This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.
How can I manage my entry and stay in Thailand for 9 months spanning two visits in 2024-2025?
Apr 15, 2024
2 years ago
David ************
ORIGINAL POSTERQuestion for the brains trust:
*Myself (57 Australian Passport) My Wife (50 Japanese Passport).*
We want to travel to Thailand in Nov 2024 for an initial stay of 3 months. We will leave for another country for 3 months. Then return to Thailand for a further stay of 6 months in 2025.
From what I have read so far this should all be possible by just getting entry visas and extending them. Maybe the first 3 months can include 2 boarder runs. Then the second stay could be an initial 90 day entry visa, extendable for an additional 90 days?
The second one I am not sure about, i'm also not sure if there is a "yearly limit" for these visas.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
*Myself (57 Australian Passport) My Wife (50 Japanese Passport).*
We want to travel to Thailand in Nov 2024 for an initial stay of 3 months. We will leave for another country for 3 months. Then return to Thailand for a further stay of 6 months in 2025.
From what I have read so far this should all be possible by just getting entry visas and extending them. Maybe the first 3 months can include 2 boarder runs. Then the second stay could be an initial 90 day entry visa, extendable for an additional 90 days?
The second one I am not sure about, i'm also not sure if there is a "yearly limit" for these visas.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user, an Australian national, seeks advice on how to manage their travel plans to Thailand for a total of nine months across two visits in 2024-2025. The initial stay of three months may include border runs to maximize their time without a long-term visa. For the second visit, they inquire about obtaining a 90-day entry visa, possibly a NON-O visa, and extending it. Back-and-forth discussions clarify which visas are available, the duration limitations, and the need for careful planning regarding entry and extensions.
90 DAY REPORTING RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Use the trusted Thailand 90 Day Reporting Serviceto get your in-person report done and mailed to you for as low as 375 THB (even if the online system doesn't work for you).
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Pelle Eriksson★★★★★
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...recently on Facebook
Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
Trusted 90 Day Reporting Agent
OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
Terary **********
In both cases you're eligible for retirement visa. Also you are entitled to retirement visa and dependent visas (this maybe useful because retirement visa has some requirements about proof of income). A retirement visa is valid for 90 days but can be extended for 1 year. There are some requirements to the retirement visa and some paperwork. The requirements vary by passport and if you are applying in-country or out of country. So look at both of those options.
Also, you can get a 60 tourist visa which can be extended 30 days given you a total of 90 days. You can do border bounce which is probably 30 days with a extension of 30 days for a total of 60 days. (I am not sure because I am more familiar with US national visa options which may be a little different for Aussies and Japanese).
I have applied for and gotten my eVisa while not in my home country. There is a lot a debate if it's possible or legal or whatever. From personal experience, its possible to get an eVisa while travelling from Thai Embassy USA, maybe the is the case for Aussie/Japan. If you can, then you can have a eVisa for your second leg of your journey which gets you 90 days.
Also, you can get a 60 tourist visa which can be extended 30 days given you a total of 90 days. You can do border bounce which is probably 30 days with a extension of 30 days for a total of 60 days. (I am not sure because I am more familiar with US national visa options which may be a little different for Aussies and Japanese).
I have applied for and gotten my eVisa while not in my home country. There is a lot a debate if it's possible or legal or whatever. From personal experience, its possible to get an eVisa while travelling from Thai Embassy USA, maybe the is the case for Aussie/Japan. If you can, then you can have a eVisa for your second leg of your journey which gets you 90 days.
Todd *********
60 day TV + 30 day extension - no problem. Another country? U are guessing which one? You don’t know?
The six months coming from another country (other than your own) is a bigger problem. But TV +30 + border bounce + 30 extension + border bounce gets it done
The six months coming from another country (other than your own) is a bigger problem. But TV +30 + border bounce + 30 extension + border bounce gets it done
David ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Todd ********
we will be in Japan in betweenGraham ******
@David ***********
In that case you cannot get a METV as you have to be in your country of residence to applyTodd *********
@Graham *****
zactlyReply to
Todd *********
Reply
Edna *******
To get 90 days, must apply for a tourist visa on line in your country. 60 days (200$ fee) plus one 30 day extension @1,900$ baht nearest immigration. Or 30day+ one extention plus border run for 30 day plus another fee on both sides. Not easy, must be very careful and picky where you cross the border. There are agents that take you by bus with others and do it for you. Go to consulate website for the exact instructions. Border runs of course excluded.
Bart **************
That's not possible. Good that you checked. Not only is there a soft limit of staying on such entries, making that you can't plan as you now intended, there is also no 90 day tourist visa that you can extend by another 90.
The visa that you need in your case would be non-O or OA based on retirement. Probably best to take one out before your initial stay of 3 months. Then extend and get reentry permit to support the latter 6 months. Alternatively, you could get a tourist visa for 60 days, extend by 30, and then use the said visa only for the latter 6 months. There are two disadvantages: the initial period is now 90 days (or 89 rather as entry and exit day both count in full), being slightly short of 3 months, and you need to buy one extra extension. The advantage however is that you keep some period of your extended retirement visa alive, so you could easily return in the months after the initial 6.
