Travelers should know the real risk of staying in Thailand after their visa ends. This article explains what can happen if you ignore the visa rules, using a recent case to show the danger.

On Oct 13, immigration officers in Phuket arrested a Portuguese woman. She could not produce her passport, only a photo of it on her phone. The officers used the biometric system to check her details.

She entered Thailand on March 20, 2020 under a 30‑day visa‑exempt scheme and later received an extension. Her permission to stay expired on Jan 11, 2021, so she was charged with an illegal stay. Thai law allows up to two years in prison and a fine up to 20,000 baht for staying without permission.

An immigration spokesperson said Thai immigration is stepping up checks to find and arrest foreigners staying illegally. He also urged the public to report suspected immigration offenses to the 1178 hotline.