Visas and border crossings forum

So long as you are from one of the 43 countries that has that agreement.

If you overstay you can get into trouble if picked up by the police there is a possibility they will lock you up, however at the airport you will havve to pay a fine for every day of overstay - how much that is at present I don't know.

It is also possible to get a tourist visa before you arrive from the thai consulate in your home country...this will not be free but will allow you more lee-way on time.

"unless something happens"..........even if your flight is delayed you are still in breach of your permit to stay....but they are usually understanding of this because you are at the airport.
If you need to stay longer than 30 days - for any reason - you might well have to do a visa run - i.e. go out of the country and re-enter. This is usually an organised bus trip to the nearest viable border e.g. Cambodia etc...on walking back in again you should get another 30 day stamp...this can be done up to a maximum of 90 days in any 6 moths (I think?) at the discretion of the immigration official who looks at your passport.

At their discretion? It's a standard procedure - 1,900B fee all done and dusted in five minutes.

That 1,900 baht is not a small amount of money. If you thought you might need those few extra days, wouldn't you be better off just applying for a 60-day entry visa from home ahead of time? (and just be certain that they stamp you in for the 60 days and not the standard 30 on arrival)

I guess it depends on whether you are from one of the 43 countries wilko mentions (or one of the other countries that have different visa requirements and waivers) and also if there is a Thai embassy or consulate near you and what the fee for the 60-day visa might be. I suspect it wouldn't be much more than the equivalent of 1,900 baht and probably a lot less. (For example, currently it is about $30 for people in the US - a savings of about 1,000 baht.) Plus, then you won't have to spend valuable trip time applying for (and worrying about) your visa being extended. Cheers.

Try a Non Immigrant O mate, only 1,900B per year. Cheap as chips.

Have been turned down before , I am a tourist and under 50 years old .

And I enjoy being both ;-)

""If you've been turned down it is because you probably said the wrong things""

Khun Wilko
How is it possible to say the wrong things , if you are honest and tell the truth ?

KhunWilko
In the UK , I stay 3 hours away from my nearest Thai Consulate .

On top of that , applications for visas to that Consulate , can ONLY be made by post . [Well okay they told me that but ....! ]

So turning up in person to plead my case for a NonImmO doesnt make sense to me ?

Have tried by post and was turned down so .....?

PS - If you have a business visa I doubt if you'd be arrested for enjoying the odd tourist trap.....come on think about it!

Simon, as to your original question, you're good on your dates for the 'landing visa,' or 'visa on arrival, so no need to apply at home for a tourist visa.

a 7-day extension to those 30 days is possible at
an immigration office, inside Thailand for 1900 baht,
no complications.

Thanks for all the answers !! Wasn't quite expecting so many !!

As I'm under the 30 days by a day and have no intention of staying any longer I'll leave it at that.

Simon.