Thai Visas: How not to stop a visa run
The Thai Visa rules changed in December. Nationals of many countries, including the UK, could enter Thailand for 30 days without a visa. But too many people were staying indefinitely by popping out of the country every month.
So how did Thailand solve this problem? By halving the time those entering by land could stay without a visa. Getting a cheap flight out and back is fine - you can stay 30 days without a visa. But entering Thailand for the first time, by land, I now need a visa.
I now need to spend an extra day in Penang, and my visit to a nice beach in Thailand will be limited to one day.
Moral: double check visa rules. They can change. And the change can be hidden in the details.
So how did Thailand solve this problem? By halving the time those entering by land could stay without a visa. Getting a cheap flight out and back is fine - you can stay 30 days without a visa. But entering Thailand for the first time, by land, I now need a visa.
I now need to spend an extra day in Penang, and my visit to a nice beach in Thailand will be limited to one day.
Moral: double check visa rules. They can change. And the change can be hidden in the details.