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Do I need a 90-day visa before applying for a tourist visa to stay in Thailand for 4-6 months?

Thai Visa RegulationsTourist VisaMulti-Entry Tourist VisaVisa ExtensionsExemptionsVisa Application Process
Apr 19, 2024
7 months ago
Jim ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I would like to stay in thailand 4. 5 or six months on a tourist day visa Do I first have to get a 90 day Visa in the United States?Would that be the first step
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TLDR : Answer Summary
To stay in Thailand for 4 to 6 months on a tourist visa, consider applying for a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV), which may allow you to stay up to 9 months with proper planning, including border crossings. Alternatively, you could apply for a 60-day tourist visa and extend it by 30 days, then exit and re-enter Thailand to utilize the visa exemption. There are various options available, and a METV or a single entry tourist visa might be sufficient depending on your plans.
Eric **********
Best part about staying 6 months? Stay one extra day and you become a Thai tax resident!!
7 months ago
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John *******
@Eric *********
 as a tourist I think don’t qualify for tax
7 months ago
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Eric **********
If you stay 181 days you do!
7 months ago
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Eric **********
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Jim ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Yes, right now.I want to work in the United States.6 months and vacation, 6 months.I have my social security but i'm leary about staying twelve months a year with a new tax system
7 months ago
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Eric **********
Only takes 181 days in a calendar year. That said I'm not convinced the Thai Revenue Dept. could handle it if everyone filed.. It would be a huge mess. I suspect some of it is fear mongering.
7 months ago
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Eric **********
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Henrik *****
When going to Thailand for 31 - 60 ( 90 )days, the 60 days touristvisa is the best option.

It is cheaper than visa excempt + 30 days extension.

No need of a onward ticket ( 90 days 1 onward ), if returnticket within 60 days.

It is easier to apply from the comfort of your home.

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Not wasting holiday time to find, go to and waiting at a immigration office ( 90 you would need that ).

Then no need to leave Thailand in up to 90 days.
7 months ago
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Tony **********
If he is on multi-entry, and leaves before expiration and comes back across the border, won't he get another 60 days on his multi entry because he crossed before it expired?
7 months ago
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Graham ******
@Tony *********
 Yes, every entry on a METV gets 60 days, even if the entry is on the very last day of the Visa validity
7 months ago
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Tony **********
@Graham *****
 sounds like a good plan if still exploring before pulling the retirement trigger! So I'm theory could get 8 months that way....
7 months ago
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Graham ******
@Tony *********
 9 months with a 30 day extension
7 months ago
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Graham ******
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Jim ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you for sharing this!
7 months ago
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Bart **************
If you qualify for a 90 day (non-immigrant) visa you could get one, but if you only want 4 or 5 months I'd get a 60 day tourist visa instead. Then extend it by 30 days, and plan a short sightseeing trip to a nearby country to re-enter on exemption. Then you could extend that again to reach nearly 5 months.

You don't need a multiple entry visa in your case. Single is sufficient, because you can use exemption on your second entry.
7 months ago
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Jim ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks for sharing!!
7 months ago
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Jan ******************
If you just want to stay 4-6 months and don’t want to bank 800K in a thai bank for further stay, I would just recommend a six months multiple entries tourist visa. (METV). This allows you to stay in Thailand up to nine months. You’ll need to do one border crossing to get more than 3 months. (Gives you another 3 months with the local extension).
7 months ago
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Tin **********
@Jan *****************
 wat u do after 9month
7 months ago
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Bob **********
@Tin *********
 go home
7 months ago
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Tin **********
@Bob *********
 cant
7 months ago
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Bob **********
@Tin *********
 if you stay on overstay you’ll get free rent in immigration lock up
7 months ago
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Tin **********
@Bob *********
 boarder run
7 months ago
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Bob **********
@Tin *********
 eventually you’ll be denied entry
7 months ago
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Tin **********
@Bob *********
 tru
7 months ago
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Tin **********
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Henrik *****
Better you make a new thread with your questions, instead of hijacking anothers thread.
7 months ago
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Jan ******************
@Tin *********
 You can’t expect to live or go back to back in Thailand on nine months METV’s. You’ll probably need to find a visa that’s suits you personally. If you’re not passed 50 years, some people do education, muy thai visa etc, you can also do some visa exemption and border runs if you’re entitled to this, but rather sooner than later you’ll get denied entry. Thai privilege visa is also an option for everyone if you’re willing to or can pay.
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7 months ago
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Jan ******************
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Jim ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you
7 months ago
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Paul ********
@Jan *****************
Jan Kenneth Nesland do you not need to leave the country every 60 days
7 months ago
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Bob **********
@Paul *******
 every 90 days
7 months ago
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Jan ******************
@Paul *******
 Every time you get stamped in within six months, you get 60 days which also can be extended with a 30 days extension at your local immigration in Thailand for 1900 thb.
7 months ago
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Jan ******************
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Jim ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks for sharing this
7 months ago
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Gardar ***************************
Apply metv (multi entry tourist visa) if timed correctly you can get up to 9 months.
7 months ago
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Jim ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you so much
7 months ago
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Tin **********
@Gardar **************************
 how much multi visa
7 months ago
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Bob **********
@Tin *********
 if you have to ask you can’t afford it
7 months ago
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Dirk **************
@Bob *********
 aren’t we feeling entitled.
7 months ago
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Dirk **************
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Phil ******
@Tin *********
 who cares
7 months ago
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Gardar ***************************
@Tin *********
****************************
everything is here
7 months ago
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Gardar ***************************
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