How many times can I leave and reenter Thailand on an entry visa in a year?

Darren Grist sure. I was not talking about a 4-day or 1-week stay.

@Melanie ***************

no such rule exists, unspoken or not. I've entered 3 or 4 times this year with a longest stay of one week. Over the previous 12 months probably 10 or 11 times, averaging out at about 4 days per visit. It's about days and intentions and not number of entries.

@Melanie ***************

they are right. There is no such rule and its about the amount of time you spend here not how many times you enter.

Jeff Stein Yes and no :D Yes there is a "work visa", which is called "Non (immigrant) B", B stands for business. Work in the sense of "employment" - especially by a Thai company is not possible on this visa alone. But business activities, like promotion, visiting potential customers, setting up a company or a branch of your home company etc., can be done on a Non B.

If you want to be employed or run your own business (which requires your own company - "freelance" work is not possible) you need a work permit in addition to the Non B visa.

Non B + work permit, is the general construct for a foreigner seeking work in Thailand. There are exceptions for people from ASEAN countries ... they need a Non B but in general no work permit for example.

Freelance work *is possible* IF you are employed regularily and do it as a side income. However you have to register that.

You can also be employed by more than one employer, if both employers and you yourself notify the agency (forgot which one it is, note: within 14 days of the start of the second/third employment), such a situation will be noted on your work permit.

For example your standard job is English teacher in an international school, and you give 2 times a week evening classes in business English for adults, in a language school (noted on the work permit as second employer).

Or you give private classes via Skype or similar, you have to announce that.

Note: you need a work permit for any freelance work, and for reasons noted above, that is only possible if you have a main job.

Then again, after being 3 years full time employed in a row, and paying into the social system, you can apply for permanent residency. As permanent resident, you do not need a work permit, and can be employed freely without hazzle and work freelance.

NOTE: both Non B AS WELL as the PERMANT RESIDENCY PERMIT <--- very important!!! REQUIRE an reentry permit, if you want to leave the country and come back. Or your permanent residency gets VOID!! And you have to do it all over again!

Except long term special visa like DTV or some elites (not sure about LTR), all need a reentry permit.

It is extremely annoying if you are on a "pension visa" or "marriage visa" and forget that. You can probably mitigate that, and sent your passport by mail to a trusted person in Thailand, who gets you a reentry permit.

The IO will see the exit stamp, though and it is up to him/her if they grant it.

Reentry permits you get most easy at the airport before departure, but I would go to the local immigration office.

Angelo Schneider is there such a thing as a "work visa"? There's a work permit which has nothing to do with re-entry into Thailand, the non B business visa would though..... legally speaking.

Gilberto Flores you get a tourist visa and extended it.

@Brandon ***********

haha listen...been going to thailand on exempt for 9 years.5-10 timea every year 2 weeks at the time. No problem. Until last fall.

Then they started to tell people you have to get a visa. Same as many of my friends.

So when you are answering that he wont have any problems if entering 1 week every month for a year is 100% wrong and you should stop giving advice and let people with same experience give advice. Enough of this group...

Gilberto Flores I did the same after the 3rd time I was told by immigration to get the correct visa now I did and now no stress no worries

@Gilberto *******

so you intend to live in Thailand for 6 months of the year. That's a clear indication you are not a tourist. Get a 90 days Non-O visa and then a 12 month extension with re-entry permit each year then you won't have any problems.

Gilberto Flores twice. For 60 day each. With present situation

Or 3 times 60 days.

Max is 180 days per year if you want to avoid issues

Yes, that’s a good info. Thank you maak maak

@Gilberto *******

the non-O visa is the 90 day visa. The extension is what is for 1-year and requires money in a Thai bank account. But if you just want to go to Thailand for 3 months and you're over 50, the non-O will work better than entering as a tourist

Thank you. That helps. I had the idea non-O visa is the one we get for the entire year, renewing yearly and with account opened in Thai bank with the required amount in it

@Gilberto *******

You can get more than 1 non-O per year, so you can just use that 90-day visa for your 3 month trip. It also means you don't have to go to immigration to get a tourist extension.

Thank you for replying so quick. Yes I am over 60, retired and I qualify for a non-O visa, but I am thinking staying 6 months in Thailand and 6 months in China, at least for the first 2 years of my retirement in Asia

@Gilberto *******

possibly but maximizing your time is always a red flag. Are you over 50 and can qualify for a non-O visa? If not, I would purchase a tourist visa for the 2nd trip

You are always providing reliable information in this group. I have an specific question: as an American citizen can I enter Thailand, visa free, twice/year, staying 3 months each and separated by 3 months each entry. Total less than 180 days/year ?