15 days (using the Thai Immigration Calculator). 6*15 = 90.

[snakebite911]

Originally Posted by MrDK

Actually 12. If going for two weeks you can go every months, so long as they are evenly spaced. Two weeks is 15 days (using the Thai Immigration Calculator). 6*15 = 90.

Will they allow you another 30 day visa after your 5th trip (75th day) in less than 180 days? That is why I wrote 10, I was thinking maybe 11 would be attainable, but would require serious advance planning, me thinks?

[MrDK]

Originally Posted by snakebite911

Will they allow you another 30 day visa after your 5th trip (75th day) in less than 180 days? That is why I wrote 10, I was thinking maybe 11 would be attainable, but would require serious advance planning, me thinks?

They should allow you 15 days as you will have that many left of the 90 and the same should be the case every months thereafter. This is obviously theoretical as I couldn't imagine anyone consistently timing their trips like that, so more for the purpose of illustration.

[Mac]

The last time I entered at the new airport I was quizzed for about two minutes by immigration. I had two 30 day visas.. Jan and March but one in November. On each I had been in Thailand about 10 days. I arrived in June.

The officer said. You have been here three times in 6 months. I said yes. He then said. Next time no tourist visa.

I asked for an explanation. He just shut up and stamped my passport. I think it is safer to get a Non Immigrant O visa for multiple trips.

Mac

[MrDK]

You can print out a copy of this page from the Thai Embassy in London:
Tourist Visa Exemption

In accordance with the Immigration Bureau's Order number 608 / 2549 (2006), the above-mentioned passport holders will be permitted to stay in Thailand not exceeding 30 days and in total not exceeding 90 days within six months from the first date of entry.

Or this one from the Thai Embassy in the US which seems to explain it a bit better:
The Royal Thai Embassy, Washington, D.C.

Nationals from 36 designated countries may travel to Thailand for the purpose of tourism
as frequently as they wish without a visa and will be permitted to stay for a period of not
exceeding 30 days on each visit. They may, however, re-enter and stay in Thailand for a
cumulative duration of stay of not exceeding 90 days within any 6 month period from the date of
first entry.
The 36 countries include Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Brunei, Belgium, Canada, Denmark,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kuwait,
Luxembourg, Malaysia, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, the Philippines, Portugal,
Qatar, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, UAE, USA, and the UK.