Answered2 years ago
Is it feasible to live in Thailand long-term using tourist visa exemptions and extensions?
So in my mates case i'm guessing , come from australia , get 60 day stamp. Visit IO office , get 30 day extension , have a weekend inLaos , cambodia or w/e , get another 60 days. Altogether 150 days ( circa 5 months ) ...go back to oz for short time , come back and do it again. So in the space of 11 months , get 10 here , legally. Seems to pale all the other visa options in to insignificance. ???
Answer summary
The discussion revolves around a method of staying in Thailand for an extended period through the use of tourist visa exemptions and extensions. The original poster suggests a strategy involving a 60-day entry stamp, a 30-day extension, and short trips to neighboring countries to reset the visa clock, totaling around 150 days in Thailand within a year. However, several comments caution against this plan, highlighting risks such as being questioned at immigration about frequent returns, the potential for refusal of entry, and legal requirements for a proper long-term visa (like the DTV) for those looking to reside in Thailand rather than just visiting. There are also discussions on banking requirements and tax implications if one spends a significant amount of time in Thailand.
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James ********
OPJust out of interest , who , actually on this site has been refused entry by an IO , at the airport and had to fly straight back out of the country , or is just a bit of a scare campaign.?
Greta *****
Or....You can apply for a DTV and get to stay up to 180 days each year for 5 years without getting your head spinning from all the in and outs...
Dirk **************
It looks like nothing is holding you in Australia. The problem will be immigration. It is less the number of times you fly in and out but the duration of your stays. The safest way is one of the long stay visas.
Sonny ******
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Terary **********
You don't have to go back to Oz, if you don't want. The other visa options all other things, like no border bounce, driver's license, bank accounts etc.
If you're coming to Thailand strictly to goof-off, tourist visa are fine. If you're trying to make a life for yourself, other visa options are better.
If you're coming to Thailand strictly to goof-off, tourist visa are fine. If you're trying to make a life for yourself, other visa options are better.
Kool *******
You seem to ideally think immigration entry is cut and dried, always following some rule you think exists. Entry into Thailand, no matter what visa you hold, is at the discretion of immigration. When they decide a person is trying to stay in Thailand long term on tourist entries, they will refuse entry, and they are not stupid. They know all the tricks. They also profile and stereotype, and use the comment section of their computer system heavily. The best laid plans to try and stay in Thailand on the wrong visa, visa exempt, entries, are caught pretty quick.
Steve *******
If you check with the Thai Embassy in Canberra that are advising that no more than 2 visa exempt entries are allowed in one 12 moth period. Not sure if this will be enforced at all border entries.
Steve *******
Give it a go and see how you get on!
Nigel *********
@Steve ******
yup... that's about it
Duncanc **********
This has been common “visa” behaviour for decades … just less trips now
Why go back to Australia at all?
Why go back to Australia at all?
Henrik *****
When exploiting loopholes, why not go the whole way, and get 30 day extensin on the second visa excempt, then the warning finger may come before going home, and you will know you have to stay home for a while.
Bart **************
No, that's not feasible, or only with unusual luck. Tourist visas and exemptions are meant for tourists, and with these travel plans you're not looking like one. It may succeed, but you can't plan on that, so you better just get a proper visa matching your purpose of staying (could be the DTV) or you shorten the plans.
Rene ********
Cocky got fried?
Braulio *********
Don't forget under the pending tax reform, if OP spends 181 days per year in Thailand, he is subject to tax on all of his world wide income
Scott *******
@Braulio ********
even on a pension you already paid taxes on? Hmmm…
John *******
@Braulio ********
even as tourist?
Robert **********
@John ******
you are not a tourist when you stay 180+ days in the countryRene ********
Vinay ********
Does it allow you to open a bank account though
Vinay ********
Thank you. I have 60 day visa, not visa exempt and rental agreement
Henrik *****
No bankaccounts for tourists, need a longterm visa.
Steve *******
@Henrik ****
Incorrect, just need proof of an address to open a bank account
Bob *********
@Vinay *******
no need for a bank account anymore, visa deposit not required
Wayne *********
Yep the government have not woken up to that yet
Paul *******
The visa exemp stamp is only for tourists. Works until the Immigration Officer who greets you on arrival tells you that he considers that the time you have spent in Thailand indicates that you are no longer a tourist. He can the tell you to next time obtain a visa appropriate to your reason for staying in Thailand or he can deny you entry.
Rob *******
Could be done for cheaper without exiting thailand & without risk of refusal by immigration if you got the DTV visa
Brandon ************
There would be a very high risk of getting pulled out of line when coming back into Thailand from Australia and asked why you're back so soon after just spending 5 months in Thailand. It's possible to be denied entry for abusing visa exempt and attempting to live in Thailand without a long term visa.
Sonny ******
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