Thailand is adopting stronger measures to safeguard against foreigners who overstay their visa. Effective 20 March 2016, under part of a nationwide security enhancement plan, visitors who overstay a visa by more than 90 days will be prohibited from re-entering the Kingdom for a period of at least one year.
Even foreigners who voluntarily acknowledge their administrative offence will incur penalties. Overstaying by more than 90 days will entail a one-year ban; overstays of more than a year will face a three-year ban; overstays of more than three years will face a five-year ban; and, finally, a five-year overstay will carry a ban of 10 years.Those who do not deliver themselves to local authorities will have to face more severe punishment, including fines and even longer bans.
Immigration authorities will ask hotels, hostels and private landlords to help keep an eye on their foreign guests and tenants to ensure they comply with the new rules.