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.
Sir.. Iam struked in myavadi near moe river.. I was overstayed 40 days.. I alredy send mail to indian empasy.. But no help from empasy.. Some of my friends got arrested on the way to BKK.. Can you suggest a safe way to reach BKK.. Is it possible to traval moe sot airport to Bangkok airport with out visa… Can i pay overstay amout at moe sort airport..
From Mae Sot to Bangkok is a domestic flight so your passport is just used as ID when you check in. You won’t pass immigration. You can’t pay the overstay at Mae Sot as you aren’t flying out of the country from there.
Or go to Chang Mai and take a train to Bangkok.
Hi
Me and a friend will travel to Thailand for 78 days. We already booked the flight (outward and return). We are planning to get a tourist visa which is valid for 60 days and when we are there we can extend it at an immigration office for 30 days. Right?
But my question is, do the customs let us in when they see our flight tickets with a time span of 78 days and we only show them a 60 days tourist visa at that moment?
Hi Daniel. You won’t have any problems. Immigration are very unlikely to ask to see your return flight ticket and if they do you can just tell them you plan to extend your visa for an additional 30 days.
Technically they could ask for proof of funds to support yourself whilst in Thailand, but again it would be very rare for European tourists to be asked that.
Hello sir,
Good evening. My name is Laiba khan. I am from Bangladesh. I am in Maesot now. I am working a private store. I have over stay here more then 1 year. and i lost my passport. thats why i am afraid to go back my country, because of police can arrest me and thorrow in jail. i can give fine 20000 thai baht. I don’t have pasport. so please tell me how can i go back my country easily without any problem? and what should i need to do for go back my country?
Thank you and waiting for your nice respons.
You can’t travel internationally without a passport.
So you’ll nned to report your passport lost to the police and contact your Embassy to get a new one.
Hlo sir.. I was oversatyed 30 days in thailand,. Not intentaly.. Some people cheated me.. Thay took my passport.. I was alraedy send mail to indian empasy.. I got my passport today.. I am planing to do traval back india.. How much amount i need to pay as fine.. Is any chance to get waver in fine.. I dont have money
The fine is 500 Baht a day up to a maximum of 20,000 Baht.
If your passport was taken without your consent you should have reported it to the police at the time.
hello can you help i was due to renew my tourist visa on monday and i lost my passport. what can i do as i cant extend my viosa without my passport
Go to the police and file a lost property report. Then go to your Embassy, explain the situation and request an emergency travel document.
Then you’ll be able to fly home and get a new passport. When you have one, you can return to Thailand.
Respected sir
I would like to know if can I convert my visa from a Covid visa to an ED visa.
No. You can’t convert one Visa to a different type of visa.
Hi,
Not sure if this has already been asked. Our visas run out on 25th October, are we okay to travel out of Thailand to Malaysia (via train or plane not decided yet) on the 25th October? Or does it have to be before the “valid until” date? Thank you
Leaving on the 25th is fine. You won’t have any problems.
Hello sir/mam! I am from bangladesh, I got 60 days visa when entering airport. unfortunately my travel to another country delayed and I tried to extend more one month visa but according to new thai immigration law some of the countries like Nepal, Bangladesh, India do not get visa extension. My visa expired on 29 september 2022. So can I travel to another country not my own country paying fine sir? I think My flight will be within 20th october. Please advise me.
You have made the choice to stay illegally in Thailand. So any leniency will be at the discretion of the immigration officers on duty when you leave the country.
Hello Sir,
My brother is in Bangkok. His flight is on 3 Oct. He overstayed 50+ days. Can he go to immigration office at airport on 2 Oct??
and how much time it took to pay fine and paperwork etc.
Thanks
He can pay the overstay fine at Immigration when he leaves the country. The process doesn’t take long.
Hello, I am stuck in the same place you mentioned before, Mae Sot – Burma. My bosses said that we have a visa and everything is included, but now I want to leave before my contract is up and they tell me that my visa has expired. Is there any way I can check if I have a visa?
Your passport will have a visa stamp in it. If it doesn’t, then you don’t have a visa to work in Thailand. And if you are in Burma then you will have a visa for working in Burma stamped in your passport.
hello , I over stayed for almost 40 days now
I don’t wanna get banned , is that possible ? can I go to immigration and pay the fine and reaply for visa ? do I have to leave the country ? if yes , will I be banned ?
The same rules apply to everyone. So you will be banned. With 40 days overstay you won’t be able to a visa extension in Thailand.
