Overstay Explained: The Consequences of Staying in Thailand Longer Than Your Visa Allows

What does Overstaying means?

Overstaying is when a foreigner remains in Thailand for a period of time that exceeds the length of time they are allowed to stay in Thailand according to their visa and entry stamp. This is considered a violation of Thailand's immigration laws and can lead to serious consequences, including detention, fines, deportation, and even possible blacklisting.

If you have a very long overstay record and turn yourself into the authorities, you will have to go before a judge in court. The judge will determine the amount of the overstay fine for your case, which can range from 500THB to 20,000THB depending on how many days you have been staying beyond the expiration date.

Can I still go back to my country after Overstaying in Thailand?

If you are found to have overstayed your Thailand visa, you could be held in Thailand’s Immigration Detention Center (IDC) until you have arranged the ticket on a direct flight back to your own country. You will be required 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 on your passport, and to the gate. The cabin crew will hold your passport until you arrive in your home country.

What happens if I Overstay in Thailand?

Please note that if you are caught overstaying your Thailand visa multiple times, the consequences can be quite severe. In the event that you have had multiple overstays in Thailand, it is likely your passport will be stamped with a declaration of violation against Thailand’s immigration laws and regulations. This stamp will label you as an "undesirable alien" and serves as a warning that future violations of Thailand’s immigration policies will not be tolerated.

According to Thailand’s Immigration Bureau, foreigners who wish to stay in Thailand should abide by the following practices and regulations:

1. Once entering Thailand, it is important for foreigners to abide by the Thailand Immigration Bureau's regulations and stay within the duration of their visa permit.
2. In the event of overstaying in Thailand before the order’s date of enforcement of March 20th, B.E. 2559 (2016) can surrender to the authorities at the immigration checkpoints before being allowed to leave the country and pay a fine of 500THB/day, but not exceeding 20,000THB.
3. If the foreigner failed to leave the country before the order’s date of enforcement of March 20th, B.E. 2559 (2016), the foreigner will face a fine of 500THB/day, but not exceeding 20,000THB, and will be banned from re-entering Thailand for the respective period.

NOTE:

The prohibition of entry starts from the day after the alien has departed from Thailand.

The rules above do not apply to:

1. An alien who departs the country before 18 years of age.
2. An alien who departs the country before the order's date of enforcement.