Thailand Tightens Visa Run Rules: What Travellers and Expats Must Know
Written by the editors of theo-courant.com, your reference guide to Thailand and South-East Asia - based in Bangkok, at the heart of Thai culture.
Visa runs, entry refusals and overstays are now more tightly monitored in Thailand. Here is everything travellers and expats should understand before arriving.
What Has Changed: Thailand Reinforces Immigration Controls
Thailand is tightening the oversight of repeated tourist entries. The goal is clear: prevent abuses while maintaining smooth processing for legitimate visitors. Borders remain open, but checks will be more detailed for certain profiles.
New Two-Entry Limit for Tourist Arrivals
The main measure concerns visa runs. Travellers entering Thailand visa-exempt or on a tourist visa are now limited to two consecutive tourist entries.
Beyond that, they must apply for the appropriate long-stay visa abroad — retirement, marriage, business, study, O-A/O-X, etc.
Why This Limit Now?
The rule aims to stop long-term stays under repeated tourist entries, often used to live or work without authorisation.
How Are Two Consecutive Entries Counted?
Consecutive does not mean within the same month or the same year.
It simply refers to two back-to-back tourist entries without obtaining any long-stay visa in between.
In practical terms:
- Entering Thailand twice with visa exemption or a tourist visa already counts as the limit.
- Time between entries does not matter.
- Any two successive tourist stays — even weeks apart — are considered “consecutive”.
Stricter Checks in High-Expat Areas
Regions with frequent visa runs, such as Phuket, Pattaya or Hua Hin, will face reinforced controls. Immigration officers will scrutinise visa extensions more closely, especially for travellers with irregular or repetitive stay patterns.
Possible Refusals at the Border
Travellers repeatedly staying 90 days per entry, or showing inconsistent travel plans, may be denied entry.
Can Airlines Refuse Boarding?
Yes. Airlines can deny boarding if they believe a passenger risks being refused at arrival. They are legally responsible for returning the traveller if entry is denied.
This may happen if:
- The traveller already used two tourist entries without applying for a proper visa.
- There is no outbound ticket.
- The planned trip seems incompatible with visa-exempt stays.
Visa Extensions and Overstayers: Zero Tolerance
Tourist extensions are still possible but now subject to stricter review. Suspicious profiles — repetitive stays, unclear activities, or incoherent explanations — may be refused and even expelled.
Monitoring of overstayers has also increased, with faster penalties such as bans and watchlists.
What Is an Overstayer in Thailand?
An overstayer is someone who remains past the authorised date stamped in their passport or extension.
When does overstaying start?
- From the day after the authorised date.
- Even a single day of overstay is a violation.
A National Campaign Against Illegal Activities
These measures are part of a nationwide campaign targeting:
- online scams
- money laundering
- undeclared businesses
- criminal networks using repeated tourist entries
The government states tourism is not targeted — only systemic misuse.
What Changes for Travellers and Long-Term Residents?
Despite tougher controls, immigration services state that processing still takes around 45 seconds per person, with queues capped at about 40 minutes.
For regular tourists: almost no change.
For long-term residents relying on tourist entries: adapting visa status will be essential.
FAQ — New Visa Run Rules in Thailand
Can travellers still do visa runs in 2025?
Yes, but only twice consecutively without applying for a proper long-stay visa.
What happens after two tourist entries?
You must apply for an appropriate visa before returning to Thailand.
Who risks being refused entry?
Travellers with repetitive or suspicious tourist stays, incoherent travel plans, or unclear long-term intentions.
Will checks take longer?
Immigration states that processing remains 45 seconds per traveller on average.
Are tourist extensions still allowed?
Yes, but they are reviewed much more strictly.
Which areas have the strongest controls?
Mainly Phuket, Pattaya, Hua Hin and border zones such as Mae Sot.