Hello dear immigration officer,
i came to bangkok and got visa on arrival stamped for 14 days as a tourist but now it’s been already 40 days overstay as i lost my passport,(also i am waiting response from the embassy via mail)
what should i do please guide me and currently i am at mae sot and i can’t even reach to my embassy due to the roadblocks and check points on the way
Contact your embassy and they’ll be able to advise you the best way to get a replacement passport.
Sir/Madam
I have over stayed for two years and I want to apply visa to leave to another country. Will I be allowed? Am ready to pay for my overstayed fine.
You don’t need a visa to leave Thailand. You can pay the overstay fine at the immigration check at the airport.
hello admin
i overstayed 6 years. i want to go my country.
I booked a departure flight ticket.
I wonder how to leave the country.
Can I leave the country after paying a fine at the airport on the day of departure?
Or do I have to go to the immigration office, pay the fine, and go to the airport?
Go to the airport, check in and go through security as normal.
When you get to the immigration booths tell the officer you have an overstay. They’ll take you to a counter just behind the booths where you can pay the fine and do the paperwork.
Dear sir.my name is Sami Ullah and i’m from Pakistan ‘my overstay has been 55 days,now i’m going back my country.i want to book my ticket from Mae sot to Lahore Pakistan.my QUESTION is .i can pay my overstay fine at Mae sot airport.Won’t there be any other problem?It was very difficult to buy a ticket. I have fear that my ticket not to be wasted.Please Guide me all the way.I will always be grateful to you
You will have to pay at Suvarnabhumi as your flight from Mae Hong Son is domestic. You aren’t leaving the country.
can i pay fine at Don Mueang International Airport
Yes, if you are flying out of the country from Don Meaung Airport.
Dear Sir,
I entered Thailand on August 12 2022, I thought 30 days was September 12 2022. I didn’t realized the stamped on my USA passport was 10 September. Now I over stay 2 days. Can I pay the FINE and apply for 30 days extension visa at Immigration office.
Thank You,
Suzie
Go to the immigration office today. Tell them you want to extend stay by 30 days but didn’t know the office was closed on the weekend. So couldn’t come on the 10th and also closed on 11th, so you came today.
Then, depending on the officer on duty, you may be able to get the extension without a fine.
Hi I arrived on 17/8/2022 and Marty stamp on my Msia passport is “admitted until 15/9/2022” and my flight to Kuala Lumpur is 16/9/2022 at 6.45pm. No direct flight is available on 15/9/2022, will I need to pay a fine ? Thanks
You could have booked a flight on 13 or 14 September then you wouldn’t have overstayed. You chose not to.
But fortunately for you, Thai immigration are often lenient with tourists who overstay just a day. So you might not have to pay the 500 Baht fine. However, that is at the discretion of the immigration officer on duty.
Hello
I am from India and I was overstayed in Thailand more than 1 year and they’ve banned me to reenter thailand for 3 years and they’ve stamped my passport at Bangkok airport saying that 3 years banned for me.
Now my banned period is over and I am planning to visit Phuket for holiday for 6-7 days so what will the situation?
They will allow me to reenter or deport me from the airport ?
If your ban is over then you should be able to enter Thailand again. However you’ll probably be asked to prove that you are a real tourist. Therefore be sure to have a return ticket, proof of hotel booking and proof of funds to support your stay in Phuket.
If I have a proper proof like return ticket hotel booking and sufficient fund to survive in phuket will they allow me to enter in thailand ?
Entry is at the discretion of the Immigration officers on duty. As with visiting any foreign country, no-one is 100% guaranteed entry.
But assuming you meet the requirements and satisfy the officer that you are a real tourist, you should be allowed to enter.
Sir I was also staying in thailand for 1 year nd i was banned for 3 years too so there are only 3 months left to end my ban so I can I sir enter thailand now
No. Because your ban hasn’t expired yet.
one more question Sir…my overstay has been 40 days now,i want to go back my country now,and i have already book my ticket Bangkok to my country,,,,i’m at Mae sot now.can i travel by air Mae sot to Bangkok without any trouble,,,police can arrest me or not at the airport due to over stay…please guide which is best option i have to use to reach Bangkok airport
Your visa won’t be checked when you take a domestic flight, your passport is just used to confirm your identity when you check in. So you shouldn’t have any problems going to Bangkok.
Thank you so much Sir
Hello sir
I have been working here for four years under government through OVEC and my visa expire on 30th September. As I am required, I canceled my work permit and went to my local immigration for extension of my visa as my flight ticket is only on 9th of October 2022. However I was told that they couldn’t do it on that day saying a year budget is done, even though my mentor called the immigration officer we were not informed about the information and was told to come on Monday which is today. I went to immigration today 3rd October however they said I have to provide information of my stay and as I have already booked hotel at Bangkok. I am told to go to Bangkok and stamped canceleld on my visa which they were doing. now including off days its three days overdue.
