Do We Need a Special Visa for Multiple Visits to Chiang Mai Before Moving?

Jan 26, 2020
5 years ago
Hi, we are planning to move to Cnx in August. Before that we will be travelling and are planning to stay in Cnx 2 times 3 weeks, in between we would like to go to Vietnam. We’ll travel by plain.

Do we need to have a special visa? Or can we just get 2 times a tourist visa?

We already will have stayed here 1 month this year.

Sorry... my first ever visa experience. So excuse me if it’s a dumb question.

Kind regards Sharon and Chris
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Sharon and Chris are planning to travel to Chiang Mai (Cnx) for two separate stays of three weeks each before moving there in August. They question whether they need a special visa or if they can simply obtain two tourist visas, as this would be their first experience with visas. Comments suggest that a 6-month Multi-Entry Tourist Visa (METV) would be the best option to allow for multiple entries and extended stays.
Tod *********
If I read your post correctly, BEFORE you move here in August you're coming two times earlier THEN you're moving here in August.

You could use the 30 day visa exempt entries you get flying in for the two trips you have planned before you move here BUT you will wanna sort out some type of visa when you move here (which is why I recommended the 6 month METV)
Sharon ***************************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
ok thank you. Yes we will be coming here from
****
and stay in Asia until
***
. So we thought it would be best to travel in these 6 weeks to Vietnam to avoid overstay in the first 6 months of the year. Thank you for your swift reply. 😁
Tod *********
I would say IF you plan to stay IN thailand for a period of time you should get a 6 month METV <- multi-entry tourist visa from the thai consulate in your country BEFORE you wing your way here.

You are NOT gonna be able to "live here" (stay long term) doing 30 day visa exempt entries or single entry tourist visas from consulates nearby).

The 6 month METV <- multi-entry tourist visa will give you unlimited entries to thailand for the 6 months the visa is valid for AND every entry will get you stamped in to thailand for 60 days AND you can extend every one of those entries by another 30 days at the immigration office here in thailand for 1900baht.

Go to the website of the thai consulate in your country and look at the requirements for a 6 month METV.

That would be the best "visa fit" for you
Tod *********
IF you get that visa you can say in thailand almost 9 months (in 60 day increments)
Robert *******
2 times a 3 week visit and than moving and living in Chang Mai,

Great, what you do in Chang Mai?

Being tourists all year round?

Working as volunteers?

Going to study?

Working in your companies?

Just a few examples as all these need different type of visa.
Robert *******
Then the Multiple Entry Tourist Visa is the best option
Sharon ***************************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Robert ******
From August on I would like to study first and then later on Volunteer and/ work. We just sold our business and will take a break for the first 6 months to travel around.
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