visa issues

Entry and Exit Requirements
Visa conditions change regularly. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of Thailand for the most up to date information. Australian tourists travelling to Thailand on an Australian passport may currently enter Thailand for up to 30 days without obtaining a visa in advance. This is referred to as a “visa exemption”. A visa is required for longer stays or for travellers intending to work in Thailand.

The Thai Immigration Bureau announced revised tourist visa regulations which took effect from 1 October 2006. Australian travellers can enter Thailand for up to 30 days each entry, up to a maximum stay of 90 days. Tourists who reside in Thailand for 90 days must depart Thailand for at least 90 days before they will be permitted to re-enter Thailand, unless they obtain a valid visa entry at a Thai Embassy of Consulate in another country outside Thailand.

The Australian Embassy cannot assist you to obtain entry permits or visas, visa extensions or work permits for Thailand or other countries. Make sure you obtain visas, entry permits and extensions of stay from Thai immigration authorities or a Thai Embassy or Consulate.

Avoid individuals advertising visa extension services, as they may stamp passports with fake or illegally obtained exit and entry stamps. Australians with illegal stamps in their passports can be arrested and jailed for up to ten years. Thai authorities have said they will vigorously prosecute these criminal offences.

Overstaying your visa in Thailand is considered a very serious offence and may result in prolonged arrest and detention. Travellers who overstay entry permits may not be allowed to leave Thailand until a fine is paid. The fine is currently 500 Baht per day, up to a maximum of 20,000 baht. If you can not afford to pay the overstay fine you may be arrested, taken to court, charged with a visa offence, and required to serve a lengthy prison sentence in lieu of the fine. Travellers who have overstayed their visas may be imprisoned, deported and placed on an immigration blacklist to prevent from them returning to Thailand.

It is illegal to work without a work permit. In the past, some employers (particularly schools, fitness centres, securities telemarketers and currency traders, and also other businesses) have promised to arrange work permits but have not and their employees have consequently been arrested, jailed and deported from Thailand.

smartraveller.gov.au

Did you check the FAQ THREAD ? . there is link at top of branch , go to part3 IMMIGRATION section. The guidebooks have visa info on the differnet countries.

There is an update as of April 1st. You will need a 60 day tourist visa to enter Thailand, unless you have proof of leaving the country within 30 days. There are starting to be quite a few people not being let on the plane because they don't have this. This is an old law that is being heavily enforced now. You have to get the visa before you leave Au. The other countries you won't have a problem with getting visa on arrival, but you will going to Thailand. If you don't have proof of onward travel out of Thailand, you won't get in the country without a 60 day visa.

Now so people don't jump right on this, the 30 day visa isn't really a visa, it's a visa exempt stamp, but to make it easy to understand think of it as a visa on arrival just like the other countries issue around Thailand.

koolbreez

Photos

koolbreez DOES that mean if I have a return ticket I CAN get a visa on arrival/visa extension

Visa on arrival/visa extension...
You are only able to extend the visa if you already have one...
The stamp on arrival is NOT a visa... just a visa exemption and can oly be extended for 7 days (cost 1900 Baht).. The tousit visa may be extended.. also used to be 1900 Baht for another 30 days.. Today someone is saying that his has increased to 3500 Baht.. better to get 60 day visa before arrival.

If your return date is on or before 30 days of your arrival date.. you will get the (free) 30 day visa exemption stamp. If your return date is after 30 days of arrival... You need to look at getting a proper visa.. before you travel.. or buy an air-ticket departing Thailand within the 30 days.

#4 If you have a return ticket within 30 days of your arrival, then yes you can. There is no extention longer than 7 days, but it's a catch 22. You have travel proof out of the country with in 30 days, so there are very few situations that you would need an extention.....medical emergency, or missed plane flight is about it.

koolbreez

RE#3,
Thats not new about the airlines , its been that way for years. If the airline will let you fly however there is no problem for most people , Thai immigration won't ask to see ticket.

And also #3 ,
Its still possible for to fly in to Bkok from other Asian cities without ticket or visa . Recent posts attest to this , people fying in from India , Nepal and Taiwan without problem.

davelliot.. while I agree with what you wrote here... (as a matter of fact.. I have arrived in Bangkok several times and in Phuket once.. within the last 6 months, on one way tickets (internationally)).... and not been questioned.... (Might I add that I in all cases had "real" as opposed to "doctored or fake" onward travel arrangements)... I think it is prudent to stick to the rules....
For the risk of not being allowed on an expensive flight,.. which in many cases these days, is.. "use it or loose it".. or not being allowed to enter.. I really think that if an experienced traveller wants to play Russian roulette,.. that's fine.. but do not tempt inexperienced travellers, in order to save a few dollars for a proper visa.. and have peace of mind...