Wht are you doing in mao sot i was also being offered by some agents to work there in mao sot is this true there are some companies who are hiring employs from india
There have been reports of scammers offering fake jobs in Mae Sot and applicants being taken to Burma to work illegally for crimal organizations. For example : https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2022/06/29/35-malaysian-job-scam-victims-rescued-at-thai-myanmar-border/
Hello There,
I am an indian staying in Thailand. When I arrived in Thailand, I had tourist visa of 90 days. But, upon arrival, by mistake I went to “Visa on Arrival” counter. Where, they charged me 2000 THB and stamped an on arrival visa of 15 days on my passport. I didn’t notice the same.
Now, I overstayed for almost 20 days here.
Can you guide me on the same?
Unfortunately you will have to pay the overstay fine when you leave the country.
my overstay has been 40 days now i want to go back my country..what i have to do for it.please send me details i’m very worry about it..i’m at Mae sot now
You’ll need to buy a plane ticket back to your home country. Then go to the airport and take 20,000 Baht cash with you to pay the overstay fine. ( The fine is 500 Baht a day up to a maximum of 20,000)
Check in, go through security and when you get to immigration tell the officer you have overstayed. They will take you to the overstay counter where your fine and ban from re-entering Thailand will be processed.
Hi,
I am from India, I entered Thailand on 27th Aug 2022 on 60 day Tourist Visa and on my entry stamp it’s mentioned it’s valid Until 25th October 2022.
But when I applied for tourist visa in India New Delhi Thai Embassy my original plan was to stay for only 5 days and I showed the flight schedule accordingly but now I want to stay for more than 5 days, I can stay for more than 5 days right? as my entry stamp says it’s valid until 25th October 2022
can you please confirm?
Thank you so much in advance
You have nothing to worry about. Your visa is valid until 25 October. So it’s no problem if you want to stay longer than your original plan of 5 days.
Thank you for confirming and your prompt response
Hi, I am in Thailand with 15 days visa but my return flight is on 16th day. So will there be a 1 day fine and how much will it be? And where do I pay this fine?
Hi Surbhi. A one day overstay isn’t a big deal. It’s quite common for people to miscalculate or their flights get changed by a day or two. Check in and go through security as normal.
When you get to the Immigration counter hand over your passport and tell the officer that you have stayed an extra day. The worst case is that you will be shown to a counter behind the Immigration kiosks where you can pay the 500 Baht fine for one day overstay. The best case is that the officer will be lenient and not impose any fine, which is quite common for an unintentional overstay of under a day.
Hello there,
Ive been overstaying for more than 1year and im ready to go back home now. Unfortunately my passport expired during my overstayed period. Can i just pay the fine and book a direct flight back to my home country with an expired passport? Or do i needa go to the embassy to sort out my passport issue first?
P. S. Going to the embassy will increase the risk of getting caught on the way as there are roadblocks and checkpoints all around town.
You can’t travel internationally using an expired passport.
I am a British citizen in Thailand on a Non O-A retirement visa which expires September 21st 2022.
I applied for a renewal UK passport on 20th June 2022 which was received by UK passport office 28th June 2022(which I have evidence of). I hold my current passport but it does not have a full 6 months to run after my Thai visa expires as required by Thai immigration laws. My UK passport expires 21st February 2023 which is only 5 months from my Thai Visa renewal date.
I have never overstayed nor committed any other breach before.
UK Passport renewals are taking up to 12 weeks due to the Covid 19 backlog.
What can be done to mitigate my situation should my renewed passport arrive in time for my Thai visa renewal?
Fortunately there is a simple solution as your Non Immigrant visa can be renewed up to 45 days in advance of it expiring. So if you renew it in the second week of August then you can use your existing passport, as you will still have over 6 months validity on it. When you receive your new passport you will be able to have to the visa stamps transferred over to it.
When you go to your local immigration office you might have to explain why you want to renew it early, in which case just show the proof that you have applied for the new passport and point out the old one won’t have the required 6 months validity if you wait until mid September to do it.
Hi I’ll be coming to Thailand September 5 to October 9 , when land I’ll get 30 day visa correct? My question is on October 1 they start letting u stay for 45 days , I’m ok staying 5 more days on my 30 day visa ? Any information will help tremendously, thanks !
When you land you’ll get a 30 day visa exemption stamp. You can extend this for up to another 30 days at any Immigration office for 1,900 Baht.
