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Can we extend the STV for a total of 9 months while traveling in Thailand, and how to provide accommodation evidence?

STV visaThai visa extensionstourist visaNon-O visaNon-OA visaaccommodation requirementsinsurance requirementsAussie expats in ThailandThai embassies in Australia
April 29, 2022
2 years ago
Kathryn *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi advice needed please due to conflicting information from Thai Embassy.

We are Australian living in Australia. We are over 50yrs. We would like to holiday in Thailand for 7months.

Q1 - if we apply for a STV for 3 months, can this be renewed 2 times more (3months each time?). I have read from Sept 2021 this is not possible - I don’t know if this information is current .

Q2 - information on Thai Embassy Aust site says we need to provide fully paid evidence of accommodation for the 3 month period. How do you provide this if we are travelling around with no set plans?

We do not want to apply for the 1yr retirement visa as I feel the prepaid travel insurance for 1 yr would be a waste of money as we can only stay 7 months. In addition, we still have the same issue of prepaid accommodation for the set 1 yr period.

I appreciate any advice from fellow Aussies who have applied and have overcome the issues. Cheers.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
An Australian couple over 50 years old seeks advice on holidaying in Thailand for 7 months. They inquire about the possibility of extending a Special Tourist Visa (STV) for a total of 9 months and how to provide prepaid accommodation proof when traveling without fixed plans. Responses indicate complications with the STV, with recommendations for the Non-O or Non-OA visas that require health insurance. Overall, travelers are advised to prepare necessary documentation and consider alternatives such as the multiple-entry tourist visa (TR60) for extended stays.
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Donna *******
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2 years ago
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Kathryn *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Donna ******
 thank you. This is ceasing in sept so will look at different visa. Cheers
2 years ago
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Kathryn *******
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Donna *******
Hi
@Kat****
 my hubby and I came to Thailand on a STV from Australia early March.

Accommodation- we provided multiple Agoda bookings, direct hotel bookings and Airbnb to cover the first 90 days. No issue having approved via Canberra embassy. (Unless you live in NSW we were told we had to use Canberra embassy )

Last extension needs to be applied by Sep 2022 (currently) so depending when you arrive you may not be able to obtain your 2 extensions.
2 years ago
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Kathryn *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Donna ******
 thank you we r arriving Aug 11 so will look at retirement visa. Cheers
2 years ago
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Kathryn *******
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Kathryn *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Can I say that all the responses have been very helpful. I dreaded posting as in some FB groups people are so smart and nasty. Thank you to the moderators too.
2 years ago
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Terary **********
My experience with Thai embassies in Oz, they each have different policies. You may want to double check your findings at one embassy with a different embassy. I found the Brisbane embassy easiest, Melbourne a close second.
2 years ago
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Bobby ********
@David ******
 Expensive......and illegal, as it involves paying a bribe. The OP might want to stay legal, and not risk any repercussions!
2 years ago
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David *******
@Bobby *******
 using an agent is not illegal. The visa obtained is a valid visa. It’s a typical Thai ‘grey area’ and the way Thailand operates at pretty much every level. Plenty of people who fully meet the requirements of Extensions of Stay pay an agent to avoid the paperwork and queuing at Immigration. They are doing nothing illegal and nothing wrong. It is perfectly valid. As for ‘repercussions’, I have not heard or known of any problems with authorities for the many thousands of people using agents for ‘Retirement’ visas in 35 years of visiting Thailand.

The hysteria by some on here where agents are concerned is hilarious.

I’m not suggesting everyone should use an agent but it’s a perfectly valid option for some.
2 years ago
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Bobby ********
@David ******
 It involves a bribe, which makes it illegal. It can't get any simpler than that.
2 years ago
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Terary **********
@Bobby *******
 - Thai Elite visa, you pay to forego all the paperwork and nonsense, same as you do an agent. The difference is who you are paying
2 years ago
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Bobby ********
@Terary *********
 Can hardly compare Elite with a visa obtained with a bribe! 🤣
2 years ago
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Terary **********
@Bobby *******
 I certainly can
2 years ago
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Bobby ********
@Terary *********
 Yes, no doubt you compare apples and oranges! A bit deluded I think!
2 years ago
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David *******
@Bobby *******
 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
2 years ago
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Bobby ********
@David ******
 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
2 years ago
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Bobby ********
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David *******
I’d like to correct some false information in the replies. (One person that’s replied gives wrong information a lot!).

First, you can now get a Non O visa ‘for Retirement’ in Australia. It’s only been allowed recently but it is now on the RTE Canberra website.

Second, you DO need Health Insurance (400k baht inpatient /40k baht outpatient) for the initial visa application in Australian. It’s only for annual Extensions of Stay that insurance is not required for the Non O.

As for your initial question, the Non O-A is the only visa that will give you 7 months or more in Thailand without needing extensions etc. It does require paperwork and 3m baht insurance.

The STV is ending and isn’t really suitable.

The Non O is for 90 days and then you need an Extension.

