Bangkok: The Immigration Bureau has announced a temporary relief measure for foreign tourists unable to leave the country due to severe flooding in eight southern provinces. The initiative aims to alleviate the financial burden on those affected by waiving overstay fines until December 31st.
According to Thai News Agency, the Immigration Bureau (IB) has responded to the plight of foreigners stranded in areas such as Songkhla Province and Hat Yai District, where flooding has severely disrupted travel routes. Typically, foreign tourists who overstay face fines of 500 baht per day under the Immigration Act. However, Police Lieutenant General Panumas Boonyalak, Commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, has issued an urgent directive to waive these fines for eligible individuals.
The directive, outlined in Immigration Bureau Letter No. 0029/161.7396 dated November 27, 2025, applies to tourists in the affected provinces of Songkhla, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Trang, Satun, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat. This
measure, effective from November 20 to December 31, 2025, utilizes Section 54 of the Immigration Act to support those impacted by the natural disaster, ensuring they are not penalized for circumstances beyond their control.
In addition to waiving fines, the Immigration Bureau is actively working to inspect and rehabilitate immigration offices in the flood-stricken regions to restore services swiftly. The Bureau also emphasized maintaining rigorous security procedures during this period of transition.