Thailand overstay fine: 500 baht per day and the entry ban

A Thailand overstay costs 500 baht per day, up to 20,000 baht. More than 90 days of overstay, or an arrest, leads to an entry ban of 1 to 10 years.

Last checked: 11 October 2026

In short (as of 11 October 2026)
Fine: 500 baht per day of overstay, at most 20,000 baht in total. The law (section 81 of the Immigration Act) sets a maximum of 2 years in prison, a fine of 20,000 baht, or both.
Self-reported: entry ban of 1 year for more than 90 days of overstay, 3 years for more than 1 year, 5 years for more than 3 years and 10 years for more than 5 years.
Arrested and prosecuted: entry ban of 5 years for an overstay of up to 1 year and 10 years for more than 1 year.
The ban counts from the day of departure. It does not apply to anyone who left Thailand before their 18th birthday.
On 12 November 2025 the Immigration Bureau instructed all immigration divisions to run operations to track down foreigners on overstay.

This article is for anyone staying in Thailand who wants to know what happens when the permitted period of stay is exceeded, and what to do if it has already happened. The general Thai rules in this guide apply to all nationalities; the parts about embassies and documents are written for Dutch and Belgian passport holders, so if you hold another passport, check the requirements of the Thai embassy or consulate that serves you.

What overstay in Thailand is

You are on overstay as soon as you are in Thailand after the date in your last stamp: the arrival stamp, or the stamp of an extension. Section 81 of the Immigration Act (1979) concerns a foreigner who stays in Thailand "without permission, or after the permission has expired or been revoked".

What is not overstay

An application under consideration. While an extension is being assessed, the officer can give an "under consideration" stamp. This may be done several times, but together for no longer than 30 days after the end of your stay (Police Order 327/2557, clause 3).
After a refusal. If an extension is refused, you get 7 days after the end of your stay to leave (clause 4).

If you stay longer than those periods, the normal overstay rule applies.

The overstay fine

For overstay, the Immigration Bureau charges a settlement fine of 500 baht per day, with a maximum of 20,000 baht in total. This is stated on the website of the Immigration Bureau and of Immigration Division 1.

The law itself (section 81) goes further: anyone who stays in Thailand without valid permission risks at most 2 years in prison, a fine of at most 20,000 baht, or both.

Examples (settlement fine 500 baht per day)
  1 day of overstay           500 baht   (about 13 euros)
  10 days of overstay       5,000 baht   (about 133 euros)
  30 days of overstay      15,000 baht   (about 399 euros)
  40 days or more          20,000 baht   (maximum, about 532 euros)

Euro amounts are an indication, converted at the ECB reference rate of 9 October 2026: 1 euro = 37.574 baht.

The entry ban

The entry ban is set out in Order No. 1/2558 of the Minister of the Interior (27 November 2015, published in the Royal Gazette of 21 December 2015), in force since 20 March 2016. The Immigration Bureau announced the rules; Immigration Division 1 shows the same table.

Self-reported to the authorities
  overstay more than 90 days       entry ban 1 year
  overstay more than 1 year        entry ban 3 years
  overstay more than 3 years       entry ban 5 years
  overstay more than 5 years       entry ban 10 years

Arrested and prosecuted
  overstay up to and including 1 year    entry ban 5 years
  overstay more than 1 year              entry ban 10 years

The ban runs from the date of departure from Thailand.
The rule does not apply to anyone who left the country before the age of 18, nor to anyone who left before 20 March 2016.
For self-reporting, the table sets no entry ban for an overstay of 90 days or less. The fine is still due.
Anyone who is arrested gets a ban of 5 years even for a short overstay.

Reporting yourself

The Royal Thai Embassy in Washington (14 September 2023) writes that you must pay the fine before you are allowed to leave the country, and that this is easiest on departure at the airport: you explain the situation to immigration and pay at a counter there. Make sure you have the amount with you. When the entry bans were introduced (2016), Thai embassies also mentioned the land border posts and seaports, but that text concerned people who were already on overstay before 20 March 2016. If in doubt, ask the immigration office where and how to pay in your case.

