Immigration Bureau Waives Overstay Fines for Foreign Tourists Stranded by Flooding in Eight Southern Provinces
The Immigration Bureau has announced a temporary waiver of overstay fines for foreign tourists stranded by severe flooding across several southern provinces, particularly in Songkhla and nearby areas. The disaster has left many foreign nationals unable to travel, especially in Hat Yai District, after multiple roads became impassable due to high floodwaters. As a result, many tourists could not leave Thailand within their permitted period of stay, which would normally incur an overstay fine of 500 baht per day under the Immigration Act.
On 28 November 2025, Pol. Maj. Gen. Cherngron Rimpadee, Deputy Commissioner and Spokesperson of the Immigration Bureau, stated that Pol. Lt. Gen. Parnumas Boonyaluck, Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, expressed concern for foreign nationals affected by this unforeseen disaster. Recognizing the situation as force majeure, the Commissioner issued an urgent directive dated 27 November 2025 instructing all immigration checkpoints to waive overstay penalties for foreign nationals who intend to depart Thailand but are unable to do so due to flooding in eight southern provinces:
Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Trang, Satun, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat.
The waiver applies to cases occurring between 20 November and 31 December 2025 and is enacted under Section 54 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979). The measure aims to assist genuinely affected individuals who have no intention of violating immigration laws. At the same time, immigration officers are required to continue conducting security checks thoroughly in accordance with standard procedures.
In addition, the Immigration Bureau is inspecting immigration offices impacted by the flooding and expediting restoration efforts to ensure services for the public can resume as quickly as possible once the water recedes.