The only way of doing this without money in Thai bank is to use an agent. IF you are prepared to do this then you can also just enter on a TR and pay an agent - though it’s not cheap.
2 years ago
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David *******
@Stuart ********
 no, it absolutely wasn’t. The Non O availability is a very new thing and I only found out myself very recently.
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
@David ******
 OK. Thank you for pointing it out. I’ll know for future reference. I’ve deleted my earlier comment.
2 years ago
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Stuart *********
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Bobby ********
@Terary *********
 There's only one Thai Embassy in Australia, and that's Canberra. The others are consulates, and Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth are all closed. The only open consulate is Sydney.
2 years ago
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Wayne *********
@Terary *********
 have they re opened them yet ? When I applied it was only Cambera or Sydney
2 years ago
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Bobby ********
@Wayne ********
 Correct. All the other consulates are closed
2 years ago
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Wayne *********
@Bobby *******
 yes I thought they still were. I knew Perth definitely was still closed.
2 years ago
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Wayne *********
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Kathryn *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Terary *********
 ok thank you. I thought there was only one in Canberra. I live and learn. 😊
2 years ago
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Colleen *********
@Kathryn ******
 I spoke to Canberra embassy 3 days ago. No embassy in Brisbane. There's one in Sydney also
2 years ago
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Kathryn *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Colleen ********
 ok thanks.
2 years ago
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Kathryn *******
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Kathryn *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I appreciate all your advice, thank you. Will investigate the retirement visa further. 😎.
2 years ago
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Wayne *********
You could consider TR60 plus 30 day extension gives you 3 months or 90 days. Fly out to nearby country apply again for another TR60 + 30 thats 6 months then could do another quick trip come back exempt visa extend 30 that's now 8 months. Few flights I know but it is an option that could be done
2 years ago
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Bobby ********
@Wayne ********
 That's a lot of stuffing around! They're both over 50, so they qualify for retirement visa
2 years ago
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Wayne *********
@Bobby *******
 yes I know but they said they don't want the insurance costs so don't want the 1 year visa
2 years ago
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Bobby ********
@Wayne ********
 I can't understand why people work so hard to avoid travel insurance. Flying in and out of the country twice just to avoid buying what is actually a very handy thing to have in Thailand to me makes zero sense.
2 years ago
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Kathryn *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bobby *******
 I’m

Not trying to avoid it in fact we pay $300 every f/n in Aust. Just not wanting to pay for travel

Insurance for the extra 5 months if there is a visa around it that suits us. When we take out travel insurance it will be top cover. Cheers
2 years ago
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Bobby ********
@Kathryn ******
 Most (I won't say all) travel insurances will refund for every full calendar month if you cancel. The OA is great because you don't have to think of border bouncing which the cheapest at the moment is return flights to Phnom Penh obtaining visas in neighbouring countries, visiting immigration for extensions and other associated costs. The STV requires insurance, plus paid hotel bookings for 90 days at a time, then visiting immigration to pay another 1900baht for extensions. The O visa requires 800,000 baht to be deposited in a Thai bank account (each) for the duration of your stay. Others see it differently, but to me it's a no-brainer.
2 years ago
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Kathryn *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bobby *******
 yes thank you.
2 years ago
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Wayne *********
@Bobby *******
 Agree I never travel with out it. One must always be prepared for worst case.
2 years ago
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Wayne *********
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Bobby ********
Get the OA visa. It'll do you for a year and no need to detail where you'll be staying, and no need to transfer money. Use your credit card insurance to meet the three million baht criteria (no longer need specific outpatient insurance, so it's sweet).
2 years ago
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Geoff ********
@Bobby *******
 yes. Thats OK for new O-A applicants. Those of us who arrived from Sydney to live and retire in Thailand many years ago still need the outpatient health insurance. In my case the 40,000 baht cover costs 32,000 baht premium with existing conditions applied so is worthless. Basically at 79 years I am paying 32,000 baht just to stay in Thailand for another year. My 20 year inpatient health policy for 1 million baht costs me 175,000 baht. Next year will be higher. Yes I can use an agent as other long term expats on O-A are doing. Like many others, I await the Immigration announcement in October that I must have 3 million baht fixed in a Thai bank account, as I will be unable to get such insurance at my age.
2 years ago
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Bobby ********
@Geoff *******
 From September you can use assets in your home country in lieu of insurance.
2 years ago
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Bobby ********
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Yvonne *********
Also, a high excess reduces the upfront cost of Insurance.

Obviously if you have health problems to start with, insurance will be expensive
2 years ago
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Kathryn *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Yvonne ********
 no we zero have health issues.
2 years ago
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Kathryn *******
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Stuart *********
Australia won’t sell a Non O based on retirement. They’ll only do the Non OA which requires insurance.

STV is an option, but it’s a pig of a visa, with stupid conditions.

I’m not sure but Australia may sell the multiple entry tourist visa, which is valid for 6 months. Each entry is valid for 60 days and you can extend that for 30 days.

Now that travel in and out of the country is much easier you can hop over to Singapore, or Cambodia or wherever for a day or so, re enter and get another 60 (90) days.
2 years ago
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Brandon ************
The STV program is set to end in September. If you have not used all of your extensions by then, you may not be able to use any you have left.

The STV is not for someone who wants to travel around with no set plans as you will need to show fully paid accomodations for 90 days each time you extend. The STV was designed for people who own a condo or stay at the same place every year when they return to Thailand during the winter in their home country.

Retirement extensions don't require any prepaid lodging. And a regular non-O does not have insurance requirement. It's the non-OA that has an insurance requirement.
2 years ago
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Kathryn *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 thank you for that explanation.
2 years ago
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Kathryn *******
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