The Immigration Bureau has indicated that more than 150,000 foreign nationals need to have their tourist visas renewed by September 26th or face overstay charges.
Immigration Bureau Deputy Spokesperson Police Colonel Pakpong Sai-ubol warned that overstaying one’s tourist visa is punishable by both a jail term and fine under the Immigration Act, adding that offenders would also be deported to their countries of origin.
Additionally, anyone overstaying their visa for more than 90 days is barred from re-entering the kingdom for one year.
Many foreign visitors were stranded in Thailand at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in late March, when international flights were suspended and borders closed to stave off transmission of the virus.
Visitors were therefore given a reprieve whereby they could remain in the Kingdom even after their visas had already expired.
The grace period ends this coming Saturday, which has also been set as the deadline for having visas renewed. Failure to report by then will incur a daily fine, with authorities confirming that violators will be tracked down.
More information can be found at www.immigration.go.th.
Sources: PR Thai Government, Bangkok Post