Answered5 years ago
Can I apply for a visa in Thailand after arriving on my passport, or do I need to obtain one beforehand?
Greetings: I’m planning to move from US to Thailand in January, and living with my girlfriend in Ayutthaya where she owns a home. I can’t determine whether I can arrive on my passport and apply for a visa there, or whether I need to get one before I arrive. Further, the reading I’ve done on Thai visas doesn’t seem to fit my circumstances. I want to eventually generate some income and will want a work visa, so a retirement visa is out. I would like to avoid having to leave every 90 days, and be able to renew in country. I’m ready to just hire a visa service to help me. Love to hear any advice or experiences from those who had similar circumstances.
Answer summary
The user is planning to relocate to Thailand and seeks clarity on visa requirements. They express interest in generating income, emphasizing the need for a work visa while noting that a retirement visa is unsuitable. Community responses advise considering a marriage visa, as it allows for a work permit and can be more manageable than a retirement visa. Suggestions also include obtaining alternative visas, such as education or volunteer visas, as the user navigates their options for working in Thailand.
32 repliesnewest first
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Nikki *******
I used to live and work in Ayutthaya as a teacher. You can request to join Ayutthaya Expats or PM me if you want other contacts for teaching there. I can't speak for getting a visa right now with all the COVID nonsense.
Jonas *************
If she's rich then she can figure it out for you...
Addy ***********
Work permir is on the end expensive every month pay bookkeeping plus insurance and tax plus end of the year year balance plus when you work you need a few people on your payroll and and the come check many things or it's serious but...
Dimitri ********
"generate some income " You should specify that more clearly to get a good answer. Working online is easy, if you know how. Finding a job here is much more difficult, unless you are a teacher or so. I followed the job market for some time. In several years I never saw one job that could be ok for me and where they didn't ask for knowledge of the Thai language.
Bob **********
Get a job before you come
Dave **********
31years first time to a Thai, she passed, and now on year 15 again to a Thai.
Marriage depends on the people involved!
Marriage depends on the people involved!
James ********
OPThank you all for raising some good points, I appreciate the help. Yes we have met, marriage has been discussed, but was hoping to postpone for maybe a year in. But that’s an option. Generating income I’ve considered various solo online projects - consulting for US clients, or e-commerce. Not a brick and mortar with employees. I understand visa and work permit are separate, but as was pointed out one can restrict the ability to do the other. Thank you all again.
Tim *********
@Steven ********
the Thai elite visa is an option if you have the cash 💰. And you can work online with that visa. Bobby ********
Steven Rodgers. Just be aware that working online without a work permit is technically illegal.
Rei ***********
If you already met her personally, then marry her is the best option, you don't need a working visa if you already marriage visa. But if you only met her online,maybe it's a trap. Pattaya is one of the red light zone in Thailand.
Sammy *******
@Tito ****
"a trap" whatever do you mean?
Wayne ********
reading your post further you want a work visa but to get that in the beginning you either need to have a job and sponsor or a business set up which you don't, you therefore need a retirement visa or possibly a shorter stay visa while you decide what to do, you just cant come and open a business and think you will be ok to start making money more like lose money here... as someone else said don't even contemplate marriage need we go into this further .... enjoy your time here and spend wisely...
Sammy *******
@Wayne *******
of course, the old joke, "How do you make a small fortune in Thailand? Start with a large one." a joke, but so very true for far too many.Wayne ********
@Sammy ******
obviously most of these fools leave their brains at immigration when they arrive 
Terary **********
"I want to eventually generate some income " - I would worry about that after you've gotten accustom to the situation here in Thailand. There are few options for earning money all with different affect on your visa situation. If you plan to open a business then you have some visa options, if you plan to work for an Thai employer, other options. For a foreign employer more options.
Things are very relaxed here. If you come on a retirement visa, enjoy yourself, figure out how you plan to earn money, then look at the visa options available to you.
Things are very relaxed here. If you come on a retirement visa, enjoy yourself, figure out how you plan to earn money, then look at the visa options available to you.
Dave ******
My advice, don't even think of getting married unless you want to lose control over your life. Can get a education or a volunteer visa from an agency once in-country.
Neil ******
@Dave *****
10 for me all great for me
Roger ********
@Dave *****
been married 14 years, without losing control of anything
Stuey ******
@Roger *******
23 for me all good 
Mma *******
@Dave *****
Agreed don't get married just so you can stay here longer. How long have you spent in Thailand previously? Can you test the waters and stay a year or so on visas and then think about other options to stay long term later?
Alex *******
@Dave *****
this is clearly down to personal experience. If you believe you're with the right person, get married by all means. Not all women are the same. On the other hand, education and volunteer visas are also great.Sammy *******
@Alex ******
and let's think, when getting married how thought they had selected the "right person"?Bobby ********
Alex Dorey. I'd rather trust a wife than a visa agency selling dodgy visas!!
Dimitri ********
@Bobby *******
That visa agency costs money only once. Bobby ********
Stephenie Le Soux. You're talking to the wrong person. I have no time for any visa agent. Sadly I've witnessed the result of a visa agent "service" gone wrong, and it wasn't pretty. I've been in Thailand for 12 years and never needed an agent, and I don't intend to change that status quo. I like to stay legal as I want to remain in Thailand
Stephenie **********
@Bobby *******
ive heard nigel runs a reputable visa company?Bobby ********
Agree with Michael Dawson. Get married and get the non-O (married to a Thai) visa which is cheaper to maintain than any retirement visa, even if the bureaucratic extension process is wearying it does pay dividends. As Michael has said it's the only longstay visa which allows you to get a work permit. Unlike normal "work" visas (B) the married visa is not directly tied to the work permit. In other words you can stop and start work whenever you want. Keep in mind however, that your wife will have you by the short and curlies forever after, so don't upset her! 😆
Todd *********
@Bobby *******
that last sentence is the keyBobby ********
Todd McGowan. Mate if he plays around with his missus, losing his work permit will be the least of his worries in the "losing" list 😆
Michael ********
Probably best bet is to get married. A marriage visa can be converted to work permit. Not sure exactly how but i know it can be done. Retirement visas cannot be converted to a work permit.
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