Overstaying your visa is illegal. If you overstay for a short period you will have to pay a fine. However, if you overstay for more than 90 days then it is a serious offence and the result will be you are deported from Thailand and banned from visiting again. The length of the ban depends on how long you have overstayed your visa.
If you are caught overstaying by an Immigration officer, then it can result in being taken to jail if you are not able to pay the fine or have a long overstay.
From 20th March 2016, if you are caught overstaying by even one day, you will face a ban from re-entering Thailand of five years. If you have overstayed by more than one year, you will face a ban of ten years.
If you have a very long overstay and turn yourself in to the authorities you will have to go before a judge in court. The overstay fine is usually waived and in it’s place a smaller fine imposed. You will then be held in the IDC ( Immigration Detention Center ) until you can arrange for a ticket on a direct flight back to your own country. You will then have to pay a small fee to the immigration officers to take you to the airport and accompany you through Immigration, where you will get the blacklist stamp in your passport, and to the gate. Your passport will be given to a steward on the flight and they will return it to you when you land in your home country.
How much is the fine for overstaying?
The fine depends on the number of days you have overstayed. The minimum charge is 500 Baht per day. This goes to a maximum of 20,000 Baht for overstays of 40 days or longer.
The good news is that if your overstay is under 90 days and you pay the fine then leave the country then you won’t have any problem returning to Thailand at a future date. There won’t be any black mark next to your name.
What is overstaying?
Overstaying is when someone resides in Thailand for a period exceeding the length of time they are permitted to do so by their visa or entry stamp.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you do not overstay.
However, the Thai Immigration officials realise that sometimes people make mistakes and book a flight a day too late or their plans change, a flight is cancelled and they have to leave a day late. In cases such as these, with a few hours overstay, the 500 Baht overstay fine is usually waived.
If you are in a situation like this, don’t panic. Just explain to the immigration officer when you are being stamped out of the county. Apologise and you will be treated fairly.
If you have a longer overstay, for example, 1 week, then you will be required to pay this ( 7 days x 500 Baht = 3,500 Baht ) before you can leave the country. It is easiest to pay when you fly out. Again, explain the reason to the immigration office at the airport, then you will be taken to a nearby counter when you can pay the overstay fine. Please ensure that you have enough funds to cover this. If not, then you may be taken to the holding cells until you can raise funds.
Children under the age of 15 are not charged a fine for overstaying but still get overstay stamps when they leave the country. Being exempt from the fine does not make them exempt from needing a valid visa entry or extension to stay in the country.
Consequences of overstaying your Thai visa
Please note that repeated violations of overstaying can hold serious consequences. In the event that you have had a few overstays, your passport could be stamped with a stamp declaring you in violation of the immigration laws and regulations of Thailand.
This stamp will label you as an “undesirable alien”, which could make travel and obtaining entry to other countries much harder than it should be.
Where is the Immigration Detention Centre?
The IDC is located in central Bangkok at the Immigration Office on Soi Suanplu, Bangkok. This is where anyone who has been arrested for overstaying will be held prior to attending court and then whilst waiting for their flight back home to be arranged.
You can call on: 02 213 2369 but it is better to go in person. Go to Building 5 at the IDC. You will need the overstayer’s details: Name, nationality, age, arrest date and location.
hello sir , one of my friend is stucked in Thailand and he is overstayed there for 3+ years. He want to come back to India. Can he pay the fine at the airport and come back to india or he will have to go to court for the same. what is the procedure.?
He should be able to pay the fine and receive his ban at the airport before flying back to India.
Hello sir,
What are the remedies if the person cannot pay the fine and his overstayed period is less than 90 days
He can stay at the Immigration Detention Centre until he can raise the money to pay the fine.
Hello sir,
How much will it be the fine if the person overstayed for 9days?
The overstay fine is 500 Baht /day to a maximum of 20,000 Baht. So your friend will have to pay 4,500 Baht for a 9 day overstay.
Hello Sir,
If a person was cheated by another person and was there custody until releasing. Is that person still liable to pay the fine? Because the didn’t stay purposely
The owner of the passport is responsible for who has access to their passport and decides if they use an agent, for example. So the owner of the passport is also responsible if they make a bad decision and end up in custody due to an illegal overstay.
If the passport owner feels they have been cheated they can take legal action against the other party.
Hello Sir,
If the person has to stay 5days in the custody due overstayed. Does he still need to pay fine?
Yes.
hi, I’m an Ethiopian and stayed here more than three month . now i wants to pay my overstay anc wants to go to dubai
is that possible sir?
Yes, you should be Ok if you go to the airport and pay the overstay fine before boarding your flight to Dubai
One of my Bangladeshi friend lost his passport and fined for overstaying when he was in Thailand. Now he is in Bangladesh. Can he apply for Cambodia tourist visa?
I have no idea. You’ll have to contact the Cambodian authorities.
hello,
I missed my flight and the 17th was my last day. now I’m technically overstay and I’m wondering should I turn myself into the immigration office on Monday? I already have one extension so I’ve been here for 75 days total. I bought a new flight for the 27th because other days were so expensive… my new flight is not to my home country but to South Korea. so if I go to immigration will they fine me for 3 say overstay and give me 7 days to leave?
please advise. thanks
Yes. You can pay the fine and then get 7 additional days to leave the country.
Good morning from Germany! I have a question for you: My 1-year ban ended in 2020. Now I would like to re-enter as a tourist. Is the hotel booking and the return flight ticket as proof that I will legally leave Thailand again to prove that I will behave correctly? Greetings from Michael
Yes. That and proof you have enough funds to support yourself.
Hello sir,
My overstay blacklist period for a year has been lifted since 2019 and I’m planning to visit Thailand (VOA) this month. I saw some articles online saying that it’s highly advised to contact the Thai immigration office and submit a request for permission to re-enter Thailand, if so how do I do that ? or can I directly come to Thailand and apply VOA at the Suvarnabhumi airport. Thank you so much!
Try https://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/contact-goverment-complex/
Hello! My friend, he’s been overstaying in Thailand for 2 years, will he be allowed to go back to his own country if he admit himself at the airport immigration center, show passport, gave explanation, make amends and apologies. Pay the fees and get the ban stamp. Will he be allowed to go back to his own country?
Yes. He should be allowed to go back home without any problem
Hello sir
Back in 2017 i overstayed for more than 90 days ( non – ed visa) and got banned for a year. On my way back I paid the 20k fine at the airport. Since my ban has been lifted is it possible for me visit Thailand again and get a visa on arrival (2 weeks) for tourist purpose. Carrying all the necessary documents, funds, hotel booking and return plane tickets. Thank you!
Yes. You should be able enter Thailand again if you have the correct documents and proof of being a genuine tourist.
Hello sir! Is there any problem in Mae sot airport if i go to Bangkok by plane? Where as my visa has already expired several months ago. Thanks.
No problem. You don’t go through immigration if you are flying on a domestic flight. The airline will need to see your passport as proof of identity, but they won’t check your visa status.