British Man Held 25 Years Beyond Thai Visa in Record-Length Stay
A 60-year-old UK national was just arrested in Chiang Mai after staying 9,135 days past his 30-day tourist visa—one of the longest undocumented stays on record.
A 60-year-old British national has been arrested in Chiang Mai province, Thailand, for overstaying a visa by 25 years. The man first entered Thailand in 2000 on a 30-day tourist visa and never left the country.
Police Call It a “Record” Stay
He admitted arriving in Thailand in early 2000 and living illegally after his visa lapsed, splitting his residence between Bangkok for 13 years and Chiang Mai for 12 years.
His identity has not been released since police took him into custody on Monday, 24 February, during an anti-illegal-foreigner operation in Chiang Mai province. According to officials, the timing of his original entry was confirmed but no further immigration stamps appear in the system.
"After checking his name in our immigration system, he entered Thailand in 2000 and we’ve recorded no other stamp for him since then."
a senior officer said.
The man renewed his passport in 2018 without receiving additional entry stamps and will now be deported to the UK. Although he fathered a child with a Thai woman, he remained unemployed and financially supported by family in the UK.
An officer involved in the operation told AFP the man had overstayed by 9,135 days—far exceeding the previous record of 10 years held by a Pakistani national.
