New visa rules confirmed

 

By Natcha Yuttaworawit

Phuket: New rules limiting stays in Thailand on visas on arrival to 90 days over any 6 month period were confirmed at a September 15 meeting of Immigration Chiefs in Bangkok .

The new policy will go into effect on October 1. In a related development, the Royal Thai Consulate Penang, Malaysia has stopped issuing double entry tourist visas.

Pol Lt Col Pipat Pongpan an Inspector at Phuket Immigration Office, told the Gazette, ‘anyone who has already stayed 90 days on visa on arrival permit does not to worry. We will start counting the days from October 1.

Foreigners from countries qualifying for visas on arrival can come in and out the country as many times as they like with a visa on arrival, but can stay for a maximum of 90 days in any six month period. If they stay 90 days then they must leave for 90 days before they are entitled to another visa on arrival.

‘They can, however, go and request a tourist visa from a Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate abroad and come back into the country' he said .

‘Extensions above 90 days limit may be granted in exceptional cases, such as if the tourist is suffering from an illness or involved in a lawsuit', he added.

No new investment visas will be issued after October 1. However, existing visas in this category may be extended if the holder still has funds of 3 million baht and is still doing business in Thailand', Col Pipat said.

Tourist visas are still available, for a fee, at Thai embassies and consulates in neighboring countries. The Royal Thai Consulate in Penang , however will now issue only single entry 60 day tourist visas. An official at the consulate said that an order has been sent down from Consul Pramote Pramoonsab to cease issuance of double entry tourist visas of up to 120 days.

However, double entry tourist visas are at present still available from the consulate in Kota Baru and the Thai Embassy in Kuala Lumpur .

A source in the Visa and Travel Document Division, Department of Consular Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), said that the move by the consulate in Penang is not due to any changes in MFA policy.

The decision whether or not to issue double entry visas rest solely at the discretion of each diplomatic mission, the source explained.

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Thai Immigration Clarifies 90-day Rule Change

Source: Phuket Gazette April 28 2007

PHUKET: -- Following a spate of complaints from confused foreigners entering Thailand on “visa exemptions”, Pol Capt Krissarat Nuesen of the Phuket Provincial Immigration Office has made a statement to clarify the 90-day rule and how it was changed, effective April 1.

Visa exemptions, commonly referred to as “visas on arrival”, allow tourists from certain countries who arrive at the border without a visa to have permits-to-stay, typically for a period of 30 days, issued by Immigration officials.

“People who enter Thailand on a ‘visa exemption' are permitted to stay only 90 days in a six-month period,” he said, adding that the six months is calculated as a 180-day period starting from the first day that the foreigner enters Thailand on a visa exemption.

“From October 1, 2006 to March 31, 2007, we counted all the days from the foreigner's first day regardless whether the foreigner was actually in Thailand or not.

“Also, foreigners were not permitted to stay in Thailand after their 180-day period had expired [counted from the foreigner's first day], regardless whether the foreigner had stayed a full 90 days in Thailand or not,” Capt Krissarat said.

“However, the rule has been changed. From April 1, we now count only the days the foreigner has stayed in Thailand – and foreigners are now allowed to stay past the 180-day period,” he said.

The number of consecutive visa exemptions allowed is no longer limited to three, he added.

As for foreigners who complain about discrepancies in the counting of days, K. Krissarat reminded those who choose to enter on multiple visa exemptions that it is up to the discretion of the Immigration officer on duty how many days to grant the new arrival, provided it is 30 days or fewer.

Capt Krissarat stressed that the 90-day rule does not affect people who have been issued a visa from the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate.

“If you want to stay longer, then apply for a visa from a Royal Thai Embassy outside Thailand . That way the rule will not apply to you,” he said.

Regarding parents bringing children into Thailand to attend school, Capt Krissarat said, “Foreign parents whose children will study in Thailand can apply for non-immigrant ED visas for their children at any Royal Thai Embassy outside Thailand .

“The parents can apply for non-immigrant O visas for themselves so they can enter the country and care for their children here, and then they can apply for permits to stay at the Immigration office after entering the country.

“Alternatively, if the parents are not going to be staying in the country long, they can get a tourist visa from an embassy or enter on a visa exemption,” he said.

“Many international schools in Thailand help parents prepare applications for permits to stay,” Capt Krissarat said, adding that children under 14 years old are not fined for overstay.