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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
2 years ago
Jim ********
ORIGINAL POSTERI 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
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.
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- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
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Eric **********
Best part about staying 6 months? Stay one extra day and you become a Thai tax resident!!
John *******
@Eric *********
as a tourist I think don’t qualify for taxEric **********
If you stay 181 days you do!
Reply to
Eric **********
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Jim ********
ORIGINAL POSTERYes, 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
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.
Reply to
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.
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.
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.
***************************
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.
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?
Graham ******
@Tony *********
Yes, every entry on a METV gets 60 days, even if the entry is on the very last day of the Visa validityTony **********
@Graham *****
sounds like a good plan if still exploring before pulling the retirement trigger! So I'm theory could get 8 months that way....Graham ******
@Tony *********
9 months with a 30 day extensionReply to
Graham ******
Reply
Jim ********
ORIGINAL POSTERThank you for sharing this!
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.
You don't need a multiple entry visa in your case. Single is sufficient, because you can use exemption on your second entry.
Jim ********
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks for sharing!!
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).
Tin **********
@Jan *****************
wat u do after 9monthBob **********
@Tin *********
go homeTin **********
@Bob *********
cantBob **********
@Tin *********
if you stay on overstay you’ll get free rent in immigration lock upTin **********
@Bob *********
boarder runBob **********
@Tin *********
eventually you’ll be denied entryTin **********
@Bob *********
truReply to
Tin **********
Reply
Henrik *****
Better you make a new thread with your questions, instead of hijacking anothers thread.
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. ****************************************
Reply to
Jan ******************
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Jim ********
ORIGINAL POSTERThank you
Paul ********
@Jan *****************
Jan Kenneth Nesland do you not need to leave the country every 60 daysBob **********
@Paul *******
every 90 daysJan ******************
@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.Reply to
Jan ******************
Reply
Jim ********
ORIGINAL POSTERThanks for sharing this
Gardar ***************************
Apply metv (multi entry tourist visa) if timed correctly you can get up to 9 months.
Jim ********
ORIGINAL POSTERThank you so much
Tin **********
@Gardar **************************
how much multi visaBob **********
@Tin *********
if you have to ask you can’t afford itDirk **************
@Bob *********
aren’t we feeling entitled.Reply to
Dirk **************
Reply
Phil ******
@Tin *********
who caresGardar ***************************
@Tin *********
****************************
everything is hereReply to
Gardar ***************************
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