Thailand Overstay Fines: THB 500 a Day and Entry Bans
The overstay fine in Thailand is THB 500 per day, capped at THB 20,000. Pay before you leave and an overstay of 90 days or less brings no ban. Surrender after more than 90 days and Order 1/2558 bans you for 1 year from departure. If arrested after an overstay of up to 1 year, the ban is 5 years.
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The overstay fine is THB 500 per day, capped at THB 20,000. If you surrender at the checkpoint, a re-entry ban applies only when the overstay is more than 90 days. If you are arrested, a ban applies for an overstay of any length.
The fine and the legal maximum
Overstaying is staying in Thailand longer than your visa or entry stamp permits. Staying inside the limit is your job.
| Overstay | Fine |
|---|---|
| Per day | THB 500 |
| One week (7 days) | THB 3,500 |
| 40 days or longer | THB 20,000 |
Section 81 sets the ceiling in the Act: imprisonment, a fine, or both.
Section 81 : Any alien who stay in the Kingdom without permission or with permission expired or revoked shall be punished with imprisonment not exceeding two years or a fine not exceeding 20,000 Baht or both. Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979), Section 81, consolidated Thai-English text
A few hours late
An embassy says the THB 500 fine is usually waived for a few hours of overstay, and you explain to the officer at stamp-out. No rule sets this, so carry the fine.
If you are caught
If an immigration officer catches the overstay, it can end in jail when the fine cannot be paid or the overstay is long. After a few overstays, a passport could be stamped as in violation of Thai immigration laws, labelling the holder an “undesirable alien”.
Re-entry bans by length of overstay
A surrender after an overstay of more than 90 days brings a 1-year ban from the departure date under Ministry of Interior Order 1/2558. Arrest after an overstay of up to 1 year brings a 5-year ban.
The bans come from the Order on aliens ineligible for admission. The Order is made under section 16 of the Immigration Act. It does not apply to someone who left before turning eighteen.
If you surrender at the checkpoint
The surrender tiers start above 90 days. With an overstay of 90 days or less, no tier applies. An embassy says you are not banned on a later visit if you pay the fine before you leave.
คนต่างด้าวซึ่งอยู่ในราชอาณาจักรนับแต่วันสิ้นสุดการอนุญาตเกินกว่า ๙๐ วัน
An alien who has stayed in the Kingdom more than 90 days from the end of permission is banned from entering for 1 year from the date of leaving the Kingdom. Ministry of Interior Order 1/2558, item 1.1 (editor’s translation)
| Overstay | Ban from the departure date |
|---|---|
| More than 90 days | 1 year |
| More than 1 year | 3 years |
| More than 3 years | 5 years |
| More than 5 years | 10 years |
A missed 90-day address report is a separate matter: it is currently a THB 2,000 fine when you report late, and it does not change the overstay tiers above.
If you are arrested
The arrested tiers have no grace period, so a short overstay found by officers is not covered by the “no ban” rule above.
| Overstay | Ban from the departure date |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 year | 5 years |
| More than 1 year | 10 years |
Paying at Phuket Airport and land borders
An embassy gives a one-week overstay as 7 days x THB 500 = THB 3,500, to be paid before you leave the country, most easily when flying out. At the airport you explain the reason to the immigration officer, who sends you to a nearby counter to pay.
Carry enough funds for the whole fine: a traveller without enough may be taken to the holding cells until funds are raised.
222 Moo 6, Mai Khao, Thalang District, Phuket 83110, Thailand · Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Avoid it: extend before the stay ends
A visa-exempt visitor can request an extension of up to 30 days. It must be applied for before the permitted stay ends, and approval is at the immigration officer’s discretion.
- The fee is THB 1,900.
- The form is TM.7, with a photo attached.
- You file at the immigration office covering the area where you live.
In Phuket that is the Phuket Immigration Office, 482 Phuket Rd., Talad Yai, Mueang, Phuket 83000. The phone is 0 7622 1905. Counters open from 8.30 a.m. and the afternoon session runs to 4.30 p.m. The office is closed Saturday and Sunday, and on 13 October 2026 and 23 October 2026.
482 Phuket Rd, Tambon Talat Yai, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83000, Thailand · Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)
Visa-exempt entry is for tourism only, up to 30 days. Anyone who entered before 15 September 2026 under the old rules may stay until the granted period of stay ends.
Related guides
Photo credits
- Photos and clips uploaded to Google Maps (Phuket International Airport on Google Maps (opens in a new tab), Phuket Immigration Office on Google Maps (opens in a new tab)) by Felix Y, 1301 taiji, Google Maps contributor.
Not confirmed: Whether a few hours of overstay are fined: carry THB 500 for the day.
Common questions
What is the fine for overstaying a Thailand visa by 10 days?
The fine is THB 500 per day, capped at THB 20,000 for overstays of 40 days or longer. Pay it before you leave and you are not banned on a later visit.
What happens if I overstay in Thailand more than 90 days?
Surrender at the checkpoint after more than 90 days and the ban is 1 year from your departure date. If you are arrested with an overstay of up to 1 year, the ban is 5 years.
How much is the overstay fine in Thailand?
THB 500 per day, capped at THB 20,000, a cap reached at 40 days.
Is a one-day overstay fined?
An embassy says the THB 500 fine is usually waived for a few hours of overstay. A longer overstay is charged at THB 500 per day.
