The man, who has not been named, arrived in the south-east Asian country as a 35-year-old in January 2000 and will return to the UK as a 60-year-old.

The longest visa overstayer known to Thai authorities before him had overstayed for just 10 years, The Independent reports.

The man is said to have lived in Bangkok for 13 years and Chiang Mai for 12 years, living off money from family in the UK rather than working.

Police say they are investigating how he managed to evade arrest for 9,135 days past the expiration of his visa.