The visa that you need in your case would be non-O or OA based on retirement. Probably best to take one out before your initial stay of 3 months. Then extend and get reentry permit to support the latter 6 months. Alternatively, you could get a tourist visa for 60 days, extend by 30, and then use the said visa only for the latter 6 months. There are two disadvantages: the initial period is now 90 days (or 89 rather as entry and exit day both count in full), being slightly short of 3 months, and you need to buy one extra extension. The advantage however is that you keep some period of your extended retirement visa alive, so you could easily return in the months after the initial 6.
David ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Bart *************
I believe the NON OA has to be used within a certain timeframe from it being approved though?David ************
ORIGINAL POSTERIf I get it approved first, and only use that visa for both entries, then no problem. But if as suggested above I use an entry visa for the first trip then I may run into problems as the NON OA would then be 6months old from issuance.
Bart **************
@David ***********
sure, but why would that be an issue?Reply to
Bart **************
Reply
Brandon ************
You could also look into getting a non-OA visa. But I don't think you could both get one since you normally have to get it in your home country. But you might be able to have the one of you that is in your home country (not sure if you're in Australia or Japan now) apply for the non-OA and the other spouse apple for the non-O trailing spouse visa. The spouse on the non-O would need to go to immigration and apply for a 1-year extension based on the spouse with the OA before you leave the first time though.
A non-OA is a 1-year visa and you use money in your home country to get it, rather than showing money in a Thai bank account. It does have a high insurance requirement though.
A non-OA is a 1-year visa and you use money in your home country to get it, rather than showing money in a Thai bank account. It does have a high insurance requirement though.
David ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
is this type of visa “multiple entry“?Brandon ************
@David ***********
OA is multiple entry. But the other spouse that got the non-O and then extension would need to buy a re-entry permit on the extension to keep it alive when you left Thailand.David ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
interesting thank youReply to
David ************
Reply
John **********
For the first stay come in on tourist visas, gives you 60 + 30 days
For the second stay I'd say get a multi entry tourist visa which can give you close to 9 months if used judicially
The 90 day visa, by which I assume a non-o based on being over 50, can only be extended for 12 months by meeting the requirements (money in a Thai bank etc)
For the second stay I'd say get a multi entry tourist visa which can give you close to 9 months if used judicially
The 90 day visa, by which I assume a non-o based on being over 50, can only be extended for 12 months by meeting the requirements (money in a Thai bank etc)
Brandon ************
@John *********
I don't see them able to get a METV since he would have to go to Australia and she would have to go to Japan for that.John **********
@Brandon ***********
I assumed as they were married she would have residence rights in Australia?Brandon ************
@John *********
hmm maybe. I'm not sure how the embassies work in Australia now that they've switched to evisa. And I know nothing about Japan if they're there. But it still doesn't seem like they plan to return in between.David ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
will actually be in Japan in betweenBrandon ************
@David ***********
that would only work if you have residency there. Then you might both be able to apply for METV. Or if you're in Australia now you could apply for non-OA and your wife could apply for a single entry tourist visa.
Then when you go to Japan your wife could apply for the METV.
David ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
interesting 🤔Brandon ************
@David ***********
you'll still need to make at least 1 border bounce for your wife if she has a METV since she can only get 90 days on an entry (60 + 30 extension) but you can go see Laos or Cambodia or Malaysia or Singapore or something to make a trip out of itReply to
Brandon ************
Reply
Brandon ************
There's no visa that you can apply for a 90 day extension on. You can probably get away with entering visa exempt and then using a land border bounce agency for 2 additional border bounces, which should get you to about 6 months. That's 30+30, 30+30, 30+30. You would use the land border bounce agencies since you may run into issues trying to leave and return on your own after spending so much time in Thailand without a long term visa.
David ************
ORIGINAL POSTER@Brandon ***********
thanks Brandon. My dad used to work with a Thurkettle. John it was. In the UK in the 80sReply to
David ************
Reply
16 comments
2 years ago
45 comments
2 years ago
17 comments
2 years ago
10 comments
2 years ago
19 comments
2 years ago
23 comments
2 years ago
14 comments
3 years ago
12 comments
3 years ago
6 comments
3 years ago
21 comments
3 years ago
56 comments
4 years ago
7 comments
4 years ago
4 comments
4 years ago
6 comments
4 years ago
9 comments
4 years ago
39 comments
4 years ago
23 comments
4 years ago
8 comments
6 years ago
10 comments
6 years ago
14 comments
6 years ago
11 comments
6 years ago
10 comments
6 years ago
0 comments
7 years ago
0 comments
7 years ago
37 comments
7 years ago
7 comments
a month ago
9 comments
a month ago
21 comments
a month ago
16 comments
a month ago
8 comments
a month ago
The ask:thailand community, consisting of multiple Q/A groups with over 100,000 members, powers this platform. It is not an official government resource. Our members actively contribute to this resource, and while we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its complete reliability. Assistance to travelers is provided as a community service.