Overstay in Thailand

An overstay in Thailand is fined at 500 baht for each day, up to a maximum of 20,000 baht, which is reached after 40 days. An overstay of 90 days or fewer is usually settled by paying the fine at the immigration checkpoint on departure and leaving. Beyond 90 days, a ban on returning to Thailand applies as well, and a foreign national who is caught rather than coming forward faces deportation and a longer ban.

The permitted stay ends on the date stamped or recorded in the passport on entry, or on the last day of any extension. An overstay begins the following day, whatever the basis of the stay: a visa, a visa exemption or an extension. Leaving on the date stamped is not an overstay, since that date is the last day of permitted stay.

Visa exemption periods changed on 15 September 2026. Citizens of 59 countries and territories now receive visa-free entry for tourism of up to 30 days, and citizens of Mauritius and Seychelles up to 15 days, replacing the former 60-day exemption. Travellers who entered before 15 September keep the stay they were granted on arrival. Details of the scheme are on our visa exemption page.

An overstay is an offence under Section 81 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522, carrying imprisonment of up to two years, a fine of up to 20,000 baht, or both. In practice, a foreign national who reports the overstay on departure settles it with a fine of 500 baht for each day, weekends and public holidays included, which stops rising at 20,000 baht once the overstay passes 40 days. The fine is paid at the immigration checkpoint on departure, whether at an airport or a land border.

The procedure is set by the Immigration Bureau. The passport control officer refers the traveller to the fines officer, who confirms the length of the overstay and the amount due. Once the fine is paid, the officer issues a receipt, records the payment, stamps the passport and returns it, and the traveller continues through departure. A traveller who refuses to pay is subject to further investigation. Allow extra time at the airport, and carry the amount in cash.

An overstay is avoided by applying for an extension of stay at an immigration office before the permitted stay ends. A foreign national who has already overstayed and intends to stay on, rather than leave, must settle the overstay at an immigration office as part of applying for a new visa or extension.

A ban on re-entering Thailand applies to any overstay of more than 90 days. Its length depends on how long the overstay lasted and on whether the foreign national came forward or was caught.

The ban runs from the date of departure from Thailand and is recorded on the immigration blacklist. It does not apply to a foreign national who left Thailand before the age of 18.

The procedure is set by the Immigration Bureau. The passport control officer refers the traveller to the fines officer, who confirms the length of the overstay and the amount due. Once the fine is paid, the officer issues a receipt, records the payment, stamps the passport and returns it, and the traveller continues through departure. A traveller who refuses to pay is subject to further investigation. Allow extra time at the airport, and carry the amount in cash.

An overstay is avoided by applying for an extension of stay at an immigration office before the permitted stay ends. A foreign national who has already overstayed and intends to stay on, rather than leave, must settle the overstay at an immigration office as part of applying for a new visa or extension.

A foreign national arrested for overstaying faces a fine of up to 20,000 baht, may be detained until deportation, and is deported from Thailand. The ban that follows is five years for an overstay of less than one year and ten years for a longer one, far heavier than the ban for the same overstay reported voluntarily. For anyone who has overstayed, coming forward before being caught is almost always the better course.

A foreign national holding a long-term visa or an extension of stay, such as a Non-B, Non-O or Non-ED visa, must obtain a re-entry permit before leaving Thailand. Without one, the permission to stay ends on departure, and the traveller re-enters on whatever entry terms apply at the border, which may be far shorter. With one, the traveller returns to the remaining period of the original stay.

• An overstay of 90 days or fewer: go to the airport or border early, pay the fine at the immigration checkpoint and leave. No ban applies.
• An overstay of more than 90 days: come forward rather than wait to be caught, since the ban is far shorter. Take advice before going to Immigration.
• Wishing to remain in Thailand: the overstay must be settled before any new visa or extension is granted, so the right visa needs to be identified first.

Anyone who has overstayed, or is about to, should take advice before going to Immigration. We explain the options and can arrange the right visa for those who wish to stay. See our visa services or get in touch.

Reviewed September 2026