Do I have to leave Thailand every 6 months on a DTV Visa or can I re-stamp it for 5 years?

If 50 or over, retirement visa is the simplest. Only requires one annual visit to immigration. I didn’t exit Thailand for six years so only cost was 1,900 baht per annum. If you wish to exit Thailand a reentry permit is required. Single exit/reentry costs 1,000 baht. Multiple 3,800 baht.

The DTV is valid for a 5 year period. Within those 5 years you may enter multiple times for 180 days at a time. There is no limit to the amount of times that you can enter within that 5 year period.

Pay as you go, way cheaper and more fun in the long run without the drama...

@Lyn ********

Well,this guy is talking about getting married,so why would he go for an Elite visa that today cost from 650k (5 years) which is a fee? It's the worst option unless you are way younger than 50 and have money to throw away.

My son has an Elite visa and it was 500k bht for a 5 year visa which us just ending He is just renewing it and is costing another 500k bht for another 15 years. he gives his passport to Elite every 90 days and they get the visa stamped he does not have to go to immigration and does not pay anymore for multi entry visa or for them to do everything he also gets privileges like free transport to airport and a person taking him through customs It sounds like a lot of money but for anyone under 50 (retirement visa from 50 onwards) its a great thing to have if you can afford to pay upfront

Retirement visa

Marriage visa all the way.

Another consideration is a bank account. They appear to not like people on tourist visas (which the DTV is) having one

Your entry stamp will be for 180 days. One time each entry you are allowed to apply for a 180 day extension, but pretend that option doesn't exist and just expect to leave every 180 days and return. Many immigration offices do not want you to extend and will make it all but impossible.