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Do I need to get a visa before traveling to Thailand for a 2-3 month stay?

Thailand VisaTourist VisaMuay Thai VisaVisa ExtensionVisa ApplicationExpats in Thailand
November 25, 2023
10 months ago
Ben ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
OK I'm sure this or variations of this have been asked a million times. I just keep getting slightly diff answers from Web and friends and gov sites etc.

I want to arrive in Thailand mid January, with view to staying 2-3 months. (coming from UK with valid passport)

First week or 2 hanging out and getting feel for the pace, 1 month (minimum) will be in a muay Thai camp near chiang mai.

Do I need to sort any kind of visa before I leave the UK, or can I apply for tourist visa on arrival (border runs every 30?)

or would I be better off going for a muay Thai ED Visa that's valid longer and doesn't need the border runs...

Do I have to have an exit flight booked 30 days < or what can I do re:flights

Have funds in UK bank and can bring X amount of cash..

Sorry again for boring question. Any help much appreciated
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user inquires about the visa requirements for a planned 2-3 month stay in Thailand, focusing on options such as applying for a tourist visa in advance versus using visa-on-arrival options. Responses indicate that applying for a 60-day tourist visa before travel is advisable, as it grants a longer stay compared to visa-on-arrival policies, which only offer 30 days with a single extension possible. Other suggestions include the possibility of applying for a Muay Thai ED visa for longer stays or a multi-entry visa for more flexibility.
Sue **********
The cheapest option…..Before you go, apply for a 60day single entry tourist visa online through the Thai Embassy. Then while you are there (before it expires) extend for extra 30days at an immigration office for 1900bht. Make sure you take passport photos and photo copies of the data page of your passport
10 months ago
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Neil ********
You get 60 days without application. It’s circa £150 to get a 90 day visa and you can apply on line in the UK. Takes the pressure away
10 months ago
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Us *****
You're making life too hard. Applye for a multi entry visa that will give you up to 9 months. You're havenfly in an out twice. Save yourself the headache. If you want to stay for 2 years then apply for the muay Thai visa after your 3rd entry into Thailand.
10 months ago
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Jamie ******
All Information you need is on the London thai embassy .. get the 60 day visa ,( even though the visa they give you says 90 days ::it’s 90 days from the day for you to USE IT ) when you arrive in Chiang mai THEN it’s 60 days ,,,you can extend 30 days ,,total 90 days ,,then if you do decide to stay longer do a border run 3-4 hours away …,,that will shorten the length of your time at immigration in Chiang mai that can take anything g from 3-4 hours to seven
10 months ago
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Ben ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jamie *****
 yes it may well be but I also have friends of mine that have been recently telling me not to worry about anything and just sort it out when I land, or sites like CM locals that gives different info again. . So I just wanted to triple check
10 months ago
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Jamie ******
@Ben *******************
 either way you will need to go to immigration here ,getting it in London stops at least some of your time in immigration ,,fine if you like going with 4-500 others ..get the 60 day then come and see the options ,,you might not be arsed going on border runs when you get here ,,also you might decide better Muay Thai camps further south
10 months ago
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Jamie ******
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Steve *******
Get the 60 days Tourist evisa in the UK. You can apply for a 30 days extention of stay giving you a total of 90 days without the need to border bounce.
10 months ago
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Ben ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve ******
 ideal
10 months ago
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Ben ***********
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Phil ******
@Ben *******************
 apply for a 60 day visa.
10 months ago
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Ian **********
I have just come back, fly in as a tourist, extend for 30 days at local immigration for 1900baht, after that you can fly in and out or do a border run and gain another 30
10 months ago
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Mich ***********
10 months ago
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Brandon ************
@Mich **********
 just an FYI the London embassy has created this rule out of thin air and it does not exist. There is no 2 times per year limit. That only applies for entering at a land border without a visa.
10 months ago
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Brandon ************
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Brandon ************
If you want the option of 3 months then you need to apply for a tourist visa before you travel. There's no such thing as a tourist visa on arrival. If you travel without a visa you'll receive 30 days and you can apply for a single 30 day extension which is only 60 days maximum.

With a Tourist visa you'll receive a 60 day stamp which you can also apply for a single 30 day extension giving you 90 days total.

Recent reports from people applying to London embassy are that your flight out of Thailand within 90 days will still get you the visa, but if they don't like it and want a flight out in 60 they'll email you after you apply.
10 months ago
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Ricky ******
@Brandon ***********
 I've had a few 60 day visa's before, but the London embassy have never asked to see evidence of a return flight because that's not required. The airline may ask for evidence before they let you fly (although you don't need one) but that's a different matter.
10 months ago
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Brandon ************
@Ricky *****
 a return flight is not a requirement, but a flight out of Thailand is.
10 months ago
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Ricky ******
@Brandon ***********
 Unless the rules have been changed recently a flight out is only required for visa exempt entries.
10 months ago
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Brandon ************
@Ricky *****
 it's required as part of your tourist visa application.
10 months ago
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Ricky ******
@Brandon ***********
 It never has been in the applications I've made in the UK.
10 months ago
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Ben ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Brandon ***********
 ahhh OK that's sounds pertinent
10 months ago
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Ben ***********
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