The 45 day visa exemption is for anyone arriving on or after 1 October 2022.
I overstayed in 2019 and surrendered to the immigration authorities in Chiang Mai. Paid the 20,000 baht fine and was banned for one year, starting on January 6, 2020. This was my first overstay but I wasn’t arrested.
Would I have trouble returning to Thailand this year for a short holiday? I have a return ticket, hotel reservations and sufficient funds.
You shouldn’t have any problems. But bear in mind that entry into the country is at the discretion of the immigration officer on duty. So you will probably be asked to prove that you are a genuine tourist – proof of funds, return ticket and hotel booking.
Hi sir I’m Indian be for i stya in Thailand over stays immigration banned 10 years 2016 I m come back in India now 7 years I saty in India who can I come back thailand
The ban is for 10 years, so you can try to re-enter Thailand in 2026.
Dear immigration officer!
Good morning, I am from the Philippines. I’ve been here in Thailand for many years now. The business went down and forced me to leave the office and moved to a house outskirt of Bangkok. One early morning in late 2016, I woke up, and the gate and the door were widely opened. Lots of things were lost with my bag containing my passport. A few months later I became overstayed until now.
My question is can I buy any airline ticket to go home? I prefer Thai Airways for personal reasons. Please reply because I am now ready to fly to see my family as soon as possible.
Thank you kha!
You can’t travel internationally legally without a passport.
You will need to get a new passport ( contact your embassy for details about how to do this) and then buy a plane ticket home. And pay the 20,000 Baht overstay fine at the airport.
Thank you for your prompt reply! Sorry, I forgot to mention that I already got a new passport from my embassy after I had a police report the same week. It expired recently since it’s a 5-year valid passport only. I now have a new empty passport again a validity of 10 years this time.
Is it okay for me to buy any airline ticket going to Manila anytime this week.
I’m nervous about this.
Please help
You will need to bring the police report as proof of your passport being stolen when you leave
Hello Loreta! were you able you pass the immigration at the airport? Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang??? Did the immigration officer interrogate you why you overstayed your visa after paying the fine and receiving the ban stamp on your passport? Kindly update your experience regarding that situation. Thanks
Hallo Admin, sy sdh perpanjang visa satu bulan k dpn d Thailand, apakah bisa perpanjang visa setiap bulannya utk WNI? Karna utk tourist Eropa mrka harus keluar dlu dari Thailand, apakah klo WNI bsa langsung perpanjang setiap bln nya? Terimakasih
Indonesian citizens get 30 days visa free entry. This can be extended an additional 30 days at any Immigration office.
If you want to stay longer you will need to get a visa in advance. See : http://www.thaiembassyjakarta.com/en/consular-services/tourist-visa/
Hello sir
I just want to elaborate a little more on a posting i just made several minutes ago. My visa has not expired YET, and I want to go home to Canada. I am now completely penniless and semi homeless, I have been trying to raise funds for my ticket home without any response from anyone I know.
I dont want to go into overstay and I am contemplating surrendering myself. What will immigration do? Will I be held indefinitely as I am not able to raise funds?
obviously, this is a nightmarish thought to sit in a jail indefinitely due to being penniless..
Please advise sir
Thanks in advance
You won’t be departed at the Thai governments expense. So either you, a friend, family or Canadian government would have to pay the costs associated with getting you home. Until then you’d stay at the immigration centre in Bangkok.
The first thing to do is go to your embassy in Bangkok and speak in person (not on the phone) to them, explain the situation and see what advice / help they can offer. Some embassies can provide loans to help get their citizens home.
If I have over stay for close to a year, does the maximum amount of fine is capped at 20,000baht ?
The maximum overstay fine is 20,000 Baht
I’m banned for 10 years because of overstay. Can I come back if I have a new passport?
Not unless you also change your name, date of birth and biometric details such as face and fingerprints which are all on record.
Sir
I overstayed 4.6 years and I return back to my home country Saturday from donmueangairport. Where can I pay my fine in airport. Is any separate counter for paying fine,please help me to know.
Advance Thanks for your reply
Check in as normal and when you get to immigration tell the officer you have an overstay and they will take you to the overstay counter where you can be processed.
hi sir, i overstayed my TR visa for couple of years and i would really want to return home as soon as possible when i can. When i surrender myself at the airport to pay the fine will it be at the immigration check-in (after i obtained my flight boarding pass) or do i have to go to immigration police office somewhere inside Suvarnabhumi airport???
Check in and go through security as normal. When you get to the immigration booths tell the officer you have an overstay. They’ll take you to a counter just behind the booths where you can pay the fine and do the paperwork.