Will I be banned from coming back?
Not if you pay the fine before departure and the overstay is under 90 days. More than 90 days brings a 1-year ban when you surrender. If you are arrested, up to 1 year over means a 5-year ban.
Where do I pay the fine at Phuket Airport?
At the airport you explain the reason to the immigration officer, then you are taken to a nearby counter to pay.
What if I cannot pay the fine?
A traveller without enough funds may be taken to the holding cells until funds are raised.
Can an overstay lead to prison?
Section 81 allows imprisonment not exceeding two years or a fine not exceeding 20,000 baht, or both.
How do I avoid overstaying in Phuket?
A visa-exempt visitor can request an extension of up to 30 days. It must be applied for before the permitted stay ends.
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General information checked against the sources listed above, not legal advice for your situation. Rules and office practice change; confirm with the immigration office or a licensed adviser before you act. See how guides are checked.
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Comments (10)
Feisty_Fee_779
Return after short overstay Hi there! I’ve foolishly overstayed my visa for 1 day, didn’t have any problems at the immigration counter and just paid the 500 baht fee and. However, what I wonder is whether I will be able to return to Phuket in 2-3 days. Can any problems occur? Will I be allowed to enter the country (Phuket, if it matters)? Many thanks in advance 🙏🏽
May_win
You don't have a visa, you have a stamp on arrival. Because of the overstay, you have a mark that you are an immigration violator. Whether you will be allowed in or not is at the discretion of the immigration officer at the airport. If you want to stay here for a long time on border runs, it is better not to do the overstay.
Brigstocke
Not true, you can still choose to have a departure stamp. At the bottom of the escalator, turn left, and you will see a number of immigration officer booths.
Farlaunde
No it won't. You don't have the physical stamp but it's all logged on the IT systems abd that's what the IO is looking at when you think he's ignoring you at the entry desk.
Recent_Edge1552
I'd been in and out of Thailand 15 times or so within a 5 year period. Lost count. At least 5 of those were overstays ranging from 1-3 days. I've also been to Chaengwattana late to get an extension. In that case, I had to pay the overstay fine and still got the extension backdated with a fine included. I've never once had a return ticket. Never been questioned about funds or what I plan to do in the country. Only one time did an immigration officer (female, they can be more stringent) question me about a return ticket. I just said that I could stay for a week, or three, depending on how I felt and whether or not I'd had enough of a holiday. Border runs depend on coming in via land or air border. Air just means that you go to Singapore or Japan and then re-enter. There's no need to go all the way back home. It also depends on your look. Having a clean look and demeanour, especially dress-wise, can make a lot of difference in Thailand. If you have a history of going in and out of Thailand, it can help. They know that you will leave. Their job is done. I've even had times where they didn't bother with the overstay fine. I can't even imagine being denied entry. Where is your friend from?
Easy-Put-6650
Overstay 7 days. Hello everybody, I am going to immigration this morning to extend my visa for another month, they told me I was not entitled to a third month and I don’t know that, I make a mistake.. So I'm going to stay for an overstay of 7 days. I take my plane for return to my country in Bangkok, but before I need to take a plane in Phuket to Bangkok. It’s a flight in the country, it is more safe to going to see the officer immigration when I take the flight in Phuket? The immigration official told me that since I had never overstayed, I would have to pay a fine for those 7 days and that there would be no problem. But browsing Facebook and certain forums, I have the impression that it’s more complicated than that! So what to do? Go to the airport in Phuket and explain to them? Pay the fine before I take the plane in Phuket to bkk? I’am lost… Thank you for your answers.
GOD_Milo
Apply for extension, they will reject it and give you 7 days to exit the country which effectively is your extension.
DanielDW97
extension visa short stay Vs pay overstay fee Why is it so hard here to extend visa? First I went yesterday to the one centre which is at least located inside Bangkok. Here I got denied saying it was only for workers. Only place in Bangkok to extend visa is far north of Bangkok, which in practise is basically 400 baht and 1 hour with taxi. Over there you have like 1+ hour of paperwork and waiting until approval. All in all I wasted basically 4 hours just to have my visa extended for 30 days, where I needed only 3 days of it. All in all I which I turned back time and just gambled it on paying at airport and expect no further problems. They are probably not so harsh with the rules knowing how much timewaste it is to actually do. So: 4 hours primetime + 2700 baht gone. For other people I would really recommend to just pay the 500 baht overstay per day instead. It's way less bullshit and doesn't ruin your day. You only have to be airport 1 hour earlier. Biggest problem with all this is the location of course.
Greg25kk
Definitely would not encourage people to overstay. Overstay stamps not only affect how you are treated upon entry to Thailand but also may affect future visas or entry to other countries. No one likes someone who has a history of overstaying their welcome. What you should really recommend is people research where to go prior to going and perhaps consider extending in a different city than Bangkok if they’re uncomfortable getting themselves to Laksi.
hextree
> Over there you have like 1+ hour of paperwork and waiting until approval. Those are rookie hours, seems you got there on a good day. > For other people I would really recommend to just pay the 500 baht overstay per day instead. You shouldn't go recommending this to people. If someone on overstay gets caught before they go to the airport, e.g. by a police check, or hotel reporting them, then they will be in big trouble. Possibly jail, and blacklisted from returning to Thailand for 5 years.