Important: Double-Check Your Entry Stamps in Thailand

If you’re traveling to Thailand, you should be careful of receiving the wrong entry stamp, letting you stay for less than or greater than your intended period. These are known as “bad stamps” and can result in grave consequences regarding your status in Thailand if not resolved in time. 

Some of these errors can include:

• Stamping the incorrect page of your passport
• Providing the wrong end date on your entry stamp
• Giving you an arrival stamp meant for an entirely different visa 

For instance, you may be entering Thailand under a 30-day visa exemption stamp, but the border officer issued you a 90-day tourist visa stamp instead. While you may think that holding this stamp permits you to stay for 90 days as indicated, in reality, you did not apply for any visa before arriving. The Thai immigration database still lists you as being visa exempt without a 90-day tourist visa, and therefore, will penalize you for overstaying if you remained for more than 30 days in the country. 

Ignorance is no defense

Double-checking your arrival stamps is your responsibility and failure to do so will not waive any of the resulting penalties. To avoid any issues, ensure you verify the date and passport page where the stamp is located each time an immigrant officer stamps your passport. The moment the officer provides the stamp to you, open your passport, flip to the correct page, and check the stamp to ensure the date is correct. Notify the officer immediately if there are any inaccuracies.

To determine which stamp you need, you must know what your actual status in Thailand is as a foreigner. Are you arriving in Thailand under a visa exemption status and did not acquire any visa beforehand? Did you apply for a 90-day visa? Did you apply for a Thailand Elite Visa? Once you know this, you’ll be able to recognize if the stamp you received was a “bad stamp” since you will know how long you’re supposed to stay. 

For example, if you are exempted from needing a visa to travel for 30 days, your stamp should not list an end date greater than 30 days. For some nationalities, such as South Korea and Russia, you are allowed to stay for 90 days without needing a visa. Being mindful of these specifics will help you avoid any problems arising from errors beyond your control. 

Be sure to speak up

On the other hand, some officers will provide a stamp limiting your stay to only 30 days when you already have a visa allowing you to reside longer. This is common if you have to apply for a re-entry permit each time you leave the country. Make sure you convey to the officer at the border that you have a re-entry permit and a valid visa, so they won’t automatically issue the wrong arrival stamp. 

Foreigners are usually permitted to stay in Thailand up to a certain number of days depending on which visa they hold. Staying longer than that, even if unintentional, results in an overstay penalty. Depending on how long the period is, you could face hefty fines or even deportation and a ban on reentering Thailand. If you notice any discrepancies, you must immediately request for corrections to be made.

If you notice any errors on your entry stamps, you can amend them at the following locations:

• The nearest Thai Immigration Office (if you’re in Bangkok you can reach out to the office located on Chaeng Wattana Road).*
• Suvarnabhumi Airport or Phuket International Airport (only if arriving by air).
• Land Border Office that issued the stamp (only if arriving by land).**

*NOTE: Some immigration officers may direct you to an airport to complete this process.

**NOTE: Even if you arrived in Thailand by land, you can still check in with the Thai Immigration Office to see if they can make the corrections from their end. 

Speak to the officers working at any of the above locations and provide an in-depth explanation of your situation. Explain to them which visa you applied for or whether you were under exempted status and show them the stamp you received upon arrival. The officer will then replace the stamp on your passport with the correct one. 

Be in the know before you go

As Thailand undergoes a surge of popularity amongst tourists, the government is becoming stricter on issuing penalties and cracking down on overstays. Keeping a close eye out for any mistakes on your arrival stamp will help you avoid sudden fines and difficulties in applying for another visa in the future. 

If you are ever unsure about what visas you need in Thailand or are having trouble with Thai immigration, contact Siam Legal for expert advice and legal services. Our bilingual legal team has over 20 years of experience dealing with legal issues of all kinds in Thailand and will ensure you have the information you need and that your rights are protected.

Category: Travel to Thailand