Chiang Mai (Thailand) - A vacation that never ends - that's probably what many travelers wish for. A British man (60) made this dream come true for himself when he extended his visa for more than two decades. The only problem was that this was not officially authorized.

On January 9, 2000, the now 60-year-old flew to Thailand, as the British Independent reported. He had organized a tourist visa that allowed him to stay for 30 days.

But after the deadline expired, the Brit simply stayed!

The former tourist then spent 9,135 days on the run from the Thai authorities.

Only now, after more than 25 years, did the handcuffs click.

Initially, he had built a new life for himself in Bangkok over the course of 13 years. Among other things, the Brit had met a Thai woman with whom he had a child.

Because he had no work and was only living off his family's money from the UK , the family eventually had to move from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, the largest city in northern Thailand.

He had spent the past twelve years there until he was arrested in an immigration police raid on Monday. The 60-year-old was then deported to his home country.

How the Briton was able to remain undetected in Thailand for so long is now the focus of the police investigation. At least the long-term holidaymaker has already confessed that he did not apply for an extension of his visa after receiving his first permit.