Foreigners who overstay face new bans on re-entry

IMPACT – MEDIUM

What is the change? Under new regulations that will take effect Sunday, foreigners who are apprehended in Thailand and are found to have overstayed their visas will face bans on re-entry.

What does the change mean? Those who have overstayed their visa by less than one year will be banned from returning to Thailand for five years; those who have overstayed by one year or more will be banned for 10 years.

• Implementation time frame: March 20.
• Visas/permits affected: All visas.
• Who is affected: Foreigners who are apprehended or arrested by authorities for another reason and found to have overstayed their visa.
• Business impact: The regulation is a compliance reminder that Thailand is cracking down on foreigners who overstay their visas.

Background: Currently, foreigners who overstay their visa for short periods may pay a fine at the airport, but are not banned from re-entry. The new regulation does not appear to allow for any grace period or exceptions for short overstays.

BAL Analysis: Foreign nationals should pay close attention to the duration of their visa, as an overstay of even one day could subject them to a ban on returning for five years.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Thailand. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.

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