THAILAND VISA AND DURATION OVERSTAY...
Some precisions on the VISA for Thailand and above all the EXTENSION to stay beyond 30 days…
If you are a European citizen and you come to Thailand less than 30 days you do not need a visa.
You just have to make sure that your passport is still valid for six months from the date of entry into the territory.
This is important because if this is not the case you may not be able to embark on your flight and if you can embark you may be banned from entering the territory upon your arrival.
For a stay of more than 30 days:
You have two possibilities:
1) Make a 60 day tourist visa at the Thai Embassy in France (or in your country of residence in Europe if you are not French).
2) Make a visa extension directly in Thailand when you have arrived.
Personally I think the second solution is simpler because making a tourist visa in Europe takes time, requires to do many papers, move or take the services of an agency that does it for you.
If you opt for the first solution simply go to the website of the Embassy of Thailand in France where you will find all the explanations and the contact details to call them if necessary.
The visa extension is 30 days and not renewable and this you do your visa in France of 60 days or the extension once in Thailand.
Your choice will also depend on the duration. If you plan to stay less than 60 days you can make the request in Thailand but if your stay is up to 90 days you will necessarily have to opt for a first visa of 60 days that you will do in France and then an extension in Thailand 30 days.
You will also need to know if you plan to stay in Thailand alone or visit a neighbouring country and return to Thailand. If so think about applying for a multiple visa entries because if you do not you will be granted only a simple visa entry, which means that the exit of the territory cancels your visa.
The case of the visa run
If you go out of Thailand and you come back you will be entitled again to 15 days if you enter overland and 30 days by air.
Nevertheless I do not advise to do this because the texts are not very clear and the granting of the visa run is left to the free appreciation of the immigration Officer who can accept or not.
Another point to know: the duration of 90 days of validity of a visa and its extension is valid only once a period of 6 months i.e. 2 times a year.
Where is the visa extension?
For Bangkok it is exclusively at the Immigration Office of Chaengwattana Soi 7 (and not at the main office of Suan Plu where they will send you to Chaengwattana).
If you are not on Bangkok you can also make the extension in all other immigration offices located throughout Thailand.
What documents to provide?
- Form TM7 which is the visa extension form to be completed. You can either fill it up at the immigration office or download it from their site.
- The passport with the departure card TM6 (card that you will have distributed on the plane and which is always to keep precious until the return)
- One photo ID 4 X 6cm
- 1900 Baht cash to pay on-site expenses
If you have any fears to do the formalities or if you do not speak English or Thai you can ask for assistance from an agency that will do all this for you. It will cost you some money but you will have nothing to do (except to present yourself in person with all the papers, although with some agencies it is not always necessary).
On the other hand it is essential to choose your agency not to stumble on crooks…
Penalties in case of exceeding the duration of your visa (overstay):
Under 90 days the fine is 500 baht per day with a maximum of 20,000 baht.
Since 20 March 2016 the sentences have been considerably increased and are as follows:
In addition to the fine, there are 2 cases:
1) Cases of offenders who surrender to the police
For an overrun of 90 days: prohibition to enter the territory for 1 year
For a one year overrun: ban on entering the territory for 3 years
For a 3 year overrun: No entry into the Territory for 5 years
For a 5-year overrun: ban on entering the territory for 10 years
2) Cases of offenders who are arrested by the police
For an overrun of less than one year: prohibition on entering the Territory pendant5 years
For an overrun of less than one year: prohibition on entering the Territory pendant10 years
To know that it is always better to go to the police and to explain politely your case, you will be taken into account and will greatly alleviate the penalties if you are in good faith.
A note also that an eviction results in the inscription of your name on a blacklist.
In order not to have to suffer these inconveniences, please note the dates, it is important, a overstay is not always easy to adjust.
Good trip...
If you are a European citizen and you come to Thailand less than 30 days you do not need a visa.
You just have to make sure that your passport is still valid for six months from the date of entry into the territory.
This is important because if this is not the case you may not be able to embark on your flight and if you can embark you may be banned from entering the territory upon your arrival.
For a stay of more than 30 days:
You have two possibilities:
1) Make a 60 day tourist visa at the Thai Embassy in France (or in your country of residence in Europe if you are not French).
2) Make a visa extension directly in Thailand when you have arrived.
Personally I think the second solution is simpler because making a tourist visa in Europe takes time, requires to do many papers, move or take the services of an agency that does it for you.
If you opt for the first solution simply go to the website of the Embassy of Thailand in France where you will find all the explanations and the contact details to call them if necessary.
The visa extension is 30 days and not renewable and this you do your visa in France of 60 days or the extension once in Thailand.
Your choice will also depend on the duration. If you plan to stay less than 60 days you can make the request in Thailand but if your stay is up to 90 days you will necessarily have to opt for a first visa of 60 days that you will do in France and then an extension in Thailand 30 days.
You will also need to know if you plan to stay in Thailand alone or visit a neighbouring country and return to Thailand. If so think about applying for a multiple visa entries because if you do not you will be granted only a simple visa entry, which means that the exit of the territory cancels your visa.
The case of the visa run
If you go out of Thailand and you come back you will be entitled again to 15 days if you enter overland and 30 days by air.
Nevertheless I do not advise to do this because the texts are not very clear and the granting of the visa run is left to the free appreciation of the immigration Officer who can accept or not.
Another point to know: the duration of 90 days of validity of a visa and its extension is valid only once a period of 6 months i.e. 2 times a year.
Where is the visa extension?
For Bangkok it is exclusively at the Immigration Office of Chaengwattana Soi 7 (and not at the main office of Suan Plu where they will send you to Chaengwattana).
If you are not on Bangkok you can also make the extension in all other immigration offices located throughout Thailand.
What documents to provide?
- Form TM7 which is the visa extension form to be completed. You can either fill it up at the immigration office or download it from their site.
- The passport with the departure card TM6 (card that you will have distributed on the plane and which is always to keep precious until the return)
- One photo ID 4 X 6cm
- 1900 Baht cash to pay on-site expenses
If you have any fears to do the formalities or if you do not speak English or Thai you can ask for assistance from an agency that will do all this for you. It will cost you some money but you will have nothing to do (except to present yourself in person with all the papers, although with some agencies it is not always necessary).
On the other hand it is essential to choose your agency not to stumble on crooks…
Under 90 days the fine is 500 baht per day with a maximum of 20,000 baht.
Since 20 March 2016 the sentences have been considerably increased and are as follows:
In addition to the fine, there are 2 cases:
1) Cases of offenders who surrender to the police
For an overrun of 90 days: prohibition to enter the territory for 1 year
For a one year overrun: ban on entering the territory for 3 years
For a 3 year overrun: No entry into the Territory for 5 years
For a 5-year overrun: ban on entering the territory for 10 years
2) Cases of offenders who are arrested by the police
For an overrun of less than one year: prohibition on entering the Territory pendant5 years
For an overrun of less than one year: prohibition on entering the Territory pendant10 years
To know that it is always better to go to the police and to explain politely your case, you will be taken into account and will greatly alleviate the penalties if you are in good faith.
A note also that an eviction results in the inscription of your name on a blacklist.
In order not to have to suffer these inconveniences, please note the dates, it is important, a overstay is not always easy to adjust.
Good trip...
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