The Foreign Office has issued a new travel warning for Thailand, alerting UK holidaymakers to potential risks of "being held in detention" due to new visa rules.

Starting from June 1, 2024, British passport holders can enter Thailand without a visa for tourism and short-term business engagements for up to 60 days. However, those planning to stay longer for purposes such as work or study must obtain a visa prior to travel.

The Foreign Office cautions: "If you stay beyond the period of your visa, you will be fined 500 Thai baht per day up to a maximum of 20,000 baht. You risk being held in detention." Additionally, overstaying your visa could result in deportation at your own expense and a ban from re-entering Thailand for up to 10 years. Conditions in detention centres are described as harsh.

Holidaymakers are advised to check visa and entry requirements through the Royal Thai Embassy or local Immigration Office. There are also strict rules on goods that can be brought into and out of Thailand. For example, importing more than 200 cigarettes per person is illegal and enforced at customs on arrival, with fines up to 10 times the value and confiscation of the excess cigarettes.

The Foreign Office also highlighted passport requirements: "Your passport must be valid for at least six months from when you enter Thailand. You could be refused entry if your passport is damaged or has pages missing." Dual nationals must leave Thailand on the same passport they used to enter to avoid immigration issues.

For further information on renewing or applying for a new British passport, holidaymakers should refer to the overseas British passport application guidelines. Photo by Khaosaming, Wikimedia commons.