Consequences for other applications

Changing your visa in Thailand is no longer possible after an overstay. The checklists of Immigration Division 1 say: "If you have overstayed, you are not allowed to submit an application for this type of visa."
An extension must be applied for before the end of your stay. Anyone who comes after that is already on overstay.
A valid visa does not guarantee entry. The immigration officer can refuse someone who in the officer's view falls under a ground for refusal in the Immigration Act (Royal Thai Embassy The Hague, 1 September 2026).

Stricter checks since November 2025

On 12 November 2025 the Immigration Bureau announced four measures. Measure 4: all divisions must run operations to track down foreigners on overstay ("ระดมกวาดล้างคนต่างชาติ ที่อยู่เกินกำหนด overstay"). On the same day the Bureau announced that it may refuse entry after repeated visa runs.

What to do if you are on overstay

Look at the date in your last stamp and count the days.
Work out the fine: 500 baht per day, at most 20,000 baht.
Report yourself to the immigration authorities, for example on departure at the airport, and pay the fine before you leave.
Expect an entry ban if the overstay is more than 90 days.
Do not wait until you are arrested: then a ban of 5 years applies even for a short overstay.

Common mistakes

Confusing the visa validity with the period of stay. What counts is not the visa's "valid until" date but the date in the stamp on arrival or extension.

Extending too late. Every day after the date in the stamp is overstay, even if you extend afterwards.

Thinking a few days make no difference. If you are arrested, even a short overstay brings an entry ban of 5 years.

Waiting too long to change your visa. After an overstay you can no longer apply for another visa in Thailand.

Where the sources contradict each other

Fine and penalty. The settlement fine is 500 baht per day up to 20,000 baht (Immigration Bureau); the law sets a maximum of 2 years in prison, 20,000 baht or both (section 81).
Embassy in Brussels. The FAQ of the embassy in Brussels (7 May 2025) mentions "minimum 500.- Baht for each day" and a ban "from 1 to 10 years", without the threshold of 90 days or the distinction between self-reporting and arrest. This article follows the Immigration Bureau.

What has changed

27 November 2015: Order No. 1/2558 of the Minister of the Interior on entry bans (Royal Gazette 21 December 2015).
20 March 2016: entry bans for overstay in force.
12 November 2025: the Immigration Bureau announces operations against overstay, in all divisions.

As of 11 October 2026, no change to the fine or the ban periods was found in the official sources consulted.

Frequently asked questions

How much is the overstay fine in Thailand?

500 baht per day, with a maximum of 20,000 baht. At 40 days or more you pay the maximum.

Will I get an entry ban for overstaying a few days in Thailand?

If you report yourself, the table only sets a ban for more than 90 days of overstay. If you are arrested and prosecuted, an overstay of up to 1 year brings a ban of 5 years.

How long is the Thailand entry ban for overstay?

Self-reported: 1, 3, 5 or 10 years for more than 90 days, 1 year, 3 years or 5 years of overstay. Arrested: 5 years for up to 1 year of overstay, 10 years above that. It counts from the day of departure.

Can I pay the overstay fine at the airport?

Yes. According to the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington (14 September 2023), you pay the fine on departure at immigration at the airport, before you are allowed to leave the country.

Is it overstay if my extension is still being processed?

No, as long as you have an "under consideration" stamp. That stamp is valid for at most 30 days in total after the end of your stay.

Does the overstay entry ban apply to children?

No. The ban does not apply to anyone who left Thailand before the age of 18.

Sources

All sources opened on 11 October 2026.

This article is general information, not legal advice. Thai visa rules can change and are sometimes applied differently from one office to another. Check the current requirements with the Thai embassy or the immigration office before you apply or travel.

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