Thailand’s New Overstay Penalties Officially Announced Today

 | Tue 22 Jul 2014 18:14 ICT

CityNews – The Bangkok Immigration website has posted a notice outlining the new rules regarding overstay violations. The online announcement came today, July 22, and is further confirmation of the junta’s crackdown on foreigners illegally staying in Thailand.

Here is the form seen on the website:

According to Immigration Bureau, the most severe penalty is a 10-year ban on entering Thailand, which will be handed to those found overstaying in the country for five years or more

Lt-Gen Thatchai Pitaneelaboot, commander of Immigration Bureau’s Region 6 division, said: β€œIt is time to stop. If you live in a country, you respect its rules.” He also stated that those caught overstaying in Thailand can expect no right of appeal to be granted.

On the other hand, foreigners who have arrived in Thailand on a visa-exemption entry will be able to extend their visa exemption period by 30 days instead of the current 7 days, starting from August 29. That means foreigners will receive a total visa-exemption stay of 60 days and the fee will remain the same (1,900 baht).

These new rules are now being implemented at immigration checkpoints and immigration offices nationwide.