Owen Park
A Canadian digital nomad was detained at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in 2023 after his sixth visa-exempt entry into Malaysia within a period of 18 months. He was pulled from his flight to Bangkok after immigration pulled up his entire passport history and found out that he entered Malaysia on a regular basis within a short span of time. After 3 hours in a holding room he was denied entry into Malaysia and put on the next flight out to Bangkok.
He was in the airport for 3 hours before he got put on a flight back to Bangkok. This is another example of how overrunning the rules of the visa, even if its not illegal, can cause huge problems. The country has unofficial rules that the immigration officials actually enforce, and these can be different to the official rules on how you can enter as a tourist. Understanding the unofficial rules of the countries that you travel through are crucial for avoiding problems with your border crossings. Visa runs can work but only if you have an understanding of the unofficial rules of the countries that you visit.
The Real Cost of Getting It Wrong
Immigration violations are recorded forever and travel to other countries can be problematic as a result. In Thailand, for example, a single denial of entry is recorded in databases that are also used by Malaysian, Indonesian and Singaporean immigration officials. And since 2022, all ASEAN countries are connected via a network of immigration systems, allowing for the immediate sharing of information on overstays and other irregularities as well as on denials of entry.
I learned the hard way to never assume anything about entry into any country. I got pulled aside at the Don Mueang airport after 4 entries within 6 months of 30 day tourist entries and was granted entry for only 15 days. It was clear that the officer believed I was working. He even hinted that the 20,000baht that I had in cash and on my credit cards was to cover any possible fines that I might incur for overstaying. He seemed to believe that I had enough money to bribe my way through any situation. I have since carried printed bank statements showing that I have $3,000 minimum balance in my account for every entry into Thailand. This has so far worked and I have not been asked for any further proof of funds or of onward travel or of accommodations. Worth it.
Penalties for overstaying in Thailand and Indonesia are intended to deter those trying to breach regulations on working in the country. In Thailand, overstaying is punished by a daily fine of 500 baht, up to a maximum of 20,000 baht. Overstaying for more than 90 days triggers a ban on re-entry, which ranges from one year for 90+ days of overstaying, to three years for one year+ of overstaying, to five years for three years+ of overstaying, to 10 years for five years+ of overstaying. Similar rules were recently introduced in Indonesia in 2024. Here, fines for overstaying are 1 million rupiah per day, with automatic deportation after 60 days.
Some countries even track the amount of time that other visa-free entries were left between. For example: Four entries in six months would be viewed with great suspicion, whereas four entries in eighteen months would raise virtually no suspicions, even though the total amount of time on visa-free entries would be the same.
Southeast Asia: The Classic Visa Run Circuit
Thailand, is still by far the best country for long-term travelers to cycle between visa-exempt entries. Tourists can receive 30 day stamps of approval for visa-free entry into Thailand, and then extend these for a further 30 days at an immigration office for 1,900 baht. Alternatively, long-term travelers can even leave the country for a short border run to Malaysia, Laos or Cambodia, and then return to Thailand on another 30 day tourist visa. In 2023 however, the Thai immigration started cracking down on long-term tourists after tourism revenues hit $38 billion. They are trying to push these travelers on to proper long stay visas instead.
If you want to enter a country on a visa-free basis, it is smart to limit your entries to three a year and be out of that country for a few months in between. Having some proof of funds to show will also be smart, such as $1,000 US dollars or more in your bank account. Other countries in the region are also worth a look for visa-free entry, such as 90 days in Malaysia for most Western passport holders, or 45 day e-visas to Vietnam for $25 to enter on a single entry basis, or $50 for 3 month multiple entry. And then there are 90 day e-visas to Vietnam on the official government portal for $25 to $50 as well. Vietnam is a great place to live too, and many nomads already are. A large community of like-minded people already reside in Penang and in Kuala Lumpur in coworking spaces for as little as $80 to $120 per month for a hot desk. Another country to consider in South East Asia would be Indonesia with its 60 day visa-free entry for 160 odd countries for 3 months in the first instance, and then after that a 6 months, then a year. Thailand has a new Digital Nomad Visa too which is valid for 5 years, and cost $600 for the first year, with a minimum of $800 per month required to be earned by the applicant, and that can be spent in Thailand. So in conclusion, the region has opened up new legitimate long term visa options for digital nomads that don’t involve endless runs across borders.
The changes to the Indonesian policy brought about by the introduction of the 60-day visa-free period in December 2024 for citizens from 160 countries has turned Thailand on its head! The idea of Digital Nomad Visa’s have only recently become apparent and the very first Thailand Digital Nomad Visa has been granted. The 5-year visa will cost 60,000 baht, but is available to remote workers who earn at least $80,000 per annum from around the globe. Combine this with the long-term visa-free period in Indonesia and we now have some serious long-term options available for remote workers in Southeast Asia.
This actually has become one of the most budget friendly ways of long term travel in recent years. A common destination of long term travelers would be to the Philippines, which grants 30 days of visa free travel, however this can be extended up to 59 days in most immigration offices for a fee of 3,030 pesos ( approx $ 54). It’s not a matter of how long you can stretch it, it’s a matter of where you want to go. There are many places that can accommodate 2 months of travel, with flights to these locations being more expensive than the flights for the aforementioned multiple visa runs. Hostel statistics show that on average globally, 74% of available rooms were occupied in 2024, private rooms averaging $ 45 per night, and dorm rooms averaging $ 18 per night, according to Hostelworld statistics. Therefore, even though it feels longer to traverse the country by means of regular transport, it can actually save up to 40 minutes in actual traveling time per day.
South America: 90-Day Cycles and Mercosur Loopholes
A common misconception that most people make about South America is that it works exactly the same way that other parts of the world work when it comes to visa runs. In the vast majority of countries, when you first enter as a tourist, you are granted 90 days to be within the borders of said country. In the case of most of the countries in South America that are considered to be part of the Mercosur Agreement (short for Mercado Comun del Sur or in English, the Southern Common Market), that 90-day period can be extended in order to allow travelers to remain within said countries for extended periods of time while on tourist visas. As a matter of fact, as long as you are traveling through the countries of Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay while on tourist visas, you will not need to obtain a separate visa for entry into any of the four countries. And with the long 90-day stays, you can enter and exit each country as often as you wish and as long as you wish, traveling from country to country within the four-member trade bloc. And that is why, in this part of the world, traveling on tourist visas and visiting each of the countries in South America in 90-day cycles is the typical pattern of a long-term traveler.
Here’s what actually works:
Colombia: Enter in Bogotá (90 days visa-free) Fly to Buenos Aires after 2-3 months ($200-350 on LATAM or Aerolíneas Argentinas) Alternatively cross into Uruguay by the Buquebus ferry from Buenos Aires to Montevideo in 2.5 hours (100$-180$ for a return ticket for 60-75 days). Return to Argentina with a fresh 90-day stamp Continue in a southern direction to Peru and then Ecuador (183 days in total for 3 countries per year, e.g. 3 months in Chile and then 6 months in other 2 countries). On the way to Chile take a bus from Argentina to Santiago (6-8 hours, $35-60). Re-enter Peru for a maximum 183 days within a year and Ecuador for 90 days.
Just a note that even though each of the Mercosur countries give 90 days to visa free nationals, the countries do not share databases with regards to immigration. The officer at a border in say Chile, cannot access your entry and exit records for Argentina unless they ask specifically for them. The border enforcement for tourist entries is generally pretty lax but abusing obvious patterns of entry and exit can get your tagged for future problems. For example, if you enter Argentina five times in a year all through Ezeiza International, then at some point immigration might take a closer look.
The biggest outlier in the Americas for length of stay is Colombia. The initial 90 days can be extended once, for another 90 days at the Migración Colombia offices. This will give you a total of 6 months in Colombia, and then you can cross into Venezuela at the border crossing at Cúcuta / San Antonio del Táchira and immediately reenter Colombia. However, border crossing to and from Venezuela are fluid right now and can change at anytime. A safer bet for this extension is to fly to Panama City ($150-$250) and be in Panama for a week or so and then return to Medellín to get your new stamp of entry.
When doing long visa runs, money transfer is crucial. The transfer fee for a Wise transfer is 0.4% to 0.6% with a minimum fee of $0. Depending on the bank and their wire transfer policy the fee for a wire transfer can be as high as 3% to 5% for a transfer of similar size. This can save hundreds of dollars per year for people who make large transfers on a regular basis. I use Wise to transfer $2,000 per month from my USD checking account to my Colombian peso bank account. The transfer fee is $8 to $12 per transfer.
The Balkans: Europe’s Unguarded Back Door
Visas for Longer Stays in the Balkans. Most European countries are part of the Schengen zone which dictates that most visitors are allowed to stay for a maximum of 90 days in any 180 day period. There are however a number of countries that are outside of the Schengen zone – and so the 90 day limit does not apply to them. These are Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. So long as you have a valid passport for at least 6 months from the date of your planned departure from these countries, you will usually receive a 90 day visa free stamp on arrival.
The route through Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro works equally well. In both countries tourists can stay for 90 days visa-free. When those 90 days are over, the tourist can enter another Schengen country (as of 2023 Croatia is a Schengen country) or travel to Albania where he or she can receive a 1 year visa on arrival as an American or EU citizen entering between April and October. For accommodation in Sarajevo there are several emerging coworking spaces ($50-80 per month) as well as apartments which can be rented for $300-500 per month. In the winter months the prices for apartments decrease significantly in Kotor and Budva as the number of tourists decreases drastically from summer to winter, thus renting an apartment for $250-400 per month is definitely possible.
Just as was the case in Latin America, one country in the Balkans has completely reversed its policy and has turned into a paradise for the digital nomad: Albania. America and EU citizens can now enter the country visa-free, for up to one year if they enter before 1st November and stay for the entire calendar year, or up to 6 months if they enter between 1st April and 31st October. So, in the past, America citizens could have entered Albania visa-free but for a stay of just 90 days. In 2022, that policy was completely changed, making Tirana and the sea port of Durrës on the Adriatic two of the newest destinations for long-term digital nomads. There are now dozens of coworking spaces in Tirana where a hot desk can cost between $70 and $100 per month.
As with any of these issues I change my mind and go back and forth on this and currently I’m with a “yes”.
A huge variation in border control exists between countries. For the borders with Montenegro you can expect a ‘stamp’ at a border crossing but the odd time you might not even get a stamp in your passport at a land border. However, crossing into Croatia is much more strict, and if you have spent a long time in the Balkans and are trying to enter another Schengen country for the maximum 90 days then you can expect a lot of scrutiny from a border officer. Make sure you have a print out of a Booking.com confirmation for your accommodation in the country, as well as a print out of return flights or onward travel and a print out of your bank statements to show that you have 3,000+ euros in your account.
Track the amount of time you have spent in the Schengen Area with apps that track your stay, like the free app Schengen Calculator. Remember that overstaying your visa for even a day can trigger an entry ban to all EU and Schengen countries for a period starting at 1 year. Carry a paper trail of all land borders crossing into and out of each of the Balkan countries – more often than not, land border officials won’t even stamp your passport so it will be useful to be able to refer back to records and understand when you entered and how long you have been in each country. Purchase travel insurance that will cover 100% of your medical costs up to €30,000 or more while traveling abroad (as this is becoming more required at border crossings for visa-free travel as well). Keep a safe margin in your Schengen days – 85 instead of 90 for example to account for sometimes stricter than expected treatment by border police.
It’s been less than a year since I started talking about the new travel insurance requirement and the British traveler was this week denied entry to Montenegro by immigration because he had no proof of coverage (even though as a UK citizen he’s entitled to visa-free entry for up to 30 days as a tourist). Apparently he bought a policy on his phone while waiting at the border and the printed-out digital certificate was just fine. I now download my Safety Wing certificate offline on my phone and carry the printed-out version in my passport.
Sources and References
Thailand Immigration Bureau. ( 2023). Annual Statistical Report on Immigration Enforcement and Overstay Penalties.
Association of Southeast Asian Nations. (2022). ASEAN Integrated Immigration Database System Implementation Report.
Hostelworld. ( 2024). Global Hostel Industry Report: Occupancy Rates and Pricing Trends.
Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Indonesia. ( 2024). New Visa-Free Entry Policy for 60-Day Tourist Visits.
Reviewed by Tara Singh. Tara Singh reviewed this for authenticity as she had previously traveled on these routes and the advice given is sound.
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