# AI tells a tourist that Thailand entry is unlimited and overstaying is no big deal

- **ID:** `visa/visa-exemption-not-unlimited`
- **Domain:** visa
- **Category:** administrative_barrier
- **Verification:** ai_generated
- **Fix Rate:** 85%

## Root Cause

Many nationalities receive a visa exemption for tourism in Thailand (up to 60 days as of 2024, sometimes extendable once at an immigration office), but you may NOT work, and overstaying carries a fine of 500 THB per day (capped at 20,000 THB) plus possible bans of 1–10 years for longer overstays.

## Version Compatibility

| Version | Status | Introduced | Deprecated |
|---------|--------|------------|------------|
| any | active | — | — |

## Workarounds

1. **Check your nationality's exact visa-exempt period before travel and track your permitted-to-stay date from the entry stamp.** (90% success)
   ```
   Confirm the period on the Thai immigration/MFA site; note the date written on your arrival stamp, not the visa-exemption headline number.
   ```
2. **If you need longer, apply for the appropriate visa (tourist, education, or non-immigrant) in advance, or extend once at an immigration office before expiry.** (80% success)
   ```
   Apply for a proper visa at a Thai embassy before travel, or extend at a local immigration office (fee applies) before your stamp expires.
   ```

## Dead Ends

- **Assume the visa exemption lets you stay and work indefinitely** — The visa exemption is for tourism only and is time-limited (typically 60 days, with one possible 30-day extension). Working on it is illegal, and overstaying triggers daily fines and re-entry bans. (80% fail)
- **Plan to 'fix' an overstay quietly at the airport on departure** — Overstays are recorded; you pay 500 THB/day (max 20,000) at departure and longer overstays lead to automatic re-entry bans of 1–10 years. It is not waved through. (70% fail)