Do I really have to leave Thailand every 90 days with a 1 year multi-entry Non-O visa (Spouse)?

Aug 13, 2024
3 months ago
Giacomo ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Cheers to all the experts with Thai Visa Know How.

I got a 1 year multi-entry Non-O visa (Spouse) issued from the Thai Embassy in Singapore. I myself am German my wife from Thailand. We are moving from Singapore to Thailand.

I was told by the embassy to exit Thailand every 90 days in order to avoid a re-application for the Non-O visa.

Does anyone know more about this.

Do I really have to leave Thailand every 90 days?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A holder of a 1-year multi-entry Non-O visa (Spouse) is required to exit Thailand or apply for an extension every 90 days to continue their stay without reapplying for a new visa. There are alternatives such as obtaining a 60-day extension at immigration citing the reason for the visit as being with a spouse, or exiting the country and re-entering to receive a new 90-day entry stamp. It is noted that transitioning to a single or multiple-entry visa with an extension could provide a more stable long-term stay in Thailand without needing frequent exits.
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Rob *******
Reading between the lines, it seems you picked the wrong visa. A non O 90 day single entry would have been better as you don't have to leave the country. Just get a 1 year extension before the 90 days finish then you are good to stay for 1 year without leaving. The 1 year extension can be renewed every year indefinitely providing you meet the requirements. If you need to leave you simply get a single or multiple re-entry permit before you leave which allows you to keep your extension alive.
Giacomo ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Rob ******
thanks for the explanation, got it. Need to see what best suits to me.
Rob *******
@Giacomo *****
... I had the 1 year multi entry for a few years but I was travelling out and in a lot for work so the 90 day max wasn't an issue. Since the end of 2020 I've had the 1 year extensions after my initial 90 day non O visa and just get a re-entry permit if I'm travelling now.
Giacomo ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Rob ******
this solution sounds better, but where do you get the reentry permit and what is the effort to get it?
Rob *******
@Giacomo *****
... you can buy at the immigration office or at the airport before you depart. It only takes about 15 minutes and you get it before you stamp out through immigration. If you do a group search "re-entry permit" you will get all the info you need.
James ********
@Rob ******
and to get the one year extension of stay as Married to Thai, he would have to deposit 400,000 Thai baht in a Thai bank account in his name only.

With the Thai Visa he now has, no money in a Thai bank is required.
Rob *******
@James *******
... which is why I mentioned meeting the requirements.
James ********
@Rob ******
you're correct ✅. Thank You 👍
Graham ******
The longest you can stay (without an extension) is 90 days and every time you leave and re-enter up to day 90 you will get a new 90 day entry stamp. It's a 12 month Visa which gets you almost 15 months stay in Thailand then you can extend.
Jack *****
@Graham *****
sorry about this.... I am confused.... this 12 month visa is called what?? please.. you state "then you can extend".. for how long.. do you start over from zero.. if I have the actual terminology of the visa.. I will look it up at the Thai embassy Los Angeles ............thank you
Ellie *******
@Jack ****
, that is a multiple entry Non-O visa based on spouse to a Thai national, valid for 1 year, every entry is 90 days. You can apply for a 1-year extension based on the same reason. Most RTEs/RTCGs including LA except a could of them in neighbouring countries don’t issue multiple entry Non-O visas any more.
Jack *****
@Ellie ******
I wish that being married to a Thai national would be allowed an easier way to live in Thailand... So.. basically.. " Non-O visa based on spouse to a Thai national, valid for 1 year," Ok.. I can look this up on the Los Angeles thai embassy web site.. thank you...
Graham ******
@Jack ****
You can currently get this Visa from the Consulate in Savannakhet (Laos) and a few other places but it is not common now and, as there is also financial requirement, there is little benefit over a 12 month in country extension
Ellie *******
@Jack ****
, as I said, sadly Thai consulate in US including Los Angels don’t issue multiple entry Non-O visa anymore. They issue only single entry Non-O visas valid for 90 days, entry stamp is for 90 days.
Lloyd ********
A multi-entry visa allows you a 90 day stay, after that you could extend by 60 days at immigration 'to visit wife', or do a border bounce and get another 90 day entry.
Giacomo ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi
@Lloyd *******
thanks for your response. Does it mean, whenever I leave Thailand I get another 90 days or whatever is left in the 1 year frame?
Wannikea *********
@Giacomo *****
90 day stamp every entry includes your last entry just before the visa expires, even beyond the expiry date.
Giacomo ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Wannikea ********
do I get you correctly, if I come back to Thailand on the second last day of the visa-year, i still get another 90 days to stay?
Wannikea *********
@Giacomo *****
exactly, you get 90 days every entry, period.
John **********
@Giacomo *****
you get stamped in for 90 days every time you enter during the validity of the visa
Giacomo ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
last question, what if I stay longer than 90 days away from Thailand, does the visa forfeit?
Wannikea *********
@Giacomo *****
you can stay away as long or as short as you like, the visa only expires because of the expiry date.
John **********
@Giacomo *****
the visa can be used anytime within its validity so you can come in, get you days, leave for 150 days then come back and get 90 days again
Giacomo ******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
really appreciate your advise, thank you.
Lloyd ********
90 days